News Articles

 

Give it up for Bob Bailey long-time treasurer for the Friends of the River organization. The award was given to him in recognition of his outstanding volunteer commitment for significantly contributing toward the spirit and purpose of FOR’s mission of a clean and flowing San Bernard River. He faithfully performed financial accounting, dug deep in to financial reports where others feared to go and did all the heavy lifting when it came to handling financial details of the organization. Here's a boat load of thanks!!

 

 

“All for one and one for all.”  –The Three Mouth-keteers (actually four) 

 

The required permit needed to start the process of dredging open the mouth of the San Bernard has stalled at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service because of the piping plover and black rail bird species. These two birds are listed on the Endangered Species Act where dredging and dredge spoil placement is believed to have adverse effects on their critical habitat. If and when this determination is modified, which is considered likely, a 60 day permit will be issued, then Brazoria County has 180 days to finalize and another 30 days to award dredging bids. Best guess, at this point, is early 2021 for opening the mouth. 

 

The Texas Treasury has already received the $10.766M Deepwater Horizon spill RESTORE ACT funds (this is not tax money) allotted to the “Lower San Bernard River Eco System" project.

 

The plan now is to dredge the San Bernard starting at the ICW and digging out to the Gulf at a distance of 1600’ beyond the beach. A jetty is not planned but rather utilizes maintenance dredging every 5 - 7 years for 25 years paid for by Port Freeport and Brazoria County. Cost of building a jetty is twice as much, and even then, would require maintenance dredging due to sand and sediment accumulating along the up drift side and eventually flowing into the jetty.  

 

H-GAC Texas Stream Team volunteers Valroy Maudlin and Tim Logan, using a test kit, measure the physical and chemical parameters of San Bernard River at two locations. Valroy tests off his pier at CR 496, 1.6 miles upstream from the Churchill Bridge. Tim tests off his dock at Rio Vista, 4.5 miles downstream from the Churchill Bridge. Both tests are done within a day or so of each other.

 

The test reports the pH level, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity of the water. Two forms are shown for comparison as the data collected from the two locations can vary.

Feb 24-27, 2020 Four Day Event

 

Commissioner Dude Payne

1432 Highland Park, Clute, Tx

979.265.3953

 

Commissioner David Linder

121 North 10th St, West Columbia, Tx

979.345.1130

 

GLO 281.470.6597

 

Here’s your opportunity to voluntarily remove inoperable, derelict vessels. The Texas GLO and TP&W will verify the vessel (boat) for disposal. BCFFA will sponsor the removal of all fuel, oil and batteries while Brazoria County will transport vessel to landfill for disposal. Boat must be clear of waste and debris.

 

If you own a vessel under 26’ long in need of disposal (longer boats may be accepted on a case by case basis) or know a neighbor who may need assistance. You will be required to bring vessel to one of two drop off locations.