In cooperation with the Houston-Galveston
Area Council and
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Hydrologic, Water-Quality, and Biological Data for Three Water Bodies, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002
By Jeffery W. East and Jennifer L. Hogan
U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 03–459
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Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Description of Water Bodies
Dickinson Bayou
Armand Bayou
San Bernard River
Acknowledgments
Data Collection
Hydrologic Data
Water-Quality Data
Continuously Monitored Water-Quality Properties
Periodically Collected Water-Quality Properties and Constituents
Biological Data
Hydrologic Data
Water-Quality Data
Continuously Monitored Water-Quality Properties
Periodically Collected Water-Quality Properties and Constituents
Nutrients
Chlorophyll-a and Pheophytin
Indicator Bacteria
Nutrient Yields
Biological Data
Fish Data
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Data
Habitat Data
Summary
References
Figures
| 1–3. | Maps showing location of: | |
| 1. | Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, and rain gages in the area | |
| 2. | Sampling stations in Dickinson and Armand Bayous, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 3. | Sampling stations in San Bernard River and three tributaries, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 4. | Graphs showing rainfall at (a) National Weather Service station, League City, Texas, and (b) National Atmospheric Deposition Program station, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge near Sealy, Texas, July 2000–September 2002 | |
| 5. | Hydrographs showing daily mean gage height and time of water-quality sampling at (a) station 08077647 Dickinson Bayou at State Highway 3, Dickinson, Texas, and (b) station 293546095052701 Armand Bayou at Bay Area Boulevard, Pasadena, Texas, July 2000–September 2001 | |
| 6. | Hydrographs showing daily mean discharge and time of water-quality sampling at station 08117500 San Bernard River near Boling, Texas, July 2000–September 2002 | |
| 7–25. | Boxplots showing: | |
| 7. | Distribution of continuously recorded (15-minute interval) water temperature in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, November 2000–August 2001 | |
| 8. | Distribution of continuously recorded (15-minute interval) specific conductance in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, November 2000–August 2001 | |
| 9. | Distribution of continuously recorded (15-minute interval) pH in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, November 2000–August 2001 | |
| 10. | Distribution of continuously recorded (15-minute interval) dissolved oxygen in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, November 2000–August 2001 | |
| 11. | Distribution of continuously recorded (15-minute interval) (a) water temperature, (b) specific conductance, (c) pH, and (d) dissolved oxygen at three depths in Dickinson Bayou, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, December 2000–August 2001 | |
| 12. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) ammonia nitrogen, (b) ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, and (d) orthophosphorus concentrations in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 13. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) ammonia nitrogen, (b) ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, and (d) orthophosphorus concentrations during high- and low-flow conditions in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 14. | Seasonal distribution of periodically collected (a) ammonia nitrogen, (b) ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, and (d) orthophosphorus concentrations in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 15. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) chlorophyll-a and (b) pheophytin concentrations in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 16. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) chlorophyll-a and (b) pheophytin concentrations during high- and low-flow conditions in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 17. | Seasonal distribution of periodically collected (a) chlorophyll-a and (b) pheophytin concentrations in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 18. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) fecal coliform bacteria and (b) E. coli bacteria densities in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 19. | Distribution of periodically collected (a) fecal coliform bacteria and (b) E. coli bacteria densities during high- and low-flow conditions in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 20. | Seasonal distribution of periodically collected (a) fecal coliform bacteria and (b) E. coli bacteria densities in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
| 21. | Yields of periodically collected ammonia nitrogen for selected sites in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, July 1999–September 2001 | |
| 22. | Yields of periodically collected ammonia plus organic nitrogen for selected sites in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, July 1999–September 2001 | |
| 23. | Yields of periodically collected nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen for selected sites in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, July 1999–September 2001 | |
| 24. | Yields of periodically collected orthophosphorus for selected sites in (a) Dickinson Bayou, (b) Armand Bayou, and (c) the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, July 1999–September 2001 | |
| 25. | Yields of periodically collected (a) ammonia nitrogen, (b) ammonia plus organic nitrogen, (c) nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, and (d) orthophosphorus during high-flow (above base flow) and low-flow (base flow) conditions in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 | |
Tables
| 1. | Data-collection sites in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 |
| 2. | Laboratories responsible for analyses of samples collected from Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 |
| 3. | Biological sampling frequency in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain |
| 4. | Periodically collected water-quality properties and constituents at six sites in Dickinson Bayou, July 2000–August 2001 |
| 5. | Periodically collected water-quality properties and constituents at four sites in Armand Bayou, August 2000–July 2001 |
| 6. | Periodically collected water-quality properties and constituents at six sites in the San Bernard River, January 2001–August 2002 |
| 7. | Screening levels for selected nutrients |
| 8. | Fish species collected in Dickinson Bayou, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2001 |
| 9. | Fish species collected in Armand Bayou, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2001 |
| 10. | Fish taxa and counts of individual fish collected in the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 |
| 11. | Fish community data (metrics) for sites in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 |
| 12. | Benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and counts of individual taxa collected in the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2002 |
| 13. | Benthic macroinvertebrate data (metrics) for sites in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2001 |
| 14. | Physical-habitat data for stream reaches at sites in the San Bernard River, Texas Gulf Coastal Plain, 2000–2001 |
VERTICAL DATUM
Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29).
Abstract
During July 2000–September 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed site-specific hydrologic, water-quality, and biological data in Dickinson Bayou, Armand Bayou, and the San Bernard River in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas. Segments of the three water bodies are on the State 303(d) list. Continuous monitoring showed that seasonal variations in water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved oxygen in all three water bodies were similar to those observed at U.S. Geological Survey stations along the Texas Gulf Coast. In particular, water temperature and dissolved oxygen are inversely related. Periods of smallest dissolved oxygen concentrations generally occurred in the summer months when water temperatures were highest. Water-quality monitors were deployed at three depths in Dickinson Bayou. For periodically collected nutrients, the median concentration of ammonia nitrogen was largest in Dickinson Bayou and smallest in the San Bernard River. Median concentrations of ammonia plus organic nitrogen, nitrite plus nitrate nitrogen, and orthophosphorus were largest in Armand Bayou. The median concentration of each of the four nutrients was larger for high-flow samples than for low-flow samples. The largest individual nutrient concentrations occurred during spring and summer. Both median and individual concentrations of chlorophyll-a were largest for Armand Bayou; median concentrations of pheophyton were similar for all three water bodies, and individual concentrations were largest for Armand Bayou. Median densities of fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli bacteria were similar for all three water bodies. Flow conditions had minimal effect on concentrations of chlorophyll-a and pheophytin, but the largest bacteria densities were in samples collected during high flow. Yields of most nutrients tended to increase with distance downstream. Yields in the San Bernard River and tributaries were less than yields in Dickinson and Armand Bayous. For Dickinson and Armand Bayous, the most individuals and species of fish were collected at the most downstream main stem site; for the San Bernard River, the fewest individuals and species of fish were collected at the most downstream main stem site.
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