Armand Bayou
County: Harris
Parameter: Dissolved oxygen
Coastal Basin: San Jacinto–Brazos Coastal
Segment: 1113
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Background and Goals
Armand Bayou is a tidal tributary of Clear Lake, located in the San Jacinto–Brazos Coastal Basin. Armand Bayou is rich in plant and animal life and attracts canoeists, kayakers, fishermen, and birdwatchers daily. There are several parks and other recreational areas along Armand Bayou, including Bay Area Park and Armand Bayou Nature Center.
Since monitoring began during the 1970s, water quality testing has indicated that concentrations of dissolved oxygen in Armand Bayou were sometimes less than optimal for the support of fish and other aquatic life. 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. Over the past 50 years, land-surface subsidence has dramatically altered regional drainage gradients and the depth and width of Armand Bayou.
The project evaluated the effects of low dissolved oxygen on aquatic life to determine the actions necessary to improve water quality in the lake.
Back to topPublic Participation
An ad hoc stakeholder group was formed during the project under the auspices of the Texas Sea Grant of Texas A&M University.
Status and Implementation
Analyses of the data collected for the project revealed that concentrations of dissolved oxygen are often relatively low during hot weather, but also found no indication of aquatic-life impairment or limitation related to the dissolved-oxygen regime. The data set has several unconventional aspects that are related to unique hydraulic characteristics of the Armand Bayou system.
A TMDL allocation was not developed since available data did not indicate impairment of the aquatic life community, nor identify a pollutant that needs to be controlled. The TCEQ will continue working to develop protocols suitable for evaluating dissolved oxygen and aquatic life conditions in tidal streams, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.
For More Information
Please email tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Armand Bayou dissolved oxygen project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
