Understanding the concentrations Bacteria problems in Bastrop LEGEND of bacteria in Bastrop Bayou and Bayou can be exacerbated by failing the potential sources of any septic systems, poorly managed bacteria is very important in land application of sludge from Rice Agriculture assessing risks to the public wastewater treatment plants and Landfill and in preventing water quality reduction in freshwater inflows. has always been a impacts from worsening in Intermittent flow is observed staple of the Brazoria County economy, and rice Great Texas Coastal the future. Elevated bacteria throughout Bastrop Bayou during Bird Trail concentrations are used as dry periods which significantly remains dominant even in indicators of pollution caused by reduce freshwater inflow. Without today’s modern environment. Brazoria National Wildlife nbury human sewage, which can cause the flushing effect from inflow, Farmers in the Bastrop Bayou Da Refuge Boundary serious health concerns like tidal movement remains stagnant watershed started planting rice A us after 1900 and began to dig rice B tin typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. which leads to higher concentrations ay Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and offers a variety of activities from ou Waterways polluted by human of bacteria. Along with intermittent canals in 1935. From a total of Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is wildlife viewing, photography and sewage can also pose health flow, temperature also plays a 6,000 acres planted in the crop rich in ecology and habitats including biking/biking trails to seasonal events. in 1903, planting grew to ton freshwater sloughs, salt marshes and 16,000 acres by 1940. In Angle Birding and Nature Tourism in Fl native bluestem prairies. This habitat is or 1948 Brazoria County was B es ay important to the many species of birds that Bastrop Bayou Watershed the nation’s leading rice ou can be found during each season. In winter, Bastrop Bayou provides an extensive producing area with a B ru freshwater wetland habitat which is home crop valued at more than sh more than 100,000 snow geese, Canadian B y ay geese, pintail, northern shoveler, teal, to endangered or threatened shorebirds as $10 million. The ou average yield per gadwall, American wigeon, sandhill cranes well as waterfowl, grassland species and acre almost and mottled ducks fill the birds of prey. Bastrop Bayou is part of the strop Ba ponds and Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, which doubled Bayou between 1956 was completed in 2000 through the and 1970; an cooperation of private citizens, land Location 3 Location 4 managers, conservation groups, businesses, threats associated with chemicals role in changing bacteria levels, average of Location 2 d ichwoo government agencies and communities. not treated by conventional as bacteria counts are observed 53,000 acres R waste water treatment systems. to be significantly higher in spring was planted during Location 1 Mims The Trail features 308 distinct wildlife- and summer months compared to those years. Rice viewing sites. Enhancements such as board The Texas Commission on cooler months. and grain exports as Bay Christm walks, parking pullouts, kiosks, observation Environmental Quality (TCEQ) comprised 65,000 tons in platforms and landscaping to attract has established E. coli and History and Development 1968; American Rice, Incorporated agriculture is based around native wildlife have been constructed at Enterococcus as bacterial Brazoria County was settled in at Brazosport, shipped 350,000 seafood. Aquaculture of shrimp, a number of sites. indicators for freshwater and tons of rice in 1990. Although 1836 and became one of the first crawfish and other seafood Bacteria Levels at Four Locations tidal waterbodies, respectively. agriculture is still an economic counties in Texas. Bastrop Bayou products brings over $20 million within Bastrop Bayou Watershed Nature tourism not only benefits the E. coli densities below 394 driver within the Bastrop Bayou has always played an integral residents of Bastrop Bayou because of the colonies/100 milliliters (ml) of watershed, like Brazoria County as dollars into the local economy. 500 part in transporting supplies and preservation of natural habitat, but its cities water and Enterococcus densities a whole, its economy has become Specialty products are also taking sloughs to capacity. In summer, birds that enabling agriculture and commerce 450 below 89 colonies/100 ml are more diversified. hold, with a number of farmers nest on the refuge include 10 species of in Brazoria County. Wooden 400 acceptable. Bacteria counts raising koi to support the local water herons and egrets, white ibis, roseate ferries were drawn by hand and throughout the Bastrop Bayou Agriculture garden and goldfish pond industry. 350 spoonbill, mottled duck, white-tailed kite, used to cross the bayou before clapper rail, horned lark, seaside sparrow, watershed are high, impairing Agriculture within Bastrop Bayou Rice production within the watershed 300 the first drawbridge over Bastrop black skimmer and scissor-tailed flycatcher. its use for contact recreation. watershed has a long and colorful (and across Texas) is at an all time Bayou was built in the late 250 Bacteria counts usually decline history. From the rise of major rice low. As a result, many farmers no 1800s. Farming supplies were Alligators can be found year-round in over time after a rainfall; farms to the grazing of large herds longer grow two crops a year and 200 1 however, with a continuous often delivered by sailboat Brazoria NWR, and in dry seasons, their of cattle, agriculture continues prefer to let the land remain fallow. 150 2 source of bacteria, such as between neighboring towns with a trails thorough the mud and excavated to be a major activity within the Conservation easements are also 100 failing or leaking septic systems, one-way trip to Galveston taking 3 gator holes are easy to spot. Roseate watershed. While much of the land becoming more common within the counts may remain elevated. up to six weeks. A fixed concrete 50 spoonbills can also be found as they make formerly supported large scale rice watershed, as farmers look for ways to 4 their way back after near extinction caused and steel bridge was built in the 0 production, sorghum crops and maintain rural lifestyles and preserve by demand for feather hats before World 1970s and remains there today. cotton fields, much of today’s open vistas and natural landscapes. Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 War I. Brazoria NWR is open to the public Bastrop Bayou is a scenic coastal

