Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program Dedicated to protecting our bays and estuaries while supporting continued economic growth and public use of the bays. land conservation program

Texas bays and estuaries provide vital ecosystems and nursery habitat for many important Gulf species, feeding and resting places for migrating birds, and billions of dollars to the Texas economy.

Welcome to the Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting website. This meeting has brought together scientists, students, coastal managers, elected officials, and the interested public to share research relevant to the bay, estuary and nearshore environments of the Gulf of …

Texas Bays and Estuaries. Texas bays and estuaries are some of the most biologically productive places in the marine environment. Most of the fish and invertebrate species people are familiar with spend large parts of their sub-adult periods in the sea grass areas or near the shorelines.

There are many famous and well-known bays, including San Francisco Bay and the Bay of Biscay. Famous and well-known estuaries include Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound. Bays and estuaries are common features of marine shorelines that have been affected by rising sea level.

Texas has 367 miles of coastline within which 21 river basins terminate, bringing fresh water from surface run-off, rivers, and streams into individual bays. Here, bounded by barrier islands, the mixing of freshwater and seawater in these bays forms estuaries.

Major estuaries in Texas are named for their primary contributing rivers. For example, the Colorado-Lavaca Estuary is named for the Colorado and Lavaca rivers, though most of us refer to this estuary as Matagorda Bay.

Where land becomes sea, and freshwater meets salt, is one of the most productive biological systems. Known as the “nurseries of the sea,” estuaries are the ocean’s protected areas. As one moves toward the coast, marshes, bayous and rivers give way to flats and open water.

Overview of Bay Habitats: Mud Flats, Sea grass beds, Hypersaline lagoon. In the open bay, nutrient-rich waters support a multitude of tiny life. Where water flow is restricted, though, hypersaline lagoons full of extra salty water form. And on the seaward sides, barrier islands keep the Gulf at bay. Solid as a Reef

Dedicated to the protection and restoration of bays and estuaries as essential resources for our nation. Meet Our Staff. See our amazing team who help propel our mission to protect and restore our nation's bays & estuaries. RAE Members & Board. We could not achieve our mission without our alliance of member groups. See who they are and how they ...