News Articles
Dredging Status Report 14Sep21
Posted on Sep 16th, 2021 Comments (0)
Photo Jason Allen 9-7-21
Status Report 14Sep21
HDR Engineering Inc. Contractor
Daniel Garza Project Manager
There was no storm-related issues. Repairs to the pump shaft/bearings should be done by end of week and 100% complete. Dredging should be underway by 17Sep21.
Tropical Storm Nicholas
Posted on Sep 13th, 2021 Comments (0)
Mon Sep 13, 10:00 PM CDT
- NICHOLAS BECOMES A HURRICANE. The Hurricane Watch from Port O'Connor north to Freeport, Texas has been upgraded to a Hurricane Warning. ABOUT 45 MI SW OF FREEPORT TEXAS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...75 MPH.
Mon Sep 13, 9:48 pm, San Bernard River, between bridges
- Wind Speed 28 MPH - Gust 44 MPH
- Visibility - 1.75 miles
- 1 Hour Precip - 0.37
FOR Assists with Military Event
Posted on Sep 12th, 2021 Comments (0)
  The Sargent Tournament of Heroes was held the weekend of Sep 10-12, 2021 to honor the “911 20th Anniversary” by hosting and fishing with soldiers/veterans. The Matagorda County Cavalry escorted the group to Lions Club Park at Sargent, Tx.
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Photo Linda Wright
FOR San Bernard volunteers assisted with various tasks at the Sargent Tournament of Heroes event. The group, wearing blue FOR “Taste Buds” aprons, served food from the Sargent Lions Club food wagon. Volunteers were, left, Claudia Pechacek, Mel Pechacek, Mike Goodson, Justin Hillis, Vicki Head - FOR Coordinator, Dana Hillis, Wayne Head, Lohn Zylicz, Suzanne Goodson, Tom Ronayne, Ange Ronayne and Karen Zylicz. Not pictured is Kirk Wardlaw and Allen Wardlaw.
Dredging Status Report - 10Sep21
Posted on Sep 10th, 2021 Comments (0)
Photo Jason Allen 9-7-21
Sunset over the beautiful Texas Gulf Coast. Inside the circle is the area of discharged sediment collecting from the dredge’s discharge pipe. The prevailing Gulf current moves the sediment in southwesterly direction (arrow) away from the mouth.
Status Report 10Sep21
HDR Engineering, Inc. Contractor
Daniel Garza, Project Manager
The repair of the pump shaft/bearings is underway, and the earliest it will be complete will be on FRI 10Sep21. I expect that it will take 2-3 days to have the repaired part back onsite, and then one day to reinstall and test. I don’t expect that we’ll begin dredging operations until early next week.
Photo A.G. "Bert" Smith 9-5-21
Boaters please stay clear of markers, the dredge pipe, all equipment, and the discharge area.
September Meeting Report
Posted on Sep 7th, 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.)
- Sat Sep 4 Breakfast on the Bernard (BOB), Dido's Restaurant
Forty attendees ate all of the regular first-Saturday-of-the-month Breakfast on the Bernard as President Kirk Wardlaw welcomed new friends and neighbors of the river. Also attending was Port Freeport Commissioners Dan Croft and Ravi Singhania.
Pres. Wardlaw stated that planning is underway for a celebration that will be held at the mouth when the dredging is complete (maybe Oct 15). Everyone's invited to attend and view the new opening. Wardlaw also announced the US Coast Guard will give a presentation and an opportunity to tour their boat at the upcoming Annual Meeting & Election of FOR Directors, Sat Sep 18, 3:00 pm, Dido's Restaurant patio. Also on the calendar is the "Celebrate the San Bernard" FOR fundraiser, Sat Oct 9th, 6:00 pm, held under the FOR outdoor pavilion at the FOR Community Center. VP Mike Goodson ended with an update of the status of dredging open the mouth. Next breakfast is Sat Oct 2nd.
Closing the Gap Bridge Construction
Posted on Sep 5th, 2021 Comments (0)
Photo Linda Wright 9-4-21
Construction of TxDot’s replacement of the FM 2611 Churchill Bridge (Sportsman's Span) is well underway and stands just downriver from the older narrower bridge built in 1957. The elevated red portion of the new construction is seen to the right of the older bridge. It will hold the proposed two 12 ft wide traffic lanes and the two 10 ft wide shoulders. Cost is set at $12.141 million. You will be able to cross this bridge without holding your breath a year from now when construction is complete.
