News Articles
The Dam Report
Posted on Jun 19th, 2021 Comments (0)
Video Tom Ronayne 6-18-21
Flow at Hwy 35 was about 0.25 ft/sec or 3”/sec.
The Phillips 66 spillway is located on the San Bernard River approx two miles upstream from Hwy 35 and Hanson Riverside County Park west of West Columbia. The spillway contains the fresh water flowing downstream and stops the upstream flow of salt water. The San Bernard is the source of water for the Phillips 66 Old Ocean refinery.
June Meeting Report
Posted on Jun 15th, 2021 Comments (0)
These reports are a way to let the public know what FOR’s been up to. It’s also a way that someone can determine if there is any way they’d like to get involved in things. Please contact FOR if you are interested. (Select WEBMASTER on the CONTACT US drop down list.)
- Jun 8th & 15th, Texas Stream Team Water Quality Tests on San Bernard
CR 496 6-15-21 Note, new version of the Texas Stream Team monitoring form
H-GAC Texas Stream Team volunteers, Valroy Maudlin and Denise Wolever, use a test kit to measure the physical and chemical parameters of San Bernard River at two locations every month. Valroy tests off his pier at CR 496, 1.6 miles upstream from the Churchill Bridge. Denise tests off her pier six miles downstream from Churchill Bridge at CR 469. The test reports the pH level, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity of the water. Two forms are usually shown for comparison as the data collected from two different locations can vary.
- Tue Jun 15th, Brazoria County Citizen Advisory Panels (CAPS), Old Ocean
FOR VP Mike Goodson and past FOR president Tom Ronayne attended the CAP meeting today. CPChem and P66 each have a light turnaround schedule this year. The next one will be for roughly 30 days in October with peak manpower of 500.
CPChem presented an update on their just approved 1-Hexene unit, a chemical used in the production of high density plastics and films. Construction will begin in the 3rd quarter of this year and complete in the second half of 2023.
P66 is resuming construction of their third natural gas liquids fractionation unit, to complete in the fall, and will begin construction on the fourth unit sometime next year.
VP Goodson updated the group on the FOR resumed education programs, boat parades, river clean up and fall fund raiser.
- Sat Jun 5th, Breakfast on the Bernard (BOB), Dido’s Restaurant
A turnout of approx 35 river residents and friends bored with watching the river slowly recede, then slowly rise, then slowly recede, then slowly… (you get the picture) attended the regular first-Saturday-of-the-month Breakfast on the Bernard.
FOR VP Mike Goodson welcomed several new faces attending for the first time and introduced Port Freeport Commissioners Shane Pirtle and Ravi Singhania.
FOR announcements included great news that a dredging contract had been awarded to open the mouth starting in July and completed in 45 days. The FOR fundraiser “Celebrate the San Bernard” will be held Sat Oct 9th.
All friends and neighbors of the river are invited to come and enjoy BOB on Sat Jul 3rd which is also the day of the annual “Free-For-All Fourth of July" Boat Parade starting at 4:00 pm at the FM 521 bridge.
Education Programs Planned On the San Bernard
Posted on Jun 11th, 2021 Comments (0)
FOR Environmental Committee is restarting their public education program that was postponed last year due to COVID. In the planning stage now are programs about San Bernard hydrology (flooding), gardening on the river, fishing/cooking your catch, gators lurking nearby and bulkhead maintenance. Each will be FREE to the public, feature "subject matter experts" on the topics, and include plenty of question and answer time so that each participant gets the information he or she needs. Programs are held at the FOR Community Center, 20450 CR 510-B in Holiday Shores subdivision next to the river. Watch for upcoming programs!
The grass is always greener over the septic tank
First program on the calendar is
- "Keeping Your Septic System Functioning Properly"
- Sat Jun 26 - 10:00 am -12:00 pm, FREE
- FOR Community Center, 20450 CR 510-B
- Speaker Ryan Gerlich, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will explain the operation and maintenance of your conventional septic system or aerobic treatment unit. Learn about EPA and TCEQ funding available to pump out and inspect some septic systems in the San Bernard watershed.He will answer all your questions.
Open mouth, say aaah!!!
Posted on Jun 8th, 2021 Comments (0)
It’s official! Time to start celebrating!
All skeptics who refused to believe the mouth of the San Bernard River would ever be opened –– here’s proof it will happen. Brazoria County Commissioners unanimously voted today to award dredging open the mouth to RIGID Constructors of Lafayette, La. Inspection services will be performed by HDR Inc., Houston Tx. Dredging scheduled to begin next month in July, completion in 45 days!
The project will involve the dredging of approximately 400,000 cubic yards of sediment from the mouth of the San Bernard River restoring approximately 28 acres of hydrology. The primary objective is to restore and protect the natural resources by allowing the historical river flow and tidal exchange to nourish wetlands and reestablish fish passage. Approximately 200 acres of marsh habitat will also be restored.
The project is paid for with federal funding from RESTORE Act funds from the Deepwater Horizon incident in April, 2010.
The County and Port Freeport have committed to a 25-year maintenance dredging plan, as needed. At the Commissioners’ Court meeting, it was reported that Port Freeport funds, not tax money, will be used. Jetties, costing tens of millions of dollars, will not be constructed as they do not prevent silting and eventually need to be dredged themselves.
Friends of the River San Bernard would like to thank Brazoria County Commissioner Pct 1, Dude Payne and Brazoria County Commissioner Pct 4, David Linder for their stick-to-itiveness through the years in pursuing opening the mouth of the San Bernard River. Patience is a virtue especially in this case. It took eight and a half long years!
Spring Cleaning on the San Bernard
Posted on May 30th, 2021 Comments (0)
Take only trash collected from the river to one of the three collection sites.
Trash Mash River Clean-up
- NEW DATE Sat Jul 24th
- 8:00 am - Noon
- Three Collection Sites
- Hot Dog Social immediately following at FOR Community Center
It’s a dirty business but someone has to do it especially after this last flood. It’s time for spring-cleaning on the river. Friends of the River (FOR) San Bernard is resuming its annual river cleanup that was postponed a year ago due to coronavirus.
On Sat Jul 24th from 8:00 am until noon, bring your river trash (no household rubbish please) to one of the three collection points on the map.
- Hwy 35 Hanson Riverside County Park boat ramp
- FM 521 Bridge boat ramp
- FM 2611 Churchill Bridge boat ramp
FOR needs volunteers, organizers, friends and neighbors to tackle the job of removing unwanted items from the river. If able, bring a boat to one of the three collection locations and you will get directions from the volunteers there. Helpers without boats are welcome and can assist as boat crew members or as "haul out" workers at the ramps. Dress dirty – gloves, rubber boots or adequate shoes, hat, sunscreen and bug spray. Trash Mash t-shirts and hats plus water and trash bags will be available at the collection sites.
Hang around in your dirty clothing for the noon FOR Hot Dog Social immediately following the clean-up. It's at the FOR Community Center, 20450 CR 510-B. This event is a great community rallying celebration that helps us unite in the true meaning of “Friends Of the River” with a goal of keeping the river clean, its mouth open and ensuring that it is healthy and flowing.
To volunteer or for more information, contact:
Justin Hillis, FOR Environmental Committee Chairman
Email: bulltideinvestments@gmail.com
Ph: 713-373-1253
Past Web Articles