Research Action Plan
 An important strategy in The Galveston Bay Plan is to focus current research programs and increase research funding that will help managers of the Galveston Bay System solve critical environmental problems. The Research Action Plan is a support action plan intended to support the implementation of all other action plans. Current research efforts for Galveston Bay suffer from several problems that reduce their effectiveness. For example, much of the research is administered by state and federal agencies that focus on specific parts of the ecosystem or on specific environmental programs. None of these agencies have responsibility for the Galveston Bay estuary as a whole and are often driven to provide information that will support an agency's ability to carry out its mission. Therefore relatively little research is conducted that looks at the cumulative effects.
The Research Action Plan seeks to support and focus Galveston Bay research to improve our knowledge of the bay and its relation to human uses, including:
- Stimulation of creativity and excellence
- Encouragement of research related to decision-making activities under The Galveston Bay Plan by regulatory and management agencies
- Support of timely implementation of the goals and objectives of The Galveston Bay Plan for the Galveston Bay system
- Dissemination of findings to regulatory and scientific communities and the public
The Research Coordination Board (RCB) of the Galveston Bay Council is charged with facilitating implementation of the Research Action Plan through our GBEP Partners.
Results!
- Diverse partners of the RCB created the first holistic list of research questions that need attention by researchers if understanding of the bay ecosystem is to continue to improve.
- Looking at what makes a bay healthy through the Galveston Bay Environmental Indicators Project.
- Provides funds to the scientific community to support important ecosystem based research needed by area decision-makers.
- Continues to lend support to GBEP's State of the Bay Symposium to disseminate research findings to the regulatory and scientific communities and the public.
Research Action Plan implementation highlights:
Research Needs List
The Research Needs List is the RCB's effort to determine what local, regional and state agency and university research is currently underway related to Galveston Bay; where current understanding about the bay ecosystems need more study; identify partners capable of filling these identified gaps in knowledge; and identify possible sources of funding.
Environmental Indicators Project
The Monitoring Program defines environmental indicators as measurements that indicate the condition of valued habitats, resources and processes; and quantify the impact of stressors on ecosystems and human users. The Monitoring Program, however, does not provide for their implementation. This project surveys available work on the development of environmental indicators from the Gulf Coast, around the United States, and internationally; works with the Status and Trends Database on access to available data sets; rigorously studies responsive environmental indicators using data of the Galveston Bay Database as a starting point; will make a recommendation on a scientifically defensible suite of indicators; and will note any data or knowledge gaps, further research needs and limitations in implementing this recommended set of indicators. The EPA has determined that this is an important gap in the ability of GBEP to assess progress towards implementing the Plan. This project is anticipated to be complete in February 2005.
Ecosystem Research Grant
The Research Coordination Board of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program has developed a list of research gaps in Galveston Bay. This grant provides needed funds to stimulate area research in response to five identified priorities: Habitat Restoration, Non-point Source Pollution, Erosion and Sedimentation, Economic Evaluation, Invasive Species. Projects funded under this grant are expected to begin in the summer of 2004. Find out about other funding sources.
Search for other Galveston Bay Plan implementation projects.
See more information on the Research Action Plan in The Galveston Bay Plan.
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