Galveston County Research Articles

Automated building damage assessment and large‐scale mapping by integrating satellite imagery, GIS, and deep learning

AbstractEfficient and accurate building damage assessment is crucial for effective emergency response and resource allocation following natural hazards. However, traditional methods are often time consuming and labor intensive. Recent advancements in remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) have made it possible to automate the damage assessment process, and previous studies have made notable progress in machine learning classification. However, the application in postdisaster emergency response requires an end‐to‐end model that starts with satellite imagery as input and automates the generation of large‐scale damage maps as output, which was rarely the focus of previous studies. Addressing this gap, this study integrates satellite imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and deep learning. This enables the creation of comprehensive, large‐scale building damage assessment maps, providing valuable insights into the extent and spatial variation of damage. The effectiveness of this methodology is demonstrated in Galveston County following Hurricane Ike, where the classification of a large ensemble of buildings was automated using deep learning models trained on the xBD data set. The results showed that utilizing GIS can automate the extraction of subimages with high accuracy, while fine‐tuning can enhance the robustness of the damage classification to generate highly accurate large‐scale damage maps. Those damage maps were validated against historical reports.

Retreat from flood zones: Simulating land use changes in response to compound flood risk in coastal communities

Coastal communities are increasingly vulnerable due to sea level rise and population growth. Managed retreat is commonly recognized as a strategy that yields multifaced benefits in community adaptation. However, limited studies have explored the cumulative effects of sea level rise, population migration, and managed retreat on the community resilience. This study presents a parcel-level land use change model to analysis land-based flood mitigation strategies in Galveston County, Texas. The developed model integrates a Gradient Boosting Decision Tree with a flood risk model and diverse datasets. Our model results reveal the spatial patterns of urban development in Galveston under different relocation policies and the compounding impacts of sea level rise and population growth. Our findings illustrate that elevating the first floors of buildings can significantly mitigate flood risks and associated relocation costs. The private adaptation measure, together with government-led buyout policies, could foster a shift toward more resilient urban development and yield a more affordable relocation strategy. Our findings emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach in building resilient coastal communities, particularly in the face of escalating climate risks in local communities.

Improving Hurricane Preparedness Among Galveston County Older Adults: Description of a Successful Community-Based Quality Improvement Model.

Older adults are at high risk of experiencing injury, exacerbations of their chronic conditions, and death when evacuations are ordered because of hurricanes or natural disasters. The Homebound seniors residing in Galveston County are at a particularly high risk of morbidity and mortality during evacuations for hurricanes. This paper described the impact of a quality improvement intervention designed and implemented by nurse practitioners during the 2022 and 2023 hurricane season. The education program aimed at increasing the hurricane preparedness of the home-bound patients. Of these patients, 190 returned pre and post surveys. Interventions showed a 43% increase in patients having an evacuation plan in the event of a hurricane, 633% increase in STEAR registration, 16% increase in patients having access to emergency supplies, and 34% increase in patients having an emergency contact list with up-to-date medication list. All improvements on hurricane preparedness items were significant (p < .0001) except for the need for assistance in case of an evacuation. Our findings suggest a need for continuous hurricane preparedness education in the community to ensure safe evacuation, improve hurricane preparation, and increase the number of seniors who registered with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry.

FOCUSING ON DIVERSITY: UTMB RECRUITMENT STRATEGY FOR THE D-CARE STUDY

Abstract The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is the main healthcare system in Galveston County where about 15% of older adults identify as Hispanic. Our recruitment efforts for the Dementia (D-CARE) study included adapting and translating in Spanish the screening, recruitment, and intervention materials. The study is being conducted by a bilingual team, and actively engages a highly diverse Local Patient and Stakeholder Council. After obtaining a partial HIPAA waiver from the Institutional Review Board, we created a dementia registry in the UTMB Epic (TM) electronic health record which captured patients diagnosed with ICD-9/10 codes of dementia. Referral letters from UTMB primary care and neurology providers authorized us to contact eligible patients. We utilized outpatient clinic appointment schedules, direct referrals, and community outreach to meet our enrollment goal. This recruitment strategy resulted in inclusion of 478 patient-caregiver dyads with 27.4% of participants identifying as Hispanic and 17% as Black.

