Water and Sediment Quality Indicators

For the most part Galveston Bay has historically maintained good water quality. While vast water quality improvements have occurred since the implementation of the Clean Water Act in the 1970s, problems still persist:

• Elevated levels of pathenogenic bacteria
• Industrial contaminants in sediments and fish tissue
• Nonpoint source pollution

Water and sediment quality is closely related to the types of land use (suburban, industrial, agricultural, etc.) that exist within a watershed. Subsequently, Galveston Bay’s water quality problems are primarily concentrated in the western urban tributaries to the bay where most of the human development is situated.

Visit the links below for more information regarding the water and sediment quality issues of Galveston Bay

Water Quality

• Pathogens
• Nutrients

Sediment Quality

• Heavy Metals
• Organic Pollutants