News Articles

On April 2, 2022, a CRG Texas Environmental Services team pulled five water and sediment samples from the river and transferred them to a laboratory for analysis of contaminants. Note, the warning sign in the background has since been removed because conditions of the City of Brazoria WWTP have improved.

 

A FOR Public Education Program

On Sat May 14, a section of someone’s pier had broken loose and floated up against river resident Randy Hall’s boathouse. Randy called neighbor Mike Goodson for help in securing and towing the dock to the nearby FM 521 boat ramp. The full-sized dock, if left in the river would float partially submerged and create a danger to traveling boats. If struck, it could cause something more than a ding to the hull. Hall and Goodson get the “Good Neighbor Award”.

 

Now that there’s been a practice run to show how it's done, mark your calendar for the upcoming “Trash Mash” River Cleanup, Sat June 11, 8:00 am - Noon. Hot Dog Social immediately follows. There’s still a lot more trash left!

 

We are currently working with a third-party company to haul in seed and bugs to further populate the aeration track. These arrangements are for the week of the 16th as long as all goes according to plan. Our current physical equipment is doing a great job in bringing the plant "back to life" the aerators have helped massively in our efforts keeping dissolved oxygen at appropriate levels and keeping the track moving properly, all conducive to keeping the plant healthy overall.

 

We have, over the last month, seen quite a bit of progress in growing and building our bugs back but not to our wanted amount or level. That is the reasoning to support the existing bugs to expedite the plants progress.

 

We have seen in the last few weeks the discharged water become clear and is able to be treated to double to our required minimum of 1.0 MG/L consistently. We do have proper settling in the clarifiers along with a healthier sludge blanket, seeing clearer and cleaner water within them. This is what is allowing us to send out cleaner, clearer, better treated water out of the plant. this can be built quicker with the help of more seeding

Twenty-six folks attended the regular first Saturday of the month Breakfast on the Bernard. John Swanson, FOR Vice President filled in for the absent President Kirk Wardlaw. VP Swanson introduced first-time guests including Joe Hoffman, director at the West Brazoria County Drainage District #11, Section 5.

     VP Swanson gave brief updates regarding the results of the environment impact program that will be given at the Sat May 21st, FOR public education program, FOR Community Center; progress with the City of Brazoria WWTP; six $2,000 scholarships awarded; and River Cleanup on Sat Jun 11. Mike Goodson, Mouth Committee chairman, followed up with progress of dredging the mouth.

Six 2022 high school graduates were awarded $2,000 scholarships from Friends of the River (FOR) San Bernard. Over 30 applications were received this year from the high schools in our watershed. Scholarship recipients will receive $1000 for the first semester and $1000 for the second semester to help cover actual college tuition and book expense during their freshman year. The academic, extracurricular, volunteer and environmental stewardship credentials presented by the students were truly outstanding and made for a very competitive selection process.

 

“Congratulations to these six outstanding young men and women. Thank you to all of the school counselors and staff who help promote the FOR scholarship program, and we wish the best of luck to all of the 2022 graduates.”  – Jack Muskopf, Scholarship Chairman

 

FOR Scholarship Committee members are Barbara Fratila, Mike Goodson, Tom Ronayne, and David Roquemore.