Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 41, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 11, 1989 Page: 2 of 14
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Page 2-Palacios Beacon, October 11, 1989
Oyster industry may benefit from inflow
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)
tween Bay City and Wharton. In 1929, when
residents decided to remove those rafts by
dynamiting them, the delta started forming
rapidly.
from 1929 to 1934, the delta almost com-
pletely crossed what is now the dividing line be-
tween east and west Matagorda bays. In order to
shortcut the enlargement of the delta, which was
covering the oyster reefs, local interests began a
channel in one of the active lobes of the delta and
trained the river to cut through Matagorda Penin-
sula, and then empty into the Gulf rather than the
bay.
"So that essentially isolated the river from the
bay and the benefits of freshwater inflow were no
longer realized," King says, adding that before
the formation of the delta, Matagorda Bay led the
state in oyster productioa
The only other access to freshwater inflow
other than flood conditions between the present
river channel and the bay has been what is called
Parkers Cut, or Tiger Island Channel, at the
lower end of the delta just above the peninsula,
King says.
That cut was made by a shell-dredging com-
pany to gain access to some of the old reefs in
Matagorda Bay and remove them for their shell
content.
When the Corps of Engineers was approached
by local interests about making the flood
discharge channel a reliable navigation channel to
the Gulf, it brought the opportunity to change the
conditions-these unnatural conditions that were
caused by the original diversion of the river into
the Gulf.
"It gave us an opportunity then to reconnect
the river with the bay by putting in a diversion
channel," King notes.
Upon completion of the project, the river will
be entirely separate from the navigation channel.
Water should be able to flow into the new di-
version channel beginning in early 1990, but wa-
ter still will be able to flow into the existing chan-
nel until it is dammed, says Corps project man-
ager John L. McManus.
The diversion channel will mark the comple-
tion of the first phase in a project that was autho-
rized by Congress in 1967.
The contract for constructing a dam across the
existing river channel and digging the navigation
channel to connect the existing river channel and
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is scheduled to be
awarded in April 1990. The award date for the
construction of an earthen dam across Parkers
Cut located near the mouth of the river is expected
in October 1990. The dams and the navigation
channel will probably be completed about June
1991, McManus says. The last feature in the
project, the placement of new oyster reefs, is
tentatively set for completion in December 1992.
The construction of those reefs is being de-
layed about two years to allow the Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Corps of Engineers, the Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service and the Texa.,
Parks and Wildlife Department to check the salin-
ity regime under active diversion conditions and
to select sites where the reefs will be most pro-
ductive.
The navigation channel will serve mostly off-
shore petroleum and survey vessels and the off-
shore shrimping fleet, King says. Currently, the
nearest opening to the Gulf is about 15 miles
away.
The project also will help provide flood relief,
especially to the town of Matagorda, he adds.
"Diverting the river is engineenngly sound be-
cause it will remove the threat of flood in the
lower navigation channel and will reduce siltation
rates so it will reduce maintenance costs.
"The siltation will occur in the bay and will
form a delta that will provide great fish and
wildlife benefits, whereas, the same sediment in
the navigation channel would be considered a lia-
bility," King says.
Not everyone, however, believes that the ben-
efits of the project outweigh some of the deleteri-
ous impacts.
Dr. George Ward, a research scientist for the
University of Texas Center for Research in Water
Resources, says the principal investigators of the
federally-sponsored Matagorda Bay Study, of
which he was project director, did not recom-
mend the project. "What this illustrated is that the
issue of freshwater inflow effects on the bay
system is not simply one of more is better," Ward
says. "In our analysis of the Colorado diversion,
we found that it would have some benefits, but it
also would have some deleterious impacts and on
the balance, the deleterious impacts outweighed
the benefits,"
One of the benefits of freshwater inflow is that
more nutrients are being brought into the system.
But Ward says the study team found, it is sur-
prise, that the concentration of nutrients would
actually be diluted.
"The reason for this apparent contradiction is
the concentration of nutrients in the Colorado is
very low," he explains. "Ninety-eight percent of
the basin is regulated by reservoirs and these
reservoirs trap nutrients. The water that finally
comes down the river would be entering the bay
relatively deficient of nutrients."
Another problem, Ward believes, is that some
of the most productive bay bottom in the estuary
would be covered by sedimentation. In order for
a bay bottom to be effective, it has to be within a
certain range of depth, he says, adding that if it is
too deep, it is not as productive.
The arm of the bay where the river is to be di-
verted has excellent bay bottom habitat of depths
of three to four feet, Ward explains. "All of this
will be eliminated by the diversioa"
Most important is that the project will close the
access to the sea through Parkers Cut, he says.
The Matagorda Bay Study found that this access
to the bay is most intensively utilized by migrating
species.
Neighbor to neighbor
THE NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR energy assistance
program was launched with a $100,000 donation from
Central Power and Light Company stockholders to 16
community action agencies throughout South Texas.
Representing the local community action was Eulalia
Waddy of Economic Action Committee of the Gulf
Coast. They were presented their share of the funds
by Bob Carey, CPL executive vice president and chief
operating officer. The program provides emergency
assistance to poverty-level customers who need help in
paying their home energy bills, regardless of fuel
source. Customers and employees of CPL can make
their tax-deductible contributions by pledging an
amount that will be added to their monthly electric bill,
or by pledging a one-time contribution to be added to
their next electric bill, or by enclosing a check payable
to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor fund.
