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Current Status

December 3, 2009

A TPWD biologist rode along in a Coast Guard aircraft this morning to get an aerial view of the red tide bloom. The Gulf of Mexico looked clear of any discolored water or evidence of red tide except for some extremely small patches of discolored foam along the 40 to 50 mile marker area of Padre Island National Seashore. The shorelines of Corpus Christi Bay and Nueces Bay looked clear of any bloom discoloration. Likewise, the Lower Laguna Madre from Mansfield Pass to Port Mansfield was clear of any discoloration. Some streaking was observed just south of the Old Bridge in Port Isabel. No discoloration was observed along the shoreline between Laguna Vista and Port Isabel.

The Texas Department of State Health Services continues to monitor the oyster reefs in the wake of the red tide. Yesterday crews traveled out of Port Aransas approximately one mile into the Gulf of Mexico during the outgoing tide and found no K. brevis cells present in their sample. Low cell concentrations were found at the UTMSI pier, portions of Redfish Bay and Corpus Christi Bay, and at Island Mooring. No cells were present at the lighthouse on into Aransas Bay or in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at Redfish Bay. Salinities have dropped significantly, ranging from 23 to 25 ppt.

Moderate cell concentrations were found today at Brazos-Santiago Pass. No cells were found on the Gulf beach near the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab.

December 2, 2009

Staff of the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab and Texas AgriLife Extension collected water samples around South Padre Island today. No aerosols were reported at any of the sites. Low numbers of red tide cells were found at the west end of the Queen Isabella Causeway and the north jetty of Brazos-Santiago Pass. No cells were found in water collected from the beach in front of the Coastal Studies Lab, Beach Access 5 or Beach Access 6.

Today’s overflight has been postponed due to weather.

The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) website now has an Imaging Flow CytoBot Phytoplankton Gallery. The site features archived and current images as well as information about the study site and the CytoBot.

December 1, 2009

Though no new dead fish have been reported from South Padre Island, red tide cells continue to be found in samples taken from the Brazos-Santiago Pass and the gulf beach near Sandpiper Pavilion.

November 30, 2009

The red tide bloom persists along South Padre Island area beaches. Cell counts have risen and fallen repeatedly in recent weeks, but the bloom has not subsided. Fresh dead fish were reported in the Brownsville Ship Channel on Friday, but upon investigation only old dead fish were found.

Biologists are hopeful that recent rains will begin to dissipate the bloom in the Corpus Christi area.

November 25, 2009

Reports along the Gulf beach continue to come in from South Padre Island. Aerosol irritation have been reported fro Access Road 6 south to Brazos Santiago Pass. An ongoing fish kill has been reported along the affected area dominated by striped mullet.

Patches of discolored water along the Corpus Christi shoreline is confirmed to be Red Tide. A continual near shore patch was observed from the breakwaters of the Corpus Christi Marina to Ropes Park, extending offshore to Swatner Park. Another near shore patch was observed in Corpus Christi Bay along the TAMU-CC shoreline and confluence of Oso Bay. Light aerosol irritation was observed at Ropes Park and TAMU-CC. One Small fish kill was observed at Ropes Park dominated by striped mullet.

Reports of fish kills associated with red tide continue to be investigated in the Lower Laguna Madre. Reports include kills near the East cut of Mansfield Pass, the western shoreline near the land cut, the southern shoreline from Holiday beach to Laguna vista. All kills in the Lower Laguna Madre continue to be dominated by striped mullet, followed by hardhead catfish.

November 23, 2009

Red tide was observed along the northern shore of Nueces Bay approximately 3 miles west on the Portland Causeway near Corpus Christi.

An area of discolored water was observed along the shoreline of Corpus Christi from the Corpus Christi Ship Channel to Dodridge Park, and the mouth of Oso Bay into Corpus Christi Bay. TPWD biologists will be collecting samples to determine if the discolored water in red tide. No fish kills were observed.

Light aerosol is present on South Padre Island from the Brazos Santiago Pass to Access Road 6. A fish kill was observed along the shoreline consisting of mullet, ladyfish, hardhead catfish, YOY sandtrout, and crabs started washing ashore this morning.

Fish kills attributed to red tide in the Lower Laguna Madre included a small kill located along the shoreline from landcut south to Port Mansfield. Larger fishkill consisting mainly of large stripped mullet was investigated 5 miles south of Port Mansfield. No discolored water reported for this area, however light aerosol was experience briefly at one location.