Designing an Interprofessional, Student-Led Clinic with the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Model

Students and faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) embarked on the novel undertaking of establishing a comprehensive, interprofessional clinic treating underserved, uninsured residents of Galveston County, Texas, and the surrounding area, modeled after the patient-centered medical home (PCMH). The need for such a community clinic is evident in relevant literature and patients’ suggestions, in addition to local demographic data. The comprehensive nature of this approach to clinic design is apparent in the intricate planning and documents produced by the steering committee, which outline a unique operational structure that optimizes clinic flow. This paper describes the planning, implementation, and future directions of an interprofessional, student-led free clinic operating under the PCMH model that offers a framework for other clinics.

125 Galveston County Youth Risk Survey: A Glimpse into Our Children’s Health and Wellbeing

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The 2020-2021 Galveston County Youth Risk Survey continues past efforts to characterize behavioral risks for local youth, identify disproportionate risks among groups, and provide the data needed for action and intervention to improve the health and safety of our youth in Galveston, Texas. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: While the survey is based on the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), there was community need for an expanded survey and thus a workgroup was formed to create the Galveston Youth Risk Survey, including members from UTMBs Institute for Translational Sciences, a number of other UTMB departments and Centers, the Research, Education, and Community Health (REACH) Coalition, several school districts, Teen Health Clinic, and a variety of other community health organizations with vested interest. The survey was administered in November 2020 via ScanTron and REDCap to two local high schools with populations greater than 2,000. CDC guidelines for administration of the YRBSS were followed. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 2,428 students completed the survey from GISD and DISD. The survey provided insight into the following categories, with mental health emerging as a pressing issue, specifically stress and depression, particularly among females. All results are reported in several contexts, including comparisons by gender, grade, and ethnicity, a comparison to state and national statistics when available, as well as risk trends from previous surveys. Demographics Safety, including driving, violence, and bullying Mental Health: stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and ACEs Human Trafficking Substance Use, including smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use Sexual Behaviors, including contraceptive use Body Weight and Body Image Health Conditions Home Life: Support and Security DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The report has been presented to the school districts, immediate stakeholders, REACH membership, and the general public. Several presentations have been given to groups to report the findings. Workgroups will now be formed to address the needs of our students, as well as a possible follow-up survey to look at data specific to COVID-19 and mental health.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics: meeting clinical hours and improving nursing students’ skills

BackgroundAs 2020 drew to an end and the country was looking forward to 2021, the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing was presented with the challenge of administrating large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines. As the vaccines became more readily available, staff skilled in intramuscular injections (IM) were needed at multiple locations to administer the vaccinations. MethodThe school of nursing faculty recognized this as an opportunity for nursing students to gain clinical experience by substituting one virtual clinical day with one day at the in-person vaccine clinic. A comprehensive implementation plan was developed in collaboration with leadership from across the health system. ResultsThe students were able to increase confidence in IM injection skills while helping the community by administering life-saving doses of vaccine to patients and Galveston county residents. ConclusionsVaccination clinic participation proved to be a worthwhile experience for the nursing students and faculty.

Rapid Development, Training, and Implementation of a Remote Health Profession's Student Volunteer Corps During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Public health in the United States has long been challenged by budget cuts and a declining workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities left by years of neglecting this crucial frontline defense against emerging infectious diseases. In the early days of the pandemic, the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Galveston County Health District (GCHD) partnered to bolster Galveston County's public health response. We mobilized interprofessional teams of students and provided training to implement projects identified by GCHD as necessary for responding to the pandemic. We provided a safe outlet for students to contribute to their community by creating remote volunteer opportunities when students faced displacement from clinical rotations and in-person didactics converted to virtual formats. As students gradually returned to clinical rotations and didactic demands increased, it became necessary to expand volunteer efforts beyond what had initially been mostly hand-selected student teams. We have passed the initial emergency response phase of COVID-19 in Galveston County and are transitioning into more long-term opportunities as COVID-19 moves from pandemic to endemic. In this case study, we describe our successes and lessons learned.

