Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary (Galveston Bay)
The Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary, commonly referred to as Galveston Bay, is located in the northeastern part of the state, southwest of the Sabine-Neches Estuary. The Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary is the largest estuary in Texas with an area of 345,280 acres and is the seventh largest estuary in the nation. Key features of this estuary include Trinity Bay, Galveston Bay, East Bay, West Bay, and Gulf passes at Bolivar Roads, San Luis Pass, and Rollover Pass. The Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway are other notable features in the system. This estuary receives on average 40 - 50 inches of precipitation per year. Typically, the estuary receives 11 million acre-feet of freshwater inflow from the major contributing rivers, the Trinity River and the San Jacinto River, in addition to runoff from surrounding coastal watersheds. The estuary is surrounded by Chambers, Harris, Galveston, and Brazoria counties and is located within the boundaries of the Region H Regional Water Planning Group and also is affected by planning activities of the Region C Regional Water Planning Group.
Selected Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary Studies
- Guthrie, C.G., J. Matsumoto, and R.S. Solis. 2012. Analysis of the Influence of Water Plan Strategies on Inflows and Salinity in Galveston Bay Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Texas. 71pp.
- Guthrie, C.G., C. Schoenbaechler, J. Matsumoto, and Q. Lu. 2012. TxBLEND Model Calibration and Validation for the Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary. March 22, 2012 Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Texas. 56pp.
- Schoenbaechler, C., C.G. Guthrie, and Q. Lu. 2012. Coastal Hydrology for the Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary. January 5, 2012. Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Tx. 29pp.
- Batchelor, M.E., and C.G. Guthrie. 2008. Galveston Bay Freshwater Inflow Re-Study. An investigation of productivity-inflow relationships. Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Tx. 45pp.
- Matsumoto, J., G.L. Powell, D.A. Brock, C. Paternostro. 2005. Effects of Structures and Practices on the Circulation and Salinity Patterns of Galveston Bay, Texas. Prepared for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program. Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Tx. 138pp.
- Lee, W., D. Buzan, P. Eldridge, and W. Pulich, Jr. 2001. Freshwater inflow recommendation for the Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, Tx. 59pp.
- Brock, D.A., Solis, R.S., and Longley, W.L. 1996. Guidelines for Water Resources Permitting: Nutrient Requirements for Maintenance of Galveston Bay Productivity. 130pp.
- TDWR. 1981. Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary: A study of the influence of freshwater inflows. LP-113. Texas Department of Water Resources, Austin, Tx. 491pp.