If you have questions regarding the application and funding process, please contact the Galveston Bay Estuary Program at GBEP@tceq.texas.gov.

Funding for Fiscal 2027

Funding Priorities for Fiscal 2027 funding through Section 320 of the Clean Water Act will be determined during the June 2025 subcommittee meetings.

Additional information on the upcoming subcommittee meetings can be found on the GBEP website or by contacting the appropriate subcommittee coordinator.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Funding for Federal Fiscal 2026

The following priorities were selected for IIJA funding for the upcoming request for proposals during the April 2, 2025, Budget & Priorities Subcommittee meeting. 

Action Priorities (Proposals must address one or more of the following actions)

• Habitat Conservation, Restoration, and Enhancement that incorporates water quality protection/improvement and benefit to wildlife.
• Projects that evaluate water quality indicators or address sources of water and sediment quality degradation in support of watershed management.
• Projects that are on the ground (place-based) within the lower Galveston Bay watershed.

Support Priorities (Proposals must address at least one supporting action developed by the subcommittees, but preference will be given to projects that are able to incorporate multiple supporting actions)

• Engaging K-12 students and/or adults in hands-on, place-based environmental education.
• Includes region-wide initiatives that foster collaborations and/or build capacity with new communities and organizations while implementing the Engage Communities priority plan.
• Monitoring and research that produces environmental data applicable to future implementation and management decisions and/or establishes new or updated environmental benchmarks.

Overarching Requirements for all proposals:

Projects must implement the Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition and incorporate overarching priorities for projects to implement multiple plan priorities of the Galveston Bay Plan.

• Ensure Safe Human and Aquatic Life Use
• Protect and Sustain Living Resources
• Engage Communities
• Inform Science – Based Decision Making

Project minimum cost of $150,000

Project duration of three (3) years

Projects must explain how their project implements the Estuary Resilience Action Plan (ERAP).

Special Considerations:

EPA Areas of Special Interest:

• Reduce Nutrient Pollution to Protect Water Quality and Public Health
• Adapt to Recurring Extreme Weather Events and Increase Resilience
• Increase Benefits from Projects to All Communities
• Reduce Marine Litter/Trash

Build America, Buy America Act

Federal Flood Risk Management Standards

How the Galveston Bay Estuary Program funds projects

Federal, state, and partner contributions are critical to the success of the GBEP. The Estuary Program is funded annually with EPA funds from Section 320 of the Clean Water Act, which is matched (1:1) with state funds from TCEQ. The partnership between TCEQ and EPA is important to the successful implementation of The Galveston Bay Plan since some plan actions fulfill the tenants of the Clean Water Act and Texas Water Code and support the missions of both agencies.

GBEP receives additional state funding, which is leveraged to match other federal grants.

GBEP provides technical support to its partners in developing and securing funding for a variety of project types and applies for external funding when applicable. Awards received include Coastal Impact Assistance Program, which was administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Texas General Land Office, and the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The Estuary Program project development and funding is unique in that the staff members work closely with stakeholders to take a project from concept to implementation. This process is one of the strengths of the Estuary Program as it has garnered vital partnerships and helped leverage resources from multiple entities and organizations.
The fiscal year for the State of Texas is September 1 through August 31. Throughout the year the Galveston Bay Council and its subcommittees meet to develop projects that are aligned with the Galveston Bay Plan.

The Water and Sediment Quality (WSQ), Natural Resource Uses (NRU), Public Participation and Education (PPE), and Monitoring and Research (M&R) subcommittees meet quarterly during the year to discuss each group’s priority focus and determine what projects or issues need to be addressed. The subcommittees also work in concert with the Galveston Bay Council, the Budget and Priorities subcommittee (B&P), and Estuary Program staff to develop priority needs. The B&P subcommittee consists of the chairs of each of the subcommittees and the Council Chair and Vice Chair as well as former Council Chairs. This body also meets regularly to review and assess the needs of the program and the other subcommittees.

Starting in early summer, the committees meet to set priority needs that will help determine project planning for the upcoming fiscal year funding.

By early fall, each subcommittee meets to review project proposals based on the priorities set throughout the year. A project proposal submission form is made available for each subcommittee and the public at large. Projects are presented in the September subcommittee meetings.

After subcommittee members have reviewed the proposals, projects are selected either by consensus or ranking depending on the approved process in each subcommittee.

Once the projects are selected by each subcommittee, the projects are then reviewed by the B&P subcommittee. This body is tasked with providing a balanced fiscal year budget for the program that takes into consideration program needs, operating costs, and project funding.

In October, the Council is presented the GBEP budget that includes the proposed projects. Once the Council has approved the projects and proposed GBEP budget, the Estuary Program, and TCEQ work to develop the fiscal year work plan for the EPA that lays out program operating costs, project funding, and program needs.