| Counties: |
Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Willacy |
| Parameter: |
Dissolved oxygen |
| Basins: |
River and Coastal Basins: Bays and Estuaries, San
Antonio–Nueces Coastal Basin, Nueces River Basin,
Nueces–Rio Grande Coastal Basin |
| Segments: |
2485, 2491 |
 |
|
Oso Bay
|
| |
Background and Goals
Oso Bay is an enclosed, shallow body of water situated along the
southern shore of Corpus Christi Bay, with a surface area of
approximately seven square miles. The bay receives fresh water from
Oso Creek, a stream whose flow is dominated by permitted
discharges, and exchanges salt water with Corpus Christi Bay.
Ecologically, Oso Bay provides habitat for many plants and animals,
and plays an influential role in water purification and storm
protection.
The Laguna Madre is one of only five hypersaline or negative
estuaries in the world. The Laguna is a shallow, bar-built coastal
lagoon with limited freshwater inflow and a surface area at mean
high tide of 729 square miles. The Arroyo Colorado is primarily
responsible for freshwater inflow to the lower Laguna Madre.
Ecologically, the Laguna is characterized as exhibiting hypersaline
conditions, barren shorelines with extensive wind-tidal flats,
extensive submerged seagrass meadows, and a highly productive
finfishery.
Water quality testing found that concentrations of dissolved
oxygen are sometimes lower than the criterion established to assure
a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Oxygen, which dissolves in water, is
essential for the survival of aquatic life. While the amount of
dissolved oxygen in water fluctuates naturally, various human
activities can cause unusually or chronically low dissolved-oxygen
levels which may harm fish and other aquatic organisms.
The TCEQ’s TMDL Program is conducting a project to assess
concentrations of dissolved oxygen and their effect on aquatic life
in the two water bodies. If the results of this project show that
low dissolved oxygen levels continue to be a problem, then the TCEQ
will determine whether it is most appropriate to carry out a use
attainability analysis (UAA) or to develop a total maximum daily
load (TMDL).
Return to top
Project Documents
The following documents are in PDF format. (Help with
PDF)
Return to top
For More Information
For additional information regarding this project, please
contact the TCEQ project manager, Jason Leifester, at 512/239-6457.
Or send an e-mail to tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and
reference the Oso Bay and Laguna Madre project in the subject
line.
Return to top
