Water Justice Zones Mapper
This map is best viewed on a tablet or desktop screen.
About the Water Justice Zones Mapper
The Water Justice Zones Mapper shows where water-related risks and systemic inequities overlap across the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed. Developed by Bayou City Waterkeeper in partnership with Rice University’s Spatial Studies Lab, it brings together information about flooding, sewer overflows, drainage, industrial facilities, social vulnerability, and other environmental conditions.
What are water justice zones?
Water Justice Zones are areas where BCWK prioritizes long-term community relationships, resources, and advocacy because residents face overlapping water-related challenges and a history of underinvestment. BCWK’s four priority zones are Northeast Houston, Houston Port Communities, Southeast Houston, and Brazoria. We are also building relationships in exploratory zones in Galveston and Fort Bend/Southwest Houston.
These zones help focus our work, but they do not define the full extent of water injustice or limit where BCWK may become involved.
Connecting communities and critical wetlands
The mapper also includes BCWK’s five Critical Wetlands: large, ecologically important areas that help hold floodwater, support wildlife, filter pollution, and strengthen the region’s resilience. Viewing these wetlands alongside the Water Justice Zones makes the connection between ecological protection and community well-being visible. It can also help residents and advocates identify where wetland loss or development may compound existing flood and environmental risks.
Users can turn map layers on and off, search for an address, compare conditions, mark locations, and create visuals to support community education, planning, and advocacy.