News Articles

 

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!