In accordance with The Galveston Bay Plan (The Plan), a coordinating body, The Galveston Bay Council (GBC) was created and appointed by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) in November 1995. The Galveston Bay Council continues the work of the Management Conference convened for The Plan’s creation.

This Council is charged to:

  • Provide an ongoing forum for technical and stakeholder review and involvement during implementation of The Plan.
  • Contribute to assessments of The Plan’s effectiveness and participate in periodic redirection of The Plan’s initiatives.
  • Advise the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during consistency reviews of eligible federal projects.
  • Maintain agency commitments to implement The Plan; assure efficient cross-jurisdictional coordination and, if necessary, facilitate resolution of disputes.
  • Set annual priorities for the implementation of action plans.
  • Represent various stakeholder groups.

Galveston Bay Council Bylaws

Galveston Bay Council – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Just as natural ecosystems depend on biodiversity to thrive, the long-term preservation of the Galveston Bay estuary depends on the equitable, just and inclusive engagement of all communities throughout the watershed.

The Galveston Bay Council is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness as a core policy and fundamental operating principle. It is the policy of the council to engage in an active and ongoing process that affirms human diversity in its many forms, encompassing but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation and identification, age, economic circumstance, class, disability, geography, and religion.

The Council seeks diversity and equity to ensure that a range of perspectives, opinions, and experiences are recognized and considered in achieving the mission of protecting and preserving the Galveston Bay Estuary.

Upcoming Meeting: July 19, 2023

Federal Agencies

U.S. Coast Guard: Matthew Tilimon
U.S. Geological Survey: Mike Lee
National Marine Fisheries Service: Charrish Stevens
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service: Scott Alford
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Andrea Catanzaro
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Huy Vu
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Scott Williams

State Agencies

Texas Department of Agriculture: Kristin Lambrecht
Texas General Land Office: Dianna Ramirez
Texas Department of State Health Services: Kirk Wiles
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Lindsey Savage
Texas Railroad Commission: Audrey Kuklenz
Texas Department of Transportation: Sue Theiss
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board: Brian Koch
Texas Water Development Board: Caimee Schoenbaechler

Regional/Local Governments

Gulf Coast Authority: Elizabeth Fazio Hale
Houston-Galveston Area Council: Todd Running
City of Houston: Winfred Colbert
Medium Local Governments – population 25,000- 500,000: Ronnie Schultz
Small Local Governments – population <25,000: Julie Masters
Trinity River Authority: Glenn Clingenpeel
Port of Houston Authority: Garry McMahan
Large Local Governments – population >500,000: Jonathan Holley
San Jacinto River Authority: Shane Simpson

Environmental/Citizen’s Groups

Galveston Bay Foundation: Bob Stokes
Citizens-at-Large: Sharron L. Stewart
Underrepresented Communities: Juan Flores
League of Women Voters: Grace Martinez
Coastal Conservation Association: Shane Bonnot
Low-income Communities: Albert Gonzales
Other Conservation Organizations: Linda Shead

Private Sector

Nature Tourism: Rusty Senac
Greater Houston Partnership: Maria Valdez
Utilities: Jeff Dallarosa
Industry: Vance Darr
Marinas: Helen Paige
Commercial Fisheries: Tracy Woody
East Harris County Manufacturer’s Association: Ana Partin

Research/Academia

Major Universities: Hanadi Rifai
Texas Sea Grant: Pamela Plotkin