Armand Bayou Watershed Plan COVER: TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER; ALL OTHER PHOTOS © CLIFF MEINHARDT Armand Bayou Watershed Plan Phase I A Report of the Coastal Coordination Council Pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA170Z1140 Production of this document supported in part by Institutional Grant NA16RG1078 to Texas A&M University from the National Sea Grant Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, and a grant from ExxonMobil Coporation ii PHOTO © CLIFF MEINHARDT Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................................1 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................2 The Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership ..................................................................................................................2 State of the Watershed ..............................................................................................................................................2 Institutional Framework ..............................................................................................................................................3 Tools and Strategies ..................................................................................................................................................3 Monitoring and Measuring Progress............................................................................................................................3 Information Needed .................................................................................................................................................4 Next Steps ..............................................................................................................................................................4 Mission, Vision, and Goals of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership ............................................................................5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................6 Watershed Basics .....................................................................................................................................................6 Armand Bayou Watershed Characteristics ....................................................................................................................7 Human History and Impacts ......................................................................................................................................10 The Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership ....................................................................................................................16 History ..................................................................................................................................................................16 Organization .........................................................................................................................................................16 Mission, Vision, and Goals .....................................................................................................................................17 The Watershed Approach ........................................................................................................................................18 State of the Watershed ................................................................................................................................................19 Habitat .................................................................................................................................................................20 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................................................25 Flooding and Stormwater Management ......................................................................................................................31 Demographics ........................................................................................................................................................33 Public Education and Outreach ................................................................................................................................34 Parks .....................................................................................................................................................................35 Institutional Framework ................................................................................................................................................38 Federal Legislation ..................................................................................................................................................38 Federal Agencies and Programs ................................................................................................................................39 Texas State Legislation ..............................................................................................................................................41 Texas State Agencies and Programs ............................................................................................................................41 Regional/Local Entities and Programs .........................................................................................................................43 iii Non-Governmental Organizations ............................................................................................................................44 Tools and Strategies ...............................................................................................................................................46 Public Outreach .....................................................................................................................................................54 Monitoring and Measuring Progress .............................................................................................................................56 Habitat .................................................................................................................................................................56 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................56 Flooding and Stormwater Management .....................................................................................................................56 Public Outreach .....................................................................................................................................................56 Data Gaps ................................................................................................................................................................57 Habitat ...............................................................................................................................................................57 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................57 Flooding and Stormwater Management .....................................................................................................................57 Public Outreach .....................................................................................................................................................57 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................................................58 Appendices A. List of Acronyms...............................................................................................................................................60 B. Glossary ...........................................................................................................................................................61 C. Demographics ...................................................................................................................................................64 D. Armand Bayou Watershed Partmership Membership ...............................................................................................66 E. Species Lists ......................................................................................................................................................68 F. Water Quality Data .............................................................................................................................................93 G. HCFCD Stream Designations ..............................................................................................................................97 H. Basic Stream Facts ..............................................................................................................................................98