The Role of SBA Loans in Small Business Survival after Disaster Events

Local businesses are important for recovering communities, yet program analyses of the effectiveness of Federal disaster loans—particularly for businesses—are limited and contradictory. This study looks at the role U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans played in the long-term survival of small businesses in Galveston County, Texas after the 2008 Hurricane Ike. This research uses quasi-experimental design, matching methods, and conditional logistic regression to tease out the effect of the loan from potential confounding factors. The results show that businesses that received a disaster loan were significantly more likely to survive than their controls, and businesses that moved were also more likely to survive.

Gang crackdowns and offender centrality in a countywide co-offending network: A networked evaluation of Operation Triple Beam

PurposeIn 2018, the US Marshals Service (USMS) and local law enforcement implemented “Operation Triple Beam” (OTB) in and around Houston, TX. While OTB has been touted as an exemplary initiative, its impact on offending and co-offending remains a mystery. Using over a decade of web-scraped arrest data from 16 law enforcement agencies I evaluate the impact of OTB on co-offending network involvement in Galveston County, TX. MethodsDifference-in-difference regression analysis is employed to assess change in centrality from the co-offending network preceding OTB to the network following OTB, relative to change over similarly structured networks in a randomly sampled control group drawn from the 7 years preceding OTB. ResultsArrest during OTB, to a greater extent than arrest during counterfactual periods, is associated with reductions in co-offending network involvement. The greatest reductions are observed in harmonic closeness and betweenness centrality. Further, OTB arrestees appear to have held co-offending network positions of greater prestige (eigenvector) when compared with the control group. ConclusionsConsistent with its goals, OTB appears to have targeted prominent offenders within the regional co-offending network. OTB appears to have been especially effective at damaging the involvement of the networks' brokers.

S0529 UTMB Approach to Restarting Outpatient Endoscopy Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread disruptions of outpatient endoscopic procedures. The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UTMB developed a tiered strategy for risk stratifying pandemic-related cancellations, in an effort to systematically reschedule patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in concordance with multi-society guidelines, provided a framework for gradual reopening of outpatient procedures. Here we describe the process and outcomes of the tier-based reinstitution of our outpatient endoscopy after flattening of the COVID-19 curve to provide urgent endoscopy services within a reasonable period applying appropriate risk mitigation precautions. METHODS: Patients with pandemic-related cancellations from 3/16/2020 to 4/20/2020 were stratified into tier groups (1-4) in order of urgency (Table 1). During phase 1 of Texas’s reopening, tiers 1 (urgent/emergent) and 2 (semi-urgent) were rescheduled within 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. During phase 2, tiers 3 and 4 were subsequently rescheduled within 3 months. Additional measures taken between phase 1 and 2 included pre-procedural testing of all inpatient and outpatients, employee testing, symptom screenings, surgical mask use, and internal social distancing. Patients who chose not to reschedule were asked to provide their rationale (Table 2). RESULTS: Of the 540 patients awaiting delayed procedures, 14/16 (87.50%) patients in tier 1 and 147/170 (86.47%) patients in tier 2 could be contacted by phone to discuss the possibility for scheduling. Of these, only 57.14% of tier 1 and 48.97% of tier 2 could be scheduled at their goal procedure interval. Despite counseling on the safety measures instituted, the most commonly identified barrier for rescheduling urgent or semi-urgent endoscopy was COVID-19 related concerns in 40%. Reassuringly, our pre-procedure COVID testing of the patients willing to return for their procedures revealed an incidence of 1.3%, as compared to 4.4% in Galveston county. CONCLUSION: Our model describes a tier-based system that can be used to safely reintroduce elective procedures prioritized based on urgency. The majority of patients across all tiers were rescheduled within 4 weeks. We plan to contact patients 2 weeks after endoscopy to inquire about COVID-19 testing and results, which will allow us to evaluate the efficacy of our peri-procedural transmission prevention measures.Table 1.: Tier system to prioritize outpatient endoscopy proceduresTable 2.: Endoscopy rescheduling due to COVID-19 pandemic

Adjustments of Socially Vulnerable Populations in Galveston County, Texas USA Following Hurricane Ike

