Species Population Protection Action Plan
 The Species Population Protection Action Plan has been developed to "assure the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the total natural community of living species in Galveston Bay, both for the maintenance of balanced, indigenous popu- lations which determine overall ecosystem health, and for the long-term vitality of human recreational and economic activities which depend on these renewable living resources."
The Natural Resource Uses Subcommittee of the Galveston Bay Council is charged with facilitating implementation of the Species Population Protection Action Plan through our GBEP Partners.
Results!
- Species protection efforts for birds have been enhanced. Resources are being leveraged to build additional islands for bird habitat.
- The impacts and threats to the region from exotic species are being addressed, both locally and regionally.
- Shrimp trawl by-catch reduction is being addressed.
- A successful methodology for the restoration of oyster reef using fly ash (a byproduct of coal combustion) pellets has been tested at six locations in Galveston Bay.
Species Population Protection Action Plan implementation highlights:
Invasive Species Workgroup
 During the Plan Review process, the Natural Resource Uses Subcommittee elevated invasive species actions SP-9 and SP-10 to high priority status, and created the Invasive Species Work Group (ISWG) to implement them. The ISWG began meeting in 2001, and established the following objectives:
- Coordinate with entities involved in invasive species activities to assemble a library of applicable research, assessments, local control efforts, and control techniques addressing invasive species
- Coordinate with Gulf of Mexico Program and other regional and national programs to determine potential new invasive species, how to prevent introduction of such species, and how to control them if established
- Develop a plan of action for initiating new activities and coordinating existing activities addressing invasive species in the Galveston Bay area
- Implement the plan of action, establishing individual programs to address aquatic and terrestrial invasive species
The ISWG also established that developing an Invasive Species Plan for Galveston Bay to provide guidance for the implementing SP-9 and SP-10 is a high priority, which is to include:
- A summary assessment of the current invasive species situation including: 1) extent and approximate distribution of existing invasive species problems; 2) a list of known current invaders prioritized by extent of ecological threat; 3) a synopsis and evaluation of known and experimental control techniques, and 4) a risk assessment for future invaders
- A plan to address current invasive species problems
- A plan to take preventative measures to reduce the threat of future invasive species problems
- A contingency plan for addressing future invasive species problems
In 2002, the Estuary Program partnered with the University of Houston Clear Lake and the Houston Advanced Research Center to conduct a comparative risk assessment of invasive species in Galveston Bay watershed. The Galveston Bay Invasive Species Risk Assessment Project accumulated and assessed existing information on the identity, characteristics, and impacts of invasive species currently found in natural ecosystems in the lower Galveston Bay watershed, and exotic species expected to appear in coming years.
After the comprehensive list was compiled, local resource experts conducted a comparative risk assessment, prioritizing among current and future invasive species believed to pose the greatest ecological risk. Experts also evaluated high priority species in terms of potential for successful management. These elements should prove valuable to local resource managers in allocating limited funding to most effectively target invasive species, one of the greatest threats to natural ecosystems. A bibliography of information on control and management of invasive species was also compiled. View the risk assessment.
The Estuary Program has also partnered with the Armand Bayou Nature Center and local governments to control Chinese tallow and other high priority invasive species. In the Fall of 2003, the Estuary Program partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to conduct a survey of exotic fish and aquatic species found in tributary bayous and streams in the bay area.
Search for other Galveston Bay Plan implementation projects.
See more information on the Species Population Protection Action Plan in The Galveston Bay Plan.
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