During the October 18, 2023 Galveston Bay Council (GBC) meeting, the GBC approved both the fiscal 2025 Section 320 and state funding budget and the fiscal 2024 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law budget for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program. An overview of the budgets and approved projects is available here.
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 2025
FY25 Section 320 & State Funding Proposals for Review
GBEP received a total of 30 proposals for fiscal 2025 funding through Clean Water Act Section 320 and State Funding. The proposals have been separated by subcommittee and are available through the links below.
FY25 M&R Section 320/State Proposals
FY25 NRU Section 320/State Proposals
FY25 PPE Section 320/State Proposals
FY25 WSQ Section 320/State Proposals
The request for proposals for FY25 Section 320 and State funding is now closed. The solicitation information and proposal forms are available below for reference only.
Section 320 and State Funding Priorities by subcommittee: WSQ
NRU
– Special emphasis on projects addressing geotubes failing across West Bay through design and/or construction
– Special emphasis on projects addressing seagrasses, intertidal reef/shell hash, and benthics
PPE
M&R
Please fill out all fields of the appropriate subcommittee proposal form and return to the corresponding Subcommittee Coordinator by COB Friday, August 4, 2023.
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 – Kari Howard; kari.howard@tceq.texas.gov
M&R Coordinator – Casey Taylor; GBEP Proxy email and Lisa Marshall Please note the following:
Additional information is available from the Texas Comptroller Website. |
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding
GBEP received nine proposals for funding through the Federal BIL. The proposals are available for review through the link below.
The request for proposals for funding through the Federal BIL is now closed.
Information and Request for Proposals for funding of projects through the BIL.
Federal BIL Fund Stakeholder Identified Priorities: Overarching Requirements Projects should be fulfilled through collaboration when possible — This is addressed through a specific question in the application where applicants will be required to define partners and their roles in the project.
Action Priorities Proposals must address one or more of the following actions:
– Green infrastructure – Watershed health; and – Water reuse and conservation
– Follow up or expansion of habitat and water quality projects; and – Continued maintenance or repair of habitat and water quality projects.
– Habitat and water quality mapping gaps; and – Pre and/or post – construction monitoring including habitat and species assessment/use/benefit, events, and general function. 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.
– captures a meaningful, quantifiable measure of a response action taken; – produces data applicable and transferable to multiple programs; or – produce meaningful data that can be used for future implementation and management decisions.
Special Considerations:
– Reduction in nutrient pollution – Water reuse and conservation – Marine litter reduction – Green infrastructure and resiliency
Please fill out all fields of the proposal form and return to the GBEP Proxy Email by COB Friday, August 25, 2023. Please note the following:
Additional information is available from the Texas Comptroller Website.
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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.
GBEP Project Development Process
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.