The role of socio-demographic vulnerability to hazards is an increasingly important aspect for consideration in disaster mitigation and adaptation. This paper examines the spatial adjustments of populations to the 2008 Hurricane Ike by estimating the effects of damage on the changes of socially vulnerable populations pre- and post-Hurricane Ike. Multivariate regression models are used to understand household-level adjustments in different flood zones and inundation levels at the block-group level in Galveston county. In contrast to past literature that suggests that vulnerable populations remain or move into hazardous areas post-disaster, our results indicate that socially vulnerable populations have moved out of highly damaged areas. The tremendous investment opportunity post-disaster and the slow distribution of funds to recover public housing on Galveston Island provide potential explanation of the estimated adjustment patterns. Analyzing post disaster adjustments offers important insights into the “resilient” recovery of Galveston County post-Hurricane Ike. Our results also point to potential vulnerabilities that may arise in the future because of the change in community identity and the loss of social memory. Understanding disaster-driven changes in community make-up will help inform potential recovery trajectories from future catastrophes.

4309 Ascertaining the Medical Needs of Galveston County

4309 Ascertaining the Medical Needs of Galveston County

Children's Abrasions in Recreational Beach Areas and a Review of Possible Wound Infections.

The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEACHES) quantified the behavior of children at recreational beach areas to evaluate how various behaviors might affect their exposure to environmental contaminants such as bacteria and chemicals. Due to limited information in the study about abrasions, we conducted a literature review to examine how marine bacteria cause infections in open wounds. The literature review revealed possible adverse health effects from the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus due to its increasing prevalence and the severity of infection. We used data from the BEACHES study to review children’s behavior and their susceptibility to abrasions. Children six years of age and younger were evaluated before and after 1 h of play for open or healing abrasions at two beaches in Miami-Dade County, Florida (Crandon and Haulover), and two beaches in Galveston County, Texas (Stewart and Seawall). The children were videotaped to monitor their activities and to determine the behavior that would increase their susceptibility to obtaining abrasions. Overall, 58.2% of the children had at least one existing abrasion before playing at the beach, while 8.2% of the children acquired a new abrasion during their time at the beach. Children who acquired new abrasions most often played in the sea water, with new abrasions most frequently occurring on exposed skin surfaces such as the knees. Proper wound care before and after visiting the beach should be encouraged to minimize the risk of bacterial infection, especially considering the possible detrimental impacts that can be caused by some bacterial pathogens through wound exposures.

Rise in Murine Typhus in Galveston County, Texas, USA, 2018.

Murine typhus, an undifferentiated febrile illness caused by Rickettsia typhi, is increasing in prevalence and distribution throughout Texas. In 2018, a total of 40 cases of murine typhus were reported in Galveston County. This increase, unprecedented since the 1940s, highlights the importance of awareness by physicians and public health officials.

HELMINTHS OF THE ATTWATER'S PRAIRIE-CHICKEN TYMPANUCHUS CUPIDO ATTWATERI IN TEXAS

The Attwater's prairie-chicken (ATPC) Tympanuchus cupido attwateri is facing rapid extinction. Given their long-standing protected status, little information pertaining to the parasites and diseases of this species is available. In an effort to aid in management strategies, we conducted a helminth survey on ATPC that had been released from captivity between 1999 and 2010 in the Texas City Prairie Preserve, Galveston County, Texas. Birds examined were in various stages of decomposition, ranging from little signs of decomposition to advanced stages. Two hundred fifty nematodes representing three species were identified from 16 ATPC. Dispharynx nasuta was the most prevalent helminth species and occurred in 38% of hosts examined. Heterakis gallinarum occurred in 19% of hosts examined and Capillaria contorta infected 31% of hosts examined. Juvenile ATPC are typically treated with anthelmintics (Ivermectin and Panacur) before release in the wild. Although they spent variable (but limited) time in the environment postrelease, nematode prevalence was high.

