Current Projects
EIH collaborates with a diverse group of partnership organizations from the public and private sectors. EIH receives partial funding by the Texas Legislature, but research projects are funded primarily by grants, contracts, and donations from agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals.
Baseline Research Studies in Support of Validation or Refinement of the Adopted Texas
Commission Environmental Quality Environmental Flow Standards for the Brazos River
Estuary
This project expands on previous research conducted by EIH in the Brazos River Estuary
near Freeport. The new project expands the monitoring to the Nearshore Gulf of Mexico,
and adds suspended sediment monitoring.
Baseline Study of Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Population Viability in Texas Watersheds
Trapping surveys are conducted on a seasonal basis in order to evaluate spatial and
seasonal trends in M. temminckii populations in Texas.
Critical Life History Parameters of the Texas Diamond-backed Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin littoralis
EIH continues to build upon previous research on the population and distribution of
the Texas diamond-backed terrapin in the upper Texas coast.
Design, Construction, and Analysis of Floating Wetlands
EIH researchers will build and analyze floating treatment wetland systems as an additional
technology approach to reduce stormwater pollutant loads.
Distribution and Habitat Associations of the Western Chicken Turtle in Texas
For this study, researchers utilize traditional and novel sampling techniques focused
in areas where WCT have been previously observed, and will be employed at sites representative
of all habitat types within the species’ range.
Foraging Ecology of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Galveston Bay, Texas
This research contributes to the basic life history knowledge of the Galveston Bay
dolphin population such as key foraging habitats used by the dolphins and proportions
of different prey consumed.
Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program
The objectives of this project are to implement a monitoring program for bottlenose
dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Galveston Bay, Texas; to determine relative abundance within the upper Galveston
Bay Estuary and Houston Ship Channel; and to characterize residency patterns, habitat
use and ranging patterns of these dolphins.
National Lakes Assessment
The NLA is a survey of the condition of our nation's lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.
It is designed to provide statistically valid national and regional estimates of the
condition of lakes. NLA field season sampling is conducted every five years.
Texas Clean Rivers Program
The goal of the CRP is to maintain and improve the quality of water resources within
each river basin in Texas through an ongoing partnership involving TCEQ, river authorities,
local and state governments, industry, citizens and other agencies. EIH conducts routine
ambient monitoring at 55 CRP sites in the Houston-Galveston area.
Utilizing Eel Ramps, eDNA, and Plankton Sampling to Monitor American Eel Recruitment
in Texas
EIH researchers are constructing and deploying 10 to 12 eel ramps specially designed
to target ingressing glass eels and elvers along the central to upper Texas Coast.