TPWD 1958 F-2-R-5 #368: A Basic Survey of the San Bernard River

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT Investigations Project FILE State of TEXAS Project No. F2R5 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 6-B. SS. —— eee ts eves Of negion 0-B. Job No. A-6 Title: A Basic Survey of the San Bernard River. Period Covered: March 1, 1957 through July 31, 1957 ABSTRACT A basic survey and inventory of the fish species was conducted on the San Ber- nard River. The entire stream, from its headwaters on the Austin-Colorado County line to its mouth in Brazoria County on the Gulf of Mexico, was included. The stream lies entirely within the Coastal Plain, rising in the Post Oak Belt and flowing thence through the Coastal Prairie. The upper river is an often dry or intermittent sand bottom stream. The middle portion flows sluggishly between moderate to low steep-cut mud banks and the lower portion becomes brackish near West Columbia. Twenty-five species of fresh water fishes were collected during the survey and several others, including some saltwater species, are known to exist in the river. Fish- “ig in the upper and middle river is limited to catfish and several species of centrar- tids. A significant fishery exists in the lower reaches of the river for marine species. OBJECTIVES To gather fundamental data on the San Bernard River in regard to its physical, chemical and biological aspects and to obtain a checklist of the freshwater fish species. METHODS Fish samples were obtained by means of small mesh seines at Station Number 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 along the river (Figure 1.). Points of access by all weather roads were chosen for the survey stations. The collections were limited to stations within the freshwater portions of the stream. No collections were made in the brackish, or salt- water, portions. All specimens taken were preserved for subsequent identification and frequency of occurrence analysis. In some cases, a dominant species was so abundant at a given locality that preservation of complete collections of the species was impracticable and under these conditions estimates of the abundance for this species were used. The identification of all fish specimens was verified by Dr. Clark Hubbs, Department of Zoology, University of Texas. Be Ecological notes were made at each of nine stations and the data recorded in- cluded; buttom type, cover, vegetation, stream width, depth, relative turbidity, pH, velo- “ty and volume of flow. --- Page 2 --- a PHYSTCAL CHARACTERISTICS The San Bernard River rises in Austin and Colorado Counties and is the bound- ary between these counties (Figure 1). The river flows in a southeasterly direction along this boundary and thence as the boundary between Wharton and Fort Bend Counties and Matagorda and Brazoria Counties. After flowing approximately 105 miles it empties into the Cedar Lake arm of the Gulf of Mexico. The stream originates in the Post Oak Belt near New Ulm at an elevation of approximately 250 feet above sea level, and flows parallel to and between the much larger Colorado and Brazos Rivers. The San Bernard drains a rather narrow area of approximately 1500 square miles in the counties mentioned above. The entire stream length of the San Bernard is contained in the Coastal Plain. The headwaters lie in sandy and sand loam soils in the edge of the Post Oak Belt, where post oak is the principal vegetation of the rolling plain. In this region truck farming, cotton and peanut farming and grazing are the principal land uses. Below Station No. 10, near New Ulm, the stream enters the coastal prairies where the soils are heavy clays which are largely grass covered. The stream in this reg- ion is bordered by hickory, ash, pecan, sycamore, cypress, and willow trees. At most seasons of the year the upper stream is a dry sand bed from the head- waters area near New Ulm to a point between Stations 10 and 9. On June 7, 1957, a sign- ificant flow was encountered at Station 10 undoubtedly due to the unusually heavy rains and flooding which preceeded this visit to the river. On July 24, however, the stream was dry at this point and only a small flow of approximately 5 c.f.s. was found down- stream at Station No. 9. During dry seasons the upstream limit of flow is undoubtedly much farther downstream than this. The stream above Station No. 7 (Figures 2 and 3) near the town of East Bernard, is a wide sand stream bed, sometimes contained between cut loam banks on one or both sides and at others, gently sloping from the surrounding pasture lands. The sand stream bed is as much as 100 years wide in many places. At Station No. 7, the stream changes character completely and flows between low, steep cut clay banks (Figures 4 and 5). Stream width here was approximately 30 feet and did not increase or decrease significantly until a point was reached near the town of West Columbia, approximately 30 river miles from the coast. Brackish water was first encountered near West Columbia at Station No. 3, and several small tributaries enter the San Bernard near this point. (Figures 6 and 7) Stream flow increased from zero at Station No. 10, near New Ulm, to 25 c.f.s. at Station No. 8, near Wallis, and 53 c.f.s. at Station No. 5, near Boling. Below Station No. 5 conditions were such that accurate estimates of flow were not possible and no per- manent stream gauging exists in this portion of the river. Aquatic vegetation was limited to periphyton algae, filamentous algae and spat- terdock (Nuphar advena). In the clear waters above Station No. 7 algae growths ranged from sparse to abundant and in the more turbid water downstream they ranged from sparse to absent. At Station No. 6, near Kendleton, a limited growth of spatterdock or yellow wa- ter lily was found. No other rooted aquatic vegetation was