Marine Archaeology Survey in Support of Galveston Island State Park Marsh Restoration and Protection Project Galveston County, Texas

BOB Hydrographics, LLC conducted a marine geophysical survey and archaeological assessment of a proposed construction access channel in Galveston County, on behalf of HDR Engineering, Inc. A proposed 25-acre bay access channel would cross portions of State Mineral Lease Tracts, West Bay 59, 65 and 66 in West Galveston Bay. The channel would provide construction access to build a breakwater for the Galveston Island State Park Marsh Protection and Restoration Project, sponsored by the General Land Office. An archaeological survey was requested by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, based on their review of Permit Application SWG-1998-02298. Consultation between the Texas Historical Commission and the Galveston District concluded that archaeological survey only would be required for the channel providing access from the bay to the island and not for areas adjacent and including the proposed breakwaters. The area of potential effect encompasses 70 acres, including a 50-meter buffer mandated by the Texas Historical Commission around the proposed channel. A review of cultural background determined that 1 marine archaeological investigation and, at least, 1 wreck have been reported within 3 miles of the survey area. BOB completed a marine geophysical survey on May 9, 2019 under Texas Antiquities Permit 8906. A total of 140 acres was surveyed to provide options for adjusting the route if necessary. Water depth at the time of the survey ranged from 4 to 9 feet. BOB assessed all geophysical data to locate archaeological sites potentially affected by construction of the access channel. No artifacts were collected during the survey. No significant geophysical targets were discovered that might be potentially eligible for the State Antiquities Landmark or for the National Register of Historic Places. BOB recommends cultural resource clearance for all areas surveyed, provided that a THC-mandated 50-meter buffer is honored around the perimeter of the survey area. This study was completed in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470) and the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191). The minimum reporting and survey requirements for marine archaeological studies conducted under a Texas Antiquities Permit are mandated by The Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 2, Chapters 26 and 28, respectively. Project records are curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Spatial and temporal influence of onsite wastewater treatment systems, centralized effluent discharge, and tides on aquatic hazards of nutrients, indicator bacteria, and pharmaceuticals in a coastal bayou

In the rapidly urbanizing watersheds and estuaries flowing to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, USA, instream flows are increasingly influenced by point source and nonpoint source discharges. Spatial and temporal tidal influences on water quality, especially for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), is poorly understood in estuaries and coastal systems. We selected Dickinson Bayou, an urban estuary in Galveston County, Texas, for study because it has historically impaired water quality, receives point source discharge from one major wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), while also being influenced by high densities of onsite sewage facilities upstream in the watershed. We explored the occurrence and potential hazards of aquatic contaminants, including nutrients, indicator bacteria for pathogens, and CECs, in relation to this point source discharge, across seasons and at high and low tides. Aquatic contaminants and associated hazards varied significantly in relation to the WWTP discharge, and were influenced by onsite systems. In fact, spatiotemporal water quality varied by class of contaminants (e.g., nutrients, indicator bacteria, CECs), which indicates that traditional surface water monitoring activities should account for such environmental complexity. This study provides a diagnostic approach for future studies of emerging water quality challenges across gradients of rapidly urbanizing coastal bays and estuaries.