Dredging Status Report - 3Sep21
Posted on Sep 3rd, 2021 Comments (0)
The map shows the dredging limits performed through Wed 1Sep21. The large box is a closeup map pointing to its location on the river. The black arrows indicate the direction of travel of the dredge. The boxes indicate the approximate daily limits of the dredging (midnight to midnight).
Status Report 3Sep21
HDR Engineering, Inc. Contractor
Daniel Garza, Project Manager
- Dredged approximately 83,220 CY (Cubic Yards) of material = approximately 23.0% of the total expected 362,163 CY
- Traveled about 3,720 LF (Linear Feet) = 40.1% of the overall project length of 9,700 LF.
Items of note:
- Nighttime operations ceased on FRI 08/27 to allow Rigid to send some of their crew members home to attend to their homes and families due to incoming Hurricane Ida.
- They restarted 24-hour operations on TUE 08/31.
- On THU 09/02 morning, right at shift-change (6:00 am), the pump bearing locked up on the dredge, and dredging stopped. They are currently in the process of shipping the bearing to LA for repair/replacement and expect to have the bearing back onsite MON evening/TUE morning. Once the bearing is reinstalled, they expect to resume dredging either late TUE 09/07 evening or sometime WED 09/08.
As always, please continue to remind folks to stay clear of markers, the dredge pipe, all equipment, and the discharge area. Overall, the Contractor has been pleased with the interactions they’ve had with the public, and we all appreciate that. Please remember that, an unimpeded contractor is an efficient contractor.
Annual Meeting & Election of Directors
Posted on Sep 1st, 2021 Comments (0)
Annual Meeting and Election of Directors
Sat Sep 18th at 3:00 pm
Dido's Restaurant Patio
Everyone's invited to attend and meet and greet friends and neighbors at the FOR San Bernard Annual Meeting and Election of Directors. Hear updates about the status of reopening the mouth plus any FOR projects going forward. Four new Director nominees will be voted on - their photos and goals are listed below. Tickets to the October 9th fundraiser "Celebrate the San Bernard" will be available for purchase, $20 now, $25 night of the event. Hear a presentation by the US Coast Guard and an opportunity to tour their boat. Food and drink can be purchased from the restaurant.
Director nominees running for the three year term Sep 2021 - Sep 2024.
The FOR San Bernard Board of Directors is comprised of fifteen persons who each serve a three-year term. This year, four positions are open for election by the public. A person may run for election for two consecutive terms and then must vacate the board for one year before running again for election. Nominations are now closed.
Bob Bailey, retired river resident, has lived on the river for over twenty-three years in the Lazy Oak Ranch area and owned property ten years prior to building. He is a past Board member and officer. Bob has participated in the monthly breakfast, river clean-up, Environmental Committee events and the River Rangers program. His goal for the organization is to to continue the mission of FOR to preserve and protect the river. He would like to see a new flood gauge at the FM 521 bridge.
Trey Gilbert is a retired petroleum engineer who is a newbie resident having lived on the river in the Riverview Ranch area since November. As a Director he will support and continue ongoing efforts of the FOR organization. He feels the organization should address recreational boating safety and heavy boating traffic on weekends. He has attended the monthly breakfasts and is willing to serve a three year term as Director and attend the monthly Board meetings and other meetings as needed.
Tom Ronayne is a thirty-one year river resident in the Sweeny area of the river and has been active in FOR since its inception. His current occupation is entertaining grandkids. He is a past Board member and officer. He has attended highway cleanups, education programs, annual meetings, State of the River meetings, annual fundraiser and Environmental Committee meetings.
Tom’s goal for the next three years is to find funding for the best practices listed in the Watershed Protection Plan and advocate for a gauge at FM 521 to enable flood forecasting for the lower portion of the river. He also would like to see better monitoring of the twenty entities that have TCEQ permits to discharge treated wastewater into the river.
Denise Wolever is a retired Registered Nurse, property owner and full-time resident on the river in the Ernie's Acres area of the river. Her goal, while as Director, is to maintain the cleanliness of the river and its banks and increase community involvement in FOR activities. She has attended the monthly breakfast, the “Trash Mash” river cleanup, Environmental Committee meetings and participates as a H-GAC Texas Stream Team volunteer doing monthly water quality testing on the river. She is willing to serve a three year term as Director and attend the monthly Board meetings and other meetings as needed.
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