Who Backs the Bay

In-Person Programs: This organization offers in-person educational programming and field trips at their own site (example: parks, nature centers, zoos)

Outreach Programs: This organization has staff and volunteers that will come to your site to offer programs or tours in-person

Virtual Programs: This organization offers virtual programming, either live or pre-recorded.

On-Your-Own Activities: This organization offers activities that help individuals or organizations to lead their own activities (examples: field guides, scavenger hunts, etc.)

Educator Resources and Reference Materials: This organization offers resources and materials that can help in the creation and facilitation of quality programs. (ex: TEKS curricula, interactive maps and activities, etc.)

Public Nature Access: This organization has property or nature center allowing the public to enjoy activities and programs on site. 

Stewardship and Volunteering: This organization has opportunities for the public to volunteer and assist with nature based . 

Maps and Resources: This organization provides access to maps and other resources. This organization may also provide technical guidance services. 

Key to Bay Ambassador Resources

Bay Ambassadors are organizations whose work supports the principles behind Back the Bay; the action plan priorities of the Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd edition; and the mission of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program.

Meet Our Bay Ambassadors

The mission of ABNC is twofold: To preserve the habitats with which we have been entrusted and to provide opportunities for people to experience and understand the local ecosystem.
Artist Boat is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote awareness and preservation of coastal margins and the marine environment through the disciplines of the sciences and the arts.
The mission of Audubon Texas, the state office of the National Audubon Society, is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.
Bayou Land Conservancy is a nonprofit that works to preserve land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.
Bayou Preservation Association's mission is to celebrate, protect, and restore the natural richness of our bayous and streams, through education, advocacy, and action.
Birding for Fun is an organization offering guided birding and nature tours, classes and workshops, and family-friendly events that embrace the philosophy that nature should be accessible to everyone.
Black Cat GIS and Biological LLC is a small, woman owned business that specializes in spatial statistical analysis, custom Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data creation and biological field services.
The mission of the Environmental Institute of Houston at University of Houston-Clear Lake is to advance understanding of the environment through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach.
Our mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. We work to facilitate a true cross-section of Bay interests through creative, inclusive and forward-thinking solutions to the challenges confronting Galveston Bay.
Our mission is to connect people with Galveston's natural environment.
The Galveston Parks Board promotes and supports tourism on Galveston Island in order to foster an environment that establishes a great place to live, work and visit.
The mission of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is to facilitate research activities on sea turtles at all organizational levels, from molecular to population and ecosystem levels, that will ultimately result in restoration of sea turtle populations and the protection vital sea turtle habitats.
Since 2004, the five Gulf states have been the foundation of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, a partnership network dedicated to working on issues common to the Gulf region. The overarching goals of the Alliance continue to be: providing forums for collaboration, developing and modifying tools to address regional issues, enabling strategic partnerships, and tracking restoration efforts
HARC is a nonprofit research hub providing independent analysis on energy, air, water, resilience, and climate equity. Our research supports the implementation of policies and technologies that promote sustainability based on scientific principles. We apply science to drive solutions for a sustainable and equitable future.
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals.
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals.
Enriching life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council serves as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region's orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens.
Houston Parks Board creates, improves, protects, and advocates for parks for everyone.
HOUSTON WILDERNESS works with a broad-based alliance of business, environmental and government interests to protect and promote the 10 diverse ecoregions of the 13+ county area around Houston, Galveston Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, including coastal prairies, forests, wetlands, and waterways.
Lone Star College provides environmental education outreach to the public and K-12 schools. The college also has an 88 acres lowlands forest and river-bottom nature trail open to the public.
The mission of National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. NWF focuses on protecting wildlife habitat, restoring important freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and reconnecting people of all ages with nature.
Our mission is dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas. We protect prairies through acquisition, partnerships, and conservation easements. 
PVAMU is dedicated to achieving excellence and relevance in teaching, research, and service. We seek to invest in programs and services that address issues and challenges affecting the diverse ethnic and socioeconomic population of Texas and the larger society including the global arena.
Scenic Galveston focuses on habitat protection, enhancement, restoration, and permanent management of the Virginia Point Peninsula nature preserve complex including the O'Quinn I-45 Estuary Corridor.
San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) is a government agency whose mission is to develop, conserve, and protect the water resources of the San Jacinto River basin
SPLASh is creating a cleaner environment for people, birds, and other wildlife in the greater Houston-Galveston region through community science, education, and outreach.
The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards.
Texas A&M Forest Service provides statewide leadership and technical assistance to ensure trees, forests and related natural resources are sustained for the benefit of all. The agency supports the state's incident response capability, protecting against wildfire and responding to a range of all-hazard incidents. The water resource program mission is to protect, conserve, and enhance Texas' water resources through the sustainable use of forestlands.
The mission of Texas Children in Nature Network is to ensure equitable access and connection to nature for all chidren in Texas
The Texas Community Watershed Partners (TCWP) provides education and outreach to local governments and citizens on the impacts of land use on watershed health and water quality.
Turtle Island Restoration Network's mission is to mobilize people in local communities around the world to protect marine wildlife and the oceans and inland watersheds that sustain them.
Vision Galveston's focus is connecting the collective community’s vision for Galveston to the resources to make that vision happen by 2040. With the help and support of our residents, workforce, partners, and funders, we aim to transform Galveston into the best place to live, work, raise a family, and visit for all socioeconomic groups and demographics, young and old.

These Bay Ambassadors are a collection of businesses, organizations, community groups, and state and federal agencies who provide a variety of resources for our communities.

Key to GBP Plan Priorities

PLAN PRIORITY
1

ENSURE SAFE HUMAN AND AQUATIC LIFE USE
The Galveston Bay estuary is one of the most productive in the country through commercial fishing, tourism, and oyster harvesting. Water quality is a key indicator of the health of the bay, therefore improving water quality and promoting public health through awareness are steps necessary to protect the health of the bay.

PLAN PRIORITY
2

PROTECT AND SUSTAIN LIVING RESOURCES
The region has experienced significant shift in land use due to population growth which has led to habitat loss and fragmentation. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and other impacts affects surface water quality, reduces biodiversity, and disrupts the food chain.

PLAN PRIORITY
3

ENGAGE
COMMUNITIES
With 95 percent of households in the Houston-Galveston region being within five miles of a major body of water, protecting and promoting the health of our natural resources is important. A resilient Galveston Bay depends on an informed and supportive public that feels personally invested in making decisions that improve its health.

PLAN PRIORITY
4

INFORM SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING
Galveston Bay is a complex, dynamic system influenced by ever-changing human interactions and natural processes. Given these changes affect people, habitats, and species of Galveston Bay, the information collected through monitoring and research is essential in managing implementation activities.
Become a Bay Ambassador
Key to Ambassador Resources