Climate Change Adaptation in Action in Galveston Bay, Texas

This case study describes the efforts of the Galveston Bay Foundation to restore and protect wetland habitats in Galveston Bay, Texas, to combat sea level rise and storm surges. It highlights the use of nature-based infrastructure, such as breakwaters and marsh terraces, funded by federal and private grants, and discusses how these projects encourage private land conservation and the challenges of federal funding match requirements.

• Galveston Bay has experienced sea level rise exceeding 27 inches over the last 120 years, which is three times the global average. This rise is caused by a combination of thermal expansion and melting ice sheets, as well as land subsidence resulting from groundwater, oil, and gas extraction. Consequently, more than 35,000 acres of intertidal marsh habitat have been lost since the 1950s.
• The Galveston Bay Foundation has utilized grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to restore 72 acres of wetland habitat in the Dollar Bay and Moses Lake region. These projects involved installing 47 marsh terraces and nearly 4,000 feet of protective breakwaters to reduce wave energy, protect shorelines, and create nearly five miles of marsh-edge habitat for oysters and birds.
• Federal restoration projects have catalyzed private conservation efforts. After observing biodiversity increases from the Dollar Bay project, local landowners opted to preserve a 106-acre coastal prairie plot for conservation rather than residential development. This land was acquired in December 2020 via a Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act grant, transferred to Texas City, Texas, and placed under a conservation easement.
• While federal funding is critical for coastal resilience, the requirement for local matching funds can act as a barrier for underserved communities in dire need of assistance. Improving equity in fund distribution and enhancing federal coordination on resilience funding are suggested ways to advance national adaptation priorities.

APA

Bertrand, S. (2022). Climate Change Adaptation in Action in Galveston Bay, Texas. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-change-adaptation-in-action-in-galveston-bay-texas

Chicago

Bertrand, Savannah. Climate Change Adaptation in Action in Galveston Bay, Texas. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2022. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-change-adaptation-in-action-in-galveston-bay-texas.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bertrand |first1=Savannah |title=Climate Change Adaptation in Action in Galveston Bay, Texas |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=20 May 2022 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-change-adaptation-in-action-in-galveston-bay-texas |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bertrand2022climate, author = {Bertrand, Savannah}, title = {{Climate Change Adaptation in Action in Galveston Bay, Texas}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-change-adaptation-in-action-in-galveston-bay-texas}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }