Galveston County Parks Department 4102 Main St. (FM 519) La Marque, TX 77568

The Dickinson Bayou watershed, a natural basin of land, collects water and drains it into tributary streams, then into Dickinson Bayou, the main stream of the watershed. It is located within the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin, to the southeast of Houston and west of Galveston Bay. The Dickinson Bayou watershed covers a total of approximately 63,830 acres or 99.7 square miles and is elongated in shape, with a length of 22 miles from west to east. The maximum width of the watershed is approximately 7 miles. Water falling within this area eventually makes its way into Dickinson Bayou. Contacts

The aim of this publication is to heighten awareness of Galveston County Parks Department Galveston County Health District Dickinson Bayou the impact each and every citizen has on the watershed (409) 934-8100 • www.galvestonparks-seniors.org (409) 938-2314 • www.gchd.org Dickinson Bayou w a t e r s h e d where they live. Since the Dickinson Bayou water- w a t e r s h e d shed impacts Galveston Bay, it is important for each Galveston Bay Estuary Program Galveston County Extension Office No matter where we live, where we work, WE A R E A LWAY S I N A W AT ER SHED individual, community, and business to adhere to the (281) 332-9937 • http://gbep.state.tx.us (281) 534-3413 • http://tevas-sea-grant.tamu.edu priorities of The Galveston Bay Plan. For meeting the requirements of stormwater management, this publica- Houston-Galveston Area Council Texas Cooperative Extension tion provides public outreach and education. Galveston (713) 627-3200 • www.h-gac.com Texas Coastal Watershed Program No matter where we live or work, we are always in a County has shown leadership in these efforts. The pub- (281) 333-9216 • www.urban-nature.org lication is made possible from a grant from Galveston Texas Commission on Environmental Quality watershed - an area of land that drains to a particular Bay Estuary Program to Galveston County Parks Region 12-Houston Office Keep Dickinson Beautiful creek, river, bayou or lake. As our population grows, Department. For more information on your watershed, (713) 767-3500 • www.tceq.state.tx.us (281) 337-6293 • www.ci.dickinson.tx.us so do the risks to our waterways from activities in the please contact the following: The bayou begins near the town of Alvin in April Fool Point, and Shell Island bound the north, Mustang Bayou, Halls Bayou, Highland watershed. Understanding our role in watershed Brazoria County as an intermittent stream and roughly circular bay just over a mile across. Bayou, and Moses Bayou to the south. Two major management is key to the protection of our waterways, floodplains, and drinking water, plus our recreational flows easterly through flat to rolling prairies in About 55% of the watershed is within irrigation canals, the Gulf Coast Water Authority’s and fishing areas. Galveston County approximately 24 miles. The the 100-year flood plain (a flood plain based on American Canal and Galveston System cross the water collected by the bayou flows into Dickinson a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year). watershed. Printed on recycled paper Bay, a secondary bay of Galveston Bay. Cat’s Point, Adjoining watersheds include Clear Creek to the Special thanks to members of the Galveston County Commissioners’ Court for their support of this project. Houston-Galveston Area Council 05.04 Design: Minor Design Group History and Development Watershed Profile

Dickinson, with its population of approximately 3 Area 18,500, is the major city within the Dickinson Bayou 45 100 square miles watershed. The city was named3 for John Dickinson, a 45 Rainfall Texas Revolutionary hero and one of the “old 300” set- Beltway 48” Average Annual tlers of Austin’s original colony. Early settlers included8 Gum Bayou Sims Bayou Watershed Alexander Farmer, Herman Benson, and General E. 1 517 288 Geology B. Nichols. The Nichols summer home built in 1857 Sea-level fluctuations caused movement of the conti- still stands. Dickinson’s early economy was based on 35 Armand-Taylor nental ice sheets during the Wisconsin Ice Age. Stored Bensenson's Bayou Dickinson Bay cattle production and agriculture. Italian immigrants Bayou Watershed Armand Bayou West Gum Bayou 2 water released from the melting ice sheets increased and African-American families contributed to the suc- sea levels depositing muddy sands and sediments in 7 8 North Bay League City 9 cess of the fruit and vegetable truck farming from the Dickinson Bayou the region of the Dickinson Bay shoreline. Magnolia Bayou Brookside1890s Village into the 1930s. Once known as the “Strawberry Armand Bayou Nature Preserve 5 By pass Chigger Creeke 3 Texas City Prairie Soils Capital of the World”, Dickinson continued to celebrate Seabrook Burden's Gully Dickinson Preserve the strawberry season with a festival each year well into El Lago Moses Lake Somewhat poorly drained, very slowly permeable, Seabrook Bridge CLEAR CREEK the late 1990s. clays and clay loams, loams and silt loams, and fine Clear Lake Bushway Cottonwood Within this watershed the major development is Draw Ditch Galveston County sandy loams Johnson Space Center Reservoir concentrated in and around the cities of Dickinson and Pearland Ceder Major Ecoregion League City and along the Interstate 45 corridor. The Creek NaNassssauau Bayay Dollar Bay Western Gulf Coastal Plain Mary’s Creek natural Dickinson Bayou watershed includes1 the entire Clear Lake Shores NASA Rd 1 Kemah city of Dickinson, Algoa, and portions of the cities2 of Subregion 6 Alvin, Friendswood, League City, Santa Fe, and Texas Webster Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Baybrook Mall Laflour's Runge Bayou City. The remainder of the area is rural and undevel- Monitoring Agencies Uses Contact recreation High Quality Aquatic Bayou Johnson Draw Natural Region oped. Commercial development is light to medium Galveston County Health District 6 Habitat Contact recreation 3 League City Oak Prairies and Woods industrial and office warehouses along with retail Friendswood 5 merchandizing. Reliant Centerpoint’s H. P. Robinson Vegetation generating plant is located along State Highway 146, Water4 Quality Coastal Short Grass Prairie along with several commercial fishing operations, and 6 Santa Fe n similarChigger uses. Creek In the western portion of the watershed it Dickinson Bayou Above Tidal. This portion of the allow surface water to flush and replenish itself with Algoa Cities 4 is still predominantly agricultural uses. The watershed watershed is listed as impaired for high bacteria Dicklevels.inson dissolved oxygen, while deep water is forced to remain Dickinson, Alvin, League City, Santa Fe, Algoa has much potential for growth, which is recently accel- Other concerns include low dissolved oxygen and in the same location and slush back and forth. It runs 15 Dickinson Bayou Tributaries erating due to the rapid development of neighboring high ammonia concentrations. It runs 7 miles and is miles and is brackish, a mix of salt and freshwater create w a t e r s h e d Gum Bayou, Benson’s Bayou, Magnolia (Geisler) League City. freshwater. an estuarine habitat. 1 Lobit Park Ray Holbrook Park 3 Dickinson Boat Ramp 4 Runge Park 5 Paul Hopkins County Park Bayou, Borden’s Gully, Cedar Creek, LaFlore’s Bayou, Dickinson Bayou Tidal. The main stem of the The entire watershed is listed as impaired for high 2 Dickinson Bayou provides many environmental and Metzler Gully, Cottonwood Ditch, Johnson Draw, bayou is listed as impaired for low dissolved oxygen bacteria levels. Low levels of dissolved oxygen are found Francis Bayou, Runge Bayou, Old Runge Bayou, occurrence. A special study conducted through the in Borden’s Gully and Magnolia (Geisler) Bayou. recreational benefits to the residents of its watershed and beyond. 0 1 2 3 4 5 Thaman Draw, Bushway Draw Clean Rivers Program revealed that tidal fluctuations Miles Aquifers Recreation and Economic Opportunities Conservation and Education Parks Gulf Coast Issues Within the watershed, approximately 60% of the land the bay or out into the Gulf of Mexico. Shrimp boats The citizens of Dickinson who generate community of Dickinson in helping others and taking pride in the becomes available. Clean clay is transported by barge Paul Hopkins County Park provides public access to Ray Holbrook Park on Gum Bayou offers girls Flooding/high moisture retention at surface due to has been modified while 40% remains in a more nat- dock just inside Dickinson Bay offering fresh catch in support to clean up the bayou created Keep Dickinson beauty of the community. to the island location, sculpted to slopes and elevations Dickinson Bayou and one of its tributaries. Recent softball fields and preserves crucial green space. nature of soils. Water quality (pollutants/bacteria). ural state. A scenic 13.5 mile section of the bayou exists season. Dickinson Bay is within close proximity to the Beautiful (KDB). KDB focuses on community pride A team of wetland scientists, government agen- suitable for supporting vegetation. Shell hash is then efforts by local citizens and the county parks depart- Two boat ramps, one at Highway 3 and one at State Loss of native habitat. Erosion. from Cemetery Road off FM 517 to State Highway 146. large oyster reefs of Galveston Bay. and environmental awareness in hopes of changing the cies, private corporations, and citizen volunteers, led deposited on the islands to provide bird habitat. The ment have brought major improvements to the Highway 146, provide access for recreational boating The bayou’s upper reach is less suitable for recreational attitudes of children and adults on littering, greens- by the Galveston Bay Foundation, is restoring bird islands are future planting sites for Marsh Mania, a park. The property around this park was historically and sport fishing. Legend uses than the lower reach due to its narrow width pace maintenance and preservation. Various projects islands in Dickinson Bay. The project’s goal is to replace volunteer-based wetlands restoration event. When the restricted for exclusive residential use, creating a park Runge Park is located in Santa Fe along the Watershed border Park and rather slow movement. Still, small motor boats encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle. The a series of critical islands on the north side of the project is complete, 10-12 acres of intertidal marsh will like atmosphere well beyond the actual boundaries of southern boundary of the watershed. Approximately and kayaks ply the waters of the upper reaches of the organization has been honored three separate times Dickinson Ship Channel lost through erosion caused by be restored and 3 acres of oyster reef will be recreated the park. The surrounding areas retain many pines 11 acres of parkland were given to the county in 1942. bayou while water skiers and pleasure craft share the with Governor’s Achievement Award. KDB’s aim is to prolonged wave action and subsidence over the past six benefiting commercial and recreational species of fish, and post oaks among other native species of trees The park amenities include Little League and Pony Colt Bayou waters with crabbers in the lower reaches. At least educate and involve citizens in preserving and main- decades. Intertidal marsh habitat, colonial water bird shrimp, and crabs. providing crucial habitat for birds, possum, squirrel baseball fields, riding arenas, a community center, and 24 species of migratory birds have been observed taining an environment that will serve people and the roosting and nesting habitat, and oyster reefs are being and raccoons. an open air pavilion. flying and resting in the Dickinson Bayou region. Bird environment well into the future. Volunteers and part- created through this project. The Nature Conservancy’s In the northeast portion of the watershed, Elva watchers can expect to spot water pipit, short-billed nerships with other community organizations fulfill the Texas City Prairie Preserve lies on the southeasterly Lobit Park offers baseball and soccer fields along with marsh wren, swamp sparrow, mourning dove, snowy goals through various events held in the community shoreline of Dickinson Bay in the near vicinity of this picnic facilities. Families gather for sport events as well egret, belted kingfisher, white ibis, and double-crested throughout the year. Events such as Pubic Lands Day, island restoration. The islands will provide erosion as outdoor cookouts. cormorant, among other local species. A Texas General Trash Bash, Arbor Day, Dickinson Dump Day, and Texas protection for the shoreline of the prairie preserve. Bayshore Park on Galveston Bay attracts various Land Office report noted 11 endangered species of Recycles Day bring both the awareness and challenge Two restricted islands will provide protected habitat visitors. Wind surfing is a popular sport just off shore. migratory birds in the region including the peregrine of maintaining a healthy watershed to the community. for nesting birds. A general access island will provide Pelicans, both brown and the migratory American falcon and bald eagle. Like many of the rivers and Students learn how they can contribute to being part recreational activities such as bird watching. Work is White, gather at the Spillway in the warmer water bayous flowing into Galveston Bay, boating activity is of the solution rather than part of the problem in the currently underway and expected to be completed in entering the bay from the generating plant’s cooling popular. Fishing guides are available for day trips into annual Environmental Expo. KDB fosters the citizens 2008. Each island is being constructed as funding facility. Medford Baseball Field is adjacent to this park.