Wetland and aquatic habitats are biologically essential to the Galveston Bay Estuarine System. Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of these habitats is critical if they are to be effectively protected and managed. This abstract presents results of an investigation sponsored by the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program to determine the status and trends of wetlands and aquatic habitats in the Galveston Bay System through aerial photographic analysis supported by field surveys. The investigation, funded by the Texas Water Commission and Environmental Protection Agency, was a cooperative effort of the Bureau of Economic Geology, the National Wetlands Research Center and National Wetlands Inventory program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.