Coastal Hydrographic and Meteorological Study

Abstract

Hydrographic and climatological data for Texas bays collected in the field and taken from publications are presented in this report. Rainfall was 29 % higher in 1966 than in 1965, with heaviest rainfall occurring in May. Water temperatures followed normal seasonal trends and varied very little from the preceding year. There were no fish kills caused by extreme freezes. Salinities were generally lower than in 1965 as a result of increased rainfall and influx of fresh water from river discharge. High tides were experienced in early May with readings of over three feet above mean low tide in most areas. High tides were also experienced in September as a result of the autumnal equinox. An increase in tide, associated with Hurricane Inez, occurred along the lower coast in October. Habitat modification included routine maintenance dredging in the Galveston and Corpus Christi Ship Channels and in the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre Intracoastal Waterways, oil well operations, marine development operations, and hurricane protection operations.