Flower Garden Banks

The East and West Flower Garden Banks are like two small hills, 12 miles apart, sitting in 330-500 feet of water, and cresting in 60 feet of water. The East and West Banks cover around 16,500 and 33,800 acres, respectively, and are located approximately 100 miles southeast of Galveston. These banks are worthy of study and protection because they are the northernmost coral reef communities on the North American continent. Because of the water depth of these banks, coral can only grow on the caps of the banks. So, coral coverage for the East Bank is over 680 acres, while the West Bank coverage is over 100 acres. The Flower Garden Banks attract 21 species of coral and 300 species of fish.

  • 2013-014: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2009–2010; Volume 1: Technical Report
  • 2013-015: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2009–2010; Volume2: Appendices
  • 2013-216: Corals on Oil and Gas Platforms Near the Flower Garden Banks: Population Characteristics, Recruitment, and Genetic Affinity
  • 2010-052: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 2004-2008; Volume I: Technical Report
  • 2010-053: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 2004-2008; Volume II: Appendices
  • 2009-032: Post-Hurricane Assessment of Sensitive Habitats of the Flower Garden Banks Vicinity
  • 2008-028: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 2004-2005 Interim Report Volume II: Appendices
  • 2008-027: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 2004-2005 Interim Report Volume I: Technical Report
  • 2008-019: Post-Hurricane Assessment at the East Flower Garden Bank Long-Term Monitoring Site: November 2005
  • 2006-035: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2002-2003: Final Report
  • 2003-031: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 1998-2001: Final Report
  • 2001-101: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 1998-1999
  • 99-0005: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks, 1996-1997
  • 96-0046: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks
  • 92-0006: Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks
  • 85-0024: The Flower Gardens: A Compendium of Information
  • 1983-LGL: Ecological Effects of Energy Development on Reef Fish of the Flower Garden Banks
  • 1982-20: Environmental Studies at the Flower Gardens and Selected Banks: Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, 1979-1981, Final Report, Northern Gulf of Mexico, 1979-1981 (Technical Report 82-7-T)
  • 1982-3: Environmental Studies at the Flower Gardens and Selected Banks: Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, 1979-1981, Executive Summary, Northern Gulf of Mexico Topographic Features Study (Technical Report 82-8-T)