Watershed Profile No matter where we live, and county benefit economically, as well. In 2001, the mollusks inhabit the three-bay system. These include waterway fringed by extensive freshwater average traveler to the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail seven endangered species of birds and an endangered wetlands and saltmarshes. Area spent an average of $78 per person, per day. According species of sea turtle. Numerous plants also occur in the 217.45 square miles work or play we are to a 2001 U.S. Census Bureau report, 2.3 million people Christmas Bay system and include several species of observed wildlife in Texas and of those, 38 percent took seagrass that serve as prime spawning grounds for Bastrop Bayou Watershed Average Annual Rainfall trips away from home to watch birds. This translates to crustaceans and finfish. During February 1999–March 40.1 – 50.1 inches $2.7 billion spent on wildlife and bird watching per year 2000, the U.S.G.S. collected hydrologic, water- in Texas. quality and sediment-quality data to establish baseline always in a watershed – conditions in the Christmas Bay system. Water The main stem of Bastrop Bayou originates near SH 288 Elevation in feet between Angleton and Richwood. Three smaller bayous Sea level – 55 feet Christmas Bay Study samples were collected monthly from each of the The Christmas Bay system is a group of three small three bays. Results of laboratory analysis show that (Brushy, Flores, and Austin) feed into Bastrop Bayou near secondary bays at the southwestern end of the most nutrient concentrations were at or less than the community of Mims. Bastrop Bayou eventually flows into Geology an area of land that Galveston Bay estuarine system in Brazoria County. minimum reporting levels while bacteria levels Cox Lake, Lost Lake and Bastrop Bay before entering the Pleistocene-age deeply incised channel-fill fluvial system. Christmas Bay Coastal Preserve – one of the last pristine Sediments in the area range from organic-rich plastic clays to Numerous species of birds, fish, crustaceans and remained high. fine-to-medium grain quartz sand. estuaries on the Texas coast. Christmas Bay is home to one drains to a creek, river, of the last remaining stands of seagrass beds on the upper Soils Photographs Courtesy of Harris County Flood Control District, Houston-Galveston Area Council, philip.greenspun.com and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Texas coast and provides valuable habitat for an abundance Soils range from clayey to sandy, with clayey soils being the of aquatic species. Bastrop Bayou is influenced by the tides dominate type in the area. Soils are characterized by low of West Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, infiltration rates and high run-off potential. Contacts bayou or lake. As a the water within Bastrop Bayou is a brackish mixture of For more information about your watershed, please contact the following: freshwater and saltwater. Major ecoregion Western Gulf Coastal Plain Houston-Galveston Area Council The watershed is located in the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal P.O. Box 22777 result, everything we put Houston, TX 77027 Basin and contains a mix of agricultural and wooded areas, Subregion (713) 627-3200 with abundant wetlands located along the lower reaches of Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, small part of the western www.h-gac.com Bastrop Bayou. The watershed is largely rural, with urban edge classified as Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies Galveston Bay Estuary Program development primarily limited to the cities of Angleton and on the ground, from lawn 711 West Bay Area Blvd., Suite 210 Danbury. Small residential developments are found along Natural region Webster, TX 77598 Bastrop and Austin Bayous. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes (281) 332-9937 www.gbep.state.tx.us The region’s relatively flat terrain with sandy clay soils Vegetation Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provides a wide and natural floodplain that flows across the The original vegetation was mostly grasslands with a few clusters fertilizer to litter, can end (512) 239-4491 of oaks, known as oak mottes or maritime woodlands. Little www.tceq.state.tx.us landscape before reaching the bayous, lakes and bays. bluestem, yellow Indiangrass, brownseed paspalum, gulf muhly, and switchgrass were the dominant grassland species. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife Bastrop Bayou Risk Assessment almost all of the coastal prairies have been converted to 4200 Smith School Road cropland, rangeland, pasture or urban land uses. The exotic up washing into our Austin, TX 78744 The Bastrop Bayou Risk Assessment is designed to provide a Chinese tallow tree and Chinese privet have invaded large areas (800) 792-1112 better understanding of how day-to-day activities affect the in this region. Some loblolly pine occurs in the northern part of www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ the region. water quality of Bastrop Bayou, its tributaries, and the numerous waterways. Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge lakes and bays located downstream. In addition to gaining a 1212 North Velasco, Suite 200 better understanding of how the watershed works, the project Cities Angleton, Texas 77515 Angleton, Danbury, Northern parts of Lake Jackson and (409) 849-7771 will identify specific threats to water quality and provide citizens Richwood, Eastern edge of Bailey’s Prairie www.fws.gov and municipal leaders with best management practices that will

Galveston Bay Foundation allow the community to embrace future growth opportunities Tributaries to Bastrop Bayou 17324A Highway 3 while maintaining a healthy bayou. Austin Bayou (receives water from Flores and Brushy Bayou), Watershed Webster, Texas 77598-4133 BastrBastropop Bayou Ditch at Sandpiper Rd. SE of Angleton (Holiday Beach) (281) 332-3381 www.galvbay.org Water Quality Oxygen and temperature levels are important to aquatic life. Aquifer As our population grows and Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges Gulf Coast aquifer P.O. Box 505 Temperature affects the quality of aquatic life and also dictates activities throughout the Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 the amount of available oxygen in the water. Generally, dissolved (979) 849-6062 oxygen (DO) levels at or above 5 mg/L are considered good Issues www.refugefriends.org High bacteria levels, sludgefarming, failing and leaky septic watershed increase, so do the for aquatic organisms. As temperature increases, dissolved tanks, loss of native habitat Christmas Bay Foundation oxygen concentrations usually decrease. The dissolved oxygen risks to our waterways. www.christmasbay.org and temperature relationship throughout Bastrop Bayou watershed appears satisfactory. 08/05