The Galveston Bay complex: a summary of characteristics

The coastal region of Texas is characterized by a nearly continuous series of marginal marine embayments separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a system of sand barrier islands and barrier peninsulas. The largest of these embayments is the Galveston Bay complex, with an area of 610 square miles. This complex actually consists of several bays and includes Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay, San Jacinto Bay, East Bay, and West Bay. The entire complex is separated from the relatively high energy environment of the Gulf of Mexico by Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. This sand barrier system is breached by three tidal passes or inlets, Rollover Pass, Bolivar Roads, and San Luis Pass, which permit partial interchange of gulf and bay water.