found. --- Page 3 --- bt CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS Water quality in the San Bernard was found to be satisfactory for diversified aquatic life at all points. The stream is clear in its upper reaches and grows more murky through the middle reaches. The pH range in the stream is from pH 9.2 in the up- stream section to pH 8.5 in the middle and lower sections of the river. No pollution was found during the survey of the river and only one potential source of pollution was found on the lower river. The sulphur plant, above Churchill Bridge, is locally believed to occasionally pollute the river, however, at the time of the survey, no direct evidence of such pollution could be found. FISH COLLECTIONS Seining collections were made in the upper and middle portions of the San Ber- nard River at Stations 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. (Figure 1). No collections were made in the lower river sections where brackish water was encountered. Twenty-five freshwater species were collected at the five stations listed above and an additional nine fresh and saltwater species are assumed to exist in the river on the basis of reports from Dr. Clark Hubbs, local fishermen and resort owners. The names of these species are presented in Table 1, and their distribution is given in Figure 8. The results of the fish collections indicate a limited freshwater fishery in the upper and middle reaches of the river. Sport species in these waters are limited to the channel catfish, yellow bullhead, largemouth bass, green sunfish, longear sunfish, and white crappie. The abundance of the more desirable sport species such as the large- outh bass and white crappie appears to be limited. The white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) was taken in only one collection and the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) also is present in very limited numbers. Green and longear sunfish, on the other hand, appear to be a significant part of the freshwater fishery of this stream. The individual species most frequently collected and therefore assumed to be most widely distributed in the San Bernard are the common mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), and the red fin or redhorse shiner (Notropis lutrensis). FAMILY LEPISOSTEIDAE Though only a single species of gar was collected during the survey work on the San Bernard River, and that is the longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, there is reason to believe that the alligator gar, Lepisosteus spatula, and the spotted gar, Lepisosteus productus, also occur in the river. According to Dr. Clark Hubbs of the University of Texas, it is probable that these two additional species are present in the stream. FAMILY CLUPEIDAE The gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, though collected only at upstream collec- tion points, very likely is widely distributed throughout the length of the freshwater portions of the San Bernard River. --- Page 4 --- FAMILY CATOSTOMIDAE Large schools of river carpsucker young-of-the-year, Carpiodes carpio, were coli at Station No. 8, near Wallis, in the upstream portion of the river. This tends to indi- cate that the species is present in abundance and most likely occurs throghout the length of the river. FAMILY CYPRINIDAE As was expected, this family was represented by more species in the collections than any other family. Twelve cyprinid species are known from the San Bernard. Ten of these were collected by survey personnel and two others are reported to occur in the river by Dr. Clark Hubbs. The localities from which these species were collected are shown in the accompanying maps in Figure 8. The redfin or redhorse shiner, Notropis lutrensis, was the most frequently taken minnow in the collections and the golden shiner, Notemigonus erysoleucas, was represented in the collections by only a single specimen. FAMILY AMETURIDAE ced Ameiurid species in the San Bernard River as in so many of the other small streams of Texas represent the major fishery potential for freshwater species. The channel cat- fish, Ictalurus punctatus, and the yellow bullhead, Ictalurus natalis, were taken at up- stream stations and probably occur throughout the length of the stream. It is known that, where the stream is wide enough, there is a limited amount of trotline fishing done. FAMILY CYPRINODONTIDAE The blackstripe topminnow, Fundulus notatus, was taken at two of the upstream stations and was observed at several of the downstream stations. This indicates that the species is generally distributed over most of the stream. FAMILY POECILITDAE As in most streams in this area, the common mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, was found to be very abundant in the San Bernard. It was present in every collection made. FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE Largemouth bass fingerlings were relatively abundant at Station No. 9, at the time of the June collection. At the time of the July visit to the river this station was a dry stream bed. Though not taken in large numbers, largemouth bass are probably widely distributed throughout the middle reaches of the river. Both the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, and the longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis, were found to be widely distributed in the freshwater portions of the San Ber- nard. These two species possibly are of importance in the fishery to the pole and line fishermen. A single white crappie, Pomoxis annularis, was taken in the June collections at Station No. 9. It is possible that this specimen was a chance occurrence accounted for by the recent floods, since none were taken in the July collections. However, the species may be present in some of the deeper holes in the middle reaches of the river. --- Page 5 --- = Vy FAMILY PERCIDAE Two darters, the slough darter, Etheostoma gracile, and the bluntnose darter, Etheostoma chlorosomum, were taken in the upper and middle portions of the river. They compose a very small part of the total population in each case. FAMILY MUGILIDAE The striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, is known from an observation of several dozen found dead along the river bank, apparently the result of bait seining. It is believed that the species is abundant throughout the lower and middle portions of the river. FAMILY SCIAENIDAE Although no collections were made in the saltwater of the lower river, several species of fish are known to occur there from the reports of fishermen and resort owners. Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens, redfish or red drum, Sciaenops ocellata, croaker, Micropogon undulatus, and speckled trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, were all reported as contributing to the fishery in the saltwater portion of the lower river at Stations 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS The lower 30 river miles of the San Bernard supports a significant fishery for varine species and supports several commercial docks at Churchill Bridge. A potential source of pollution is the sulphur plant above Churchill Bridge which local fishermen consider to be an occasional source of pollution. However, there is no evidence available at present to support this charge. Upstream through the middle portions of the river there are indications of moderately heavy fishing pressure for catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish. Channel cat- fish apparently are the most sought after species in the stream and are fished for pri- marily with trotlines. Above Station No. 7, in the vicinity of East Bernard, the stream is of little significant fishery potential due to intermittant and seasonal water conditions. Vegetation was sparse except in the shallow upper reaches of the river where algae growths were abundant. Prepared by Kenneth C. Jurgens Approved by )- : a Oe Project Leader Chief Aquatic Biologist Date August 27, 1957 --- Page 6 --- Table 1. Checklist of Fishes Known or Reported to Occur in the San Bernard River. Scientific Name Common Name Family LEPISOSTEIDAE Lepisosteus osseus Family CLUPEIDAE Dorosoma cepedianum Family CATOSTOMIDAE Carpiodes carpio Family CYPRINIDAE Notemigonus crysoleucas Opsopoeodus emiliae Hybopsis aestivalis (Reported by Hubbs) Notropis roseus Notropis venustus Notropis atherinoides Notropis fumeus Notropis amnis Notropis volucellus Notropis lutrensis Notropis brazosensis (Reported by Hubbs) Pimephales vigilax Family AMETURIDAE Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus natalis Schilbeodes gyrinus Family CYPRINODONTIDAE Fundulus notatus Family POECILIIDAE Gambusia affinis Family CENTRARCHIDAE Micropterus salmoides Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis megalotis Pomoxis annularis Family PERCIDAE Etheostoma gracile Etheostoma chlorosomum longnose gar gizzard shad river carpsucker golden shiner pugnose minnow speckled dace weed shiner spottail shiner emerald shiner ribbon shiner pallid shiner mimic shiner redhorse shiner Brazos River shiner parrot minnow channel catfish yellow bullhead tadpole madtom blackstripe topminnow common mosquitofish largemouth bass green sunfish longear sunfish white crappie slough darter bluntnose darter _ ir --- Page 7 --- KK 2 new = F ware San Bernard] _o iver | ‘COLORADO COUNT Y === a FT. BEND COUNTY WHARTON COUNTY BRAZORIA COUNTY 7 A DENOTES SURVEY STATIONS a" Figure 1. Map of San Bernard River showing survey stations --- Page 8 --- Table 1 (Continued). Scientific Name Family MUGILIDAE Mugil cephalus Family LEPISOSTEIDAE Lepisosteus spatula* Lepisosteus productus* Family SCIAENIDAE Aplodinotus grunniens** Sciaenops ocellata** Micropogon undulatus** Cynoscion nebulosus** Family SPARIDAE Archosargus probatocephalus** Common Name striped mullet alligator gar spotted gar freshwater drum red fish or red drum croaker speckled trout sheepshead * Considered as probable in this drainage by Dr. Clark Hubbs. ** Reported to occur in saltwater portion of stream by fishermen and resort operators. --- Page 9 --- Figure 2, Figure 3. Station No. 8 at Highway 60. Station No, 10 at Highway 90. --- Page 10 --- Figure 5. Station No. 4 at Farm Road 1301. Station No. 5 at Farm Road 4h2, a ii --- Page 11 --- Figure 6, Station No. 1 near Churchill Crossing. Figure 7. Station No. 3 at Highway 35 Bridge. --- Page 12 --- Rre--- OOOO Yi fis DOOOOOG--~ — Distribution of Species Family: CYPRINIDAE Distribution of Species Notemigonus crysoleucas Family: CLUPELDAE Opsopoeodus emiliae OKC) Hybopsis.aestivalis ® Rea Seen (reported by Dr. Clark Hubus) Family: CATOSTOMIDAE Notropis roseus \ s ® Carpiodes carpio Notropis venustus Family: AMBIURIDAE Notropis atherinoides © Ictalurus punctatus Notropis fumeus 2 ® Ictalurus natalis Notropis amis \ © Schilbeodes gyrinus Notropis volucellus Family: CYPRINODONTI DAE Notropis lutrensis ® Fundulus notatus Notropis brazosensis (reported by Dr. Clark Hubbs) Family: POECILIIDAE © CGC GOOO9O Pimephales vigilax © Gambusia affinis Distribution of Species Family: MUGILIDAE ® Mugil cephalus The following species not collected but suspected to occur or reported to occur:~ Distribution of Species Family: | LEPISOSTEIDAE Family: | LEPISOSTELDAE Po ® Lepisosteus osseus Lepisosteus spatula Family: | CENTRARCHIDAE © Lepisosteus productus Micropterus salmoides © Lepomis cyanellus ® Lepomis megalotis Family: SCIAENIDAE 0) Aplodinotus grunniens Sciaenops ocellata © Pomoxis annularis ¥ © ® Micropogen undulatus ss © Family; PERCIDAE Cynoscion nebulosus a Fras y @ wma "me r alll © _rrerosargus prosatocosnais ail! a anil © Etheostoma chlorosomum 7) Prril Figure 8 Distribution of species, San Bernard River.