Current Projects

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.

Characterization of Ambient Water Quality in Natural and Created Wetlands of the Texas Coast
This project's focus compares water quality from both natural and created marshes to nearby open water sites as well as various biotic factors of each marsh. These data will be used to determine if there is a correlation between the various biotic factors and water quality.

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, Abundance, and Habitat Use by the Dwarf Seahorse, Hippocampus zosterae, along the Texas Coast
This project will assess the distribution, abundance, demographics, and habitat associations of the Dwarf Seahorse in major bay systems along the Texas coast.

Distribution, Abundance, and Habitat Use of the American Eel
The primary objectives for this study are to investigate the distribution, abundance and habitat use of American eels in the coastal waters of Texas with a focus on elvers.

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 Wetland Condition Assessment
The NWCA is a statistical survey of the quality of our nation's wetlands. The purpose of the survey is to generate statistically-valid and environmentally relevant reports on the condition of the nation's water resources.

Real-time Flow Monitoring
As part of a watershed protection plan in the San Jacinto-Brazos and Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basins, EIH scientists installed continuous flow measurement stations on Caney Creek (Matagorda County) and Oyster Creek (Brazoria County). Data collected will aid researchers in loading calculations and developing watershed protection plans.

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 the 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.