Oso Bay and the Laguna Madre: Assessing the Aquatic Life Use
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Oso Bay
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| 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 |
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 topProject Documents
The following documents are in PDF.- Water Quality and Biological Characterization of Oso Creek and Oso Bay, Corpus Christi, Texas
- Oso Bay and Laguna Madre Phase III and IV Data Report
For More Information
Please send an e-mail to tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and reference the Oso Bay and Laguna Madre project in the subject line. Or call the project manager, Jason Leifester, at 512-239-6457.