Bids solicited for G1WW cleaning
Congressman Greg Laughlin
(D-West Columbia) recently an-
nounced that the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Galveston
TICKET DISMISSAL
Insurance Discounts
(lasses: Oct. 17,19,24,26,31
Nov. 2
DON'T BE BORED STIFF. WE HAVE
THE MOST EXCITING CLASSES IN TOWN.
Affiliated Defensive
Driving School
Call (512) 972-2665
District, will be soliciting bids
for a job consisting of construc-
tion, repairing, cleaning and
painting the Brazos River
Floodgates, the Colorado River
Locks, and Sector Gates on the
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in
Brazoria and Matagorda Coun-
ties.
The estimated cost range of
the project is $1 million to $5
million. Bids for the work will
be solicited from the private
sector on October 13, with a bid
opening date scheduled for
November 14.
Happy
" October "
Birthday^hftJ
To our very Special Patients from
Russell
Matthes, D.D.S.
and Staff
Greg Baird
Jennifer Haralson
Kendra Rasmussen
Debbie Bin
Jessica Hart
Sunny Rae Roe
Kynsie Benefield
Michael Hewitt
Bill Sensing
Ricky Brinkman
Anthony Hill
Casey Scarborough
Anna Cantu
John Holton
Chris Schneider
Sharon Chumchal
Glenda Jochec
Jonathan Schneider
Wendy Coker
Jennifer Kelly
Tiffany Southerland
James Cuellar
Brent Kessler
Mary Jane Thornthon
Jonathan Downs
Mary Ann Lawson
Terrell Tumis
lisa Dremcr
Taylor Matthes
Jennifer Vets
Kelli Dujka
Tasha Milton
Misty Vera
Amanda Dunburg
Lee Northcutt
Jenna Wakefield
Lydia Enriquez
Lisa NunnaUy
Tonya Walker
Rebecca Garcia
Jimmy Orton
Gerry Wells
Cleste Garzu
Sonal Patel
Tanier Williams
Jeff Gregg
Troy Prasek
Sheila Woods
Jason Zanes
©
'ORTHODONTICS
Russell Matthes, DD.S.
For appointment pa|i
409-245-4615
Bay City
Offices In Edna, Palacios, Port Lavaca. Sweeny,
West Columbia and Wharton
Police Reports
A woman told police Oct. 3
that someone had apparently
thrown something which cracked
the windshield of her car. The
incident occurred near 8th and
Henderson.
Police issued a citation for vi-
olation of the Texas Clean Air
Act to a man who was emptying
a batch of concrete which caused
a dust cloud to form over a large
area in the 200 block of Hender-
son on Oct. 4.
Police received a report of a
possible assault from a man in
the 900 block of Moore around
9:20 p.m. Oct. 4. The man told
police that he was struck by an-
other individual.
A resident in the 40 block of
Seashell reported that someone
had thrown a rock threw a bed-
room window at approximately
6:17 p.m. Oct. 7.
Police arrested Darrell Duane
Tedder, 30, of the 300 block of
Elizabeth on a charge of public
intoxication at 2:37 a.m. oct. 6.
The fine was set at $210.50.
Police arrested Tommy Diaz,
25, of the 800 block of
Perryman on charges of public
intoxication and resisting arrest
at approximately 9:52 p.m. Oct.
7 in the Pavilion parking lot. The
total fine was set at $487.50.
A 17-year old was arrested at
1:08 a.m. Oct. 8 in the 400 block
of Main on a charges of public
intoxication and a minor in pos-
session of alcoholic beverages.
VFW Post to hold
drug program
VFW Post 2467 will host a
Palacios area war on drugs pro-
gram after the regular meeting
October 16 in conjunction with
the Ladies Auxiliary. Everyone
interested is invited to attend at
approximately 8:30 p.m.
—TOBIAS’—
Cash & Go Grocery
(formerly Frank's Kwik-Way)
♦ Under New Management - Re-Stocked ♦
Breakfast Tacos - Fresh Donuts - Coffee
Pan Dulce - Bread - Ice - Cold Drinks - Beer
Open 6 am-ll:30 pm
801 Henderson Palacios 972-6218
NOTICE:
Checks for the Diamond J. Cattle account I
have been reported missing. Merchants |
and businesses are advised that the ac-
count has been closed and none of the |
checks will be honored.
OUR NEIGHBOR-
J & S PAINT & BODY SHOP
The City State Bank has been
serving the financial needs of
Palacios and surrounding area
since August 1940. We are glad
to be a part of this community
and to be your neighbor.........
Jim and Sherall Howard have
been customers of the City State
Bank for 10 years. Although the
use of J & S is not always intentional,
he makes the process as painless as
possible. We are proud to have J & S
as our neighbor....
"YOUR HOMETOWN DEPOSITS SUPPORT HOMETOWN-
GROWTH"
The City State Bank of Palacios
Equal Credit Opportunity Lendei
(ember FDIC
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West, Nicholas M. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 82, No. 41, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 11, 1989, newspaper, October 11, 1989; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth729492/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.