2316 The extra-territorial translational team: Advances in multi-faceted community engagement

OBJECTIVES: We developed the concept of the extra-territorial translational team (ETTT) in 2014 as a more inclusive revision and extension of the team science concept. Translational thinking is largely marked by the perception of the team as a thing-like structure at the center of the scientific activity. Collaboration accordingly involves bringing external others (e.g., scientists, community members, and clinicians) into the team through limited or dependent participation. The ETTT is intended to frame the team as an idea: a schema for assembling and managing relationships among otherwise disparate individuals with vested interests in the problem at hand. Thus, the ETTT can be seen as a process as well as an object. Our initial focus was on the very successful SCI Café program (where Science and Communities Interact) conducted through the Institute for Translational Sciences and the Center for Translational Sciences Award at UTMB. We found that by looking beyond the taken-for-granted features of translational research teams, we are free to discover new ways of organizing research and community engagement that are innovative yet productive. The major area of growth, however, has been the Research, Education, And Community Health Coalition (REACH). The purpose of the current study is to outline strategies for inventorying and evaluating the emerging programs that are the major components of REACH and the SCI Café and to suggest implications for the extra-territorial translational team concept. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The assessment of the extraterritorial team concept in REACH and SCI Café is primary a process of qualitative content analysis. We use semi-structured interviews with project leadership, observations of the actual performance of the REACH teams, and the review of REACH and SCI Café documents, for example, Quantitatively, we have conducted a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to better understand community health and resource needs. RESULTS: Both the SCI Café program and the REACH initiative follow the principles of the ETTT concept for assembling and managing research and community outreach. The following are several key principles shared by both programs: (1) The importance of creative, applicable, and inclusive mission statements: (a) REACH seeks to facilitate communication, collaborative research, and service efforts between UTMB and Institute for Translational Sciences investigators and Galveston County community leaders; (b) The SCI Café hosts interactive dialogs that serve as a medium for priming, organizing, communicating and strategizing among the individuals involved in team science via community-based research projects. (2) Increasing scientific and health literacy: (a) REACH seeks to increase literacy through both short-term and long-term interactions; (b) The SCI Café focuses on short-term yet intensive interaction through conversations among researchers, clinicians, and the public. (3) Sharing timely scientific public health information with the community: (a) REACH seeks information from community leaders on relevant topics; (b) The SCI Café can mobilize quickly to respond to timely topics by direct communication with a wide range of stakeholders, academic as well as community based. (4) Sharing leadership with the community: (a) REACH establishes formal relationships with 23 UTMB units and 39 broad-based, high impact Galveston County organizations. (b) The SCI Café works primarily with “grass roots” community-level groups and organizations. (5) Creating resources and strategies for expansion: (a) REACH is working to expand its activities to other counties in the Gulf Coast area of Texas (e.g., Brazoria and Matagorda Counties); (b) The SCI Café is expanding its program to comfortable locations accessible to local residents (e.g., schools and libraries). (6) The value of regular and systematic scientific and evaluation: (a) REACH is conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that has already discovered major issues of relevance to community leaders including mental health, vaccination rates, food security, disaster preparedness, and caregiving. (b) The SCI Café conducts an evaluation survey at the conclusion of every event to stay current with participants interests and needs. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: (1) In order to maintain the ability to operate extra-territorially (i.e., beyond the safe organizational confines of the University), the 2 programs discussed here must maintain a fluid team structure. Different projects require different types of leadership, grass roots participation, university resources, communications/public relations, etc. (2) The strategy of accumulating and disseminating best practices appears to be one of the most valuable products of the extra-territorial team. (a) REACH’s “Offer and Ask” practice by which information of university and community resources (skills and expertise) are shared makes cooperation and shared leadership explicit. (b) The SCI Café’s interactional strategies for encouraging and enabling café participants to join the discussion/conversation are wonderful ways to convert an otherwise unidirectional lecture into a vibrant conversation. (3) Although the scope of these 2 programs is quite different, the message from both is that the principles of extra-territorial translational teams are application to all such endeavors to improve scientific and health literacy.

Estimating coastal wetland gain and losses in Galveston County and Cameron County, Texas, USA.

Coastal wetlands serve many important ecological services. One of these important ecological services is their use as storm buffers. Coastal wetlands provide habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species and can improve water quality. In the late 1990s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a study outlining the trends of coastal wetlands from the 1950s to early 1990s. In the present study, wetland gains and losses were calculated for Galveston County and Cameron County, Texas, USA, between 2001 and 2011. Maps from the National Land Cover Database were used to determine wetland areas for the years 2001, 2006, and 2011. ArcGIS was used to compare land cover between the study periods to determine overall wetland losses and gains. A statistical analysis was performed between wetland loss and population data to determine whether increased population density led to a higher loss of wetlands. Our analysis indicates that wetland loss is still occurring, however at a lower rate of loss (0.14%-0.18% annually) than the USFWS study predicted earlier (2.7%). In addition, the majority of wetland losses were due to conversion to upland areas. We found a positive correlation between increased population density and decreased wetland area; however, the trend was not significant. The present study shows how the majority of wetland loss in Galveston and Cameron counties is occurring as a result of increased upland areas. In addition, the present study shows that the use of online mapping systems can be used as a low-cost alternative to assess land changes when field tests are not feasible. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:120-129. © 2017 SETAC.