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

 

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program Request for Proposals for Fiscal 26 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 320 and State Funding is Open from June 19 to August 5, 2024.

WSQ Proposal Form, NRU Proposal Form, PPE Proposal Form, M&R Proposal Form

CWA Section 320 and State Funding Priorities by Subcommittee: WSQ (Texas Comptroller Solicitation for WSQ) Supporting management measures and watershed-based plans Monitoring and Research that evaluates green infrastructure effectiveness Evaluation and development of indicators and metrics of water (surface and ground) and sediment quality NRU (Texas Comptroller Solicitation for NRU) Habitat acquisition. Enhancement of existing or ongoing restoration/conservation efforts. special emphasis on adaptive management for previously completed projects. Benefit to native fish and wildlife, including federal and state listed species, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, or nongame wildlife. special emphasis on projects addressing seagrasses, intertidal reef/shell hash, and benthic mapping. any species monitoring projects should be a collaboration/partnership between subcommittees. Brings funding, work leverage, or multiple goal benefits to the subcommittee. Takes into consideration the results of the Estuary Resilience Action Plan. Project urgency: Project must be completed in next 24 months or opportunity is lost. PPE (Texas Comptroller Solicitation for PPE) Continuation or expansion of established education, outreach, or engagement programs. Partnering with new local entities or smaller non-governmental organizations to reach new communities. Connecting new audiences to existing/completed projects or the natural habitat Opportunities for GBEP and partners to host workshops/networking opportunities for stakeholders on key topics M&R (Texas Comptroller Solicitation for M&R) Meaningful and effective monitoring of existing, past, and new projects (NRU: especially species of concern, WSQ, PPE). Baseline assessments for large-scale, man-made changes to Galveston Bay. Assessment, Exposure, and Response to stressors, including but not limited to: Species of greatest conservation need; Contact recreation standards; Environmental parameters; Emerging contaminants; and Legacy contaminants. Please fill out all fields of the appropriate subcommittee proposal form and return to the corresponding subcommittee coordinator by COB Monday, August 5, 2024 Please note the following: The 1,000-word maximum on the Full Project Summary will be strictly enforced. Only Microsoft Word versions of a proposal will be accepted (No PDFs; please contact the appropriate subcommittee coordinator if there is an issue). No projects will be accepted after August 5, 2024. Please contact the appropriate subcommittee coordinator with questions. WSQ Coordinator– Christian Rines; christian.rines@tceq.texas.gov NRU Coordinator – Lindsey Lippert; lindsey.lippert@tceq.texas.gov PPE Coordinator – Zoe Gapayao; zoe.gapayao@tceq.texas.gov, Lisa Marshall; lisa.marshall@tceq.texas.gov, or Matthew Abernathy; matthew.abernathy@tceq.texas.gov M&R Coordinator – Jenelle Estrada; jenelle.estrada@tceq.texas.gov

 

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 diverse and 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.