November 20, 2009

TPWD has received a report this morning of dead mullet washing up along the beaches of South Padre Island. Biologists will investigate. Water samples collected yesterday from the Brazos-Santiago Pass and the west end of the Queen Isabella Causeway contained low levels of cells. Moderate to high levels of cells were found in samples collected along the gulf beaches of Isla Blanca Park and those beaches north of town near access roads 5 and 6. On Wednesday, red tide cells were found along the south shore of Bahia Grande, at the Port of Brownsville boat ramp and in the Brownsville Ship Channel.

November 18, 2009

Red tide continues to be found at two locations on the Texas coast: Corpus Christi Bay and the South Padre Island area. TPWD has received no recent reports of impacts to gulf beaches with the exception of those near South Padre Island and Boca Chica.

A band of red tide approximately 150 yards wide was observed along the south shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay today. In addition, the Texas General Land Office documented a fish kill occurring at the Corpus Christi Inner Harbor. Gulf toadfish were the most abundant species found, along with lookdown, grunt, pinfish, hardhead hatfish, snapper, moonfish, and mullet. Water samples confirmed relatively high concentrations of red tide cells.

Though cell counts are again on the rise, no complaints of aerosol were received today from the Lower Laguna Madre and South Padre Island areas. However, discolored water and a large fish kill were found at the end of the Brownsville ship channel by a Texas Sea Grant biologist. The dead fish were not fresh and are thought to have been dead for 2-3 days. Red tide cells were found in water samples collected from the area of the fish kill.

November 17, 2009

TAMU's Imaging Flow CytoBot continues to record low numbers of cells at the Port Aransas jetties. No fish kills or aerosols have been reported to TPWD from the Port Aransas area.

Four sites around the South Padre Island area were sampled yesterday. Low concentrations of Karenia brevis cells were found at the west end of the Queen Isabella Causeway, the north side of Brazos-Santiago Pass and Isla Blanca Park near the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab. Higher concentrations were sound along the south shore of Bahia Grande.

November 16, 2009

TPWD investigated a report of dead fish in Oso Bay on Monday. Initial indications were that the fish had been blown in from Corpus Christi Bay. No discolored water or aerosols were reported from the Ocean Drive area today.

A new fish kill consisting of mostly 10- to 14-inch mullet occurred along Boca Chica beach today. Fish densities on the beach, along with red tide cell concentrations, are highest near the south side of Brazos-Santiago Pass and decrease as you move south past Highway 4. High concentrations of red tide cells were also found at the UT-Pan American Coastal Studies Lab in Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island. Lower cell concentrations were found at the Isla Blanca Park boat ramp and the north side of the Brazos-Santiago Pass.

November 13, 2009

Moderate cell counts persist around the town of South Padre Island up to beach access road 5. Slight aerosols were detected along the gulf beach near beach access 6, but no dead fish were seen washing in around South Padre Island.

Dead fish and dark patches of red tide bloom had been seen earlier this week around Corpus Christi Bay. However, no patches of red tide or dead fish were observed today in the Oso and Corpus Christi Bay areas. Abundances of cabbagehead jellyfish are being found along the gulf beaches out to the third sandbar and moon jellies are prevalent in the bay near Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Padre Island National Seashore staff traveled the entire length of the island on Thursday, finding clear water all along the gulf beaches and no aerosols or dead fish.

TPWD is investigating a suspected red tide-related fish kill in the Port Mansfield marina comprised overwhelmingly of striped mullet; hardhead catfish, gafftopsail catfish and sheepshead were also found along with slight aerosols.

Very low cell counts continue to be found by the Imaging Flow CytoBot at the UTMSI pier in Port Aransas.

November 10, 2009

Water samples collected along the gulf beaches of South Padre Island on Monday contained low to moderate numbers of red tide cells.

TPWD biologists participated in a coastal overflight on Tuesday, flying from the Matagorda jetties to the Texas-Mexico border. No visible red tide was found along the gulf beaches from Matagorda Island, San Jose Island or Mustang Island. Patches and streaks were visible along northern Padre Island, from Bob Hall Pier at north Padre Island to Andy Bowie Park at South Padre Island. The heaviest patches were observed along the Big Shell portion of the island.

Patches of red tide were also seen in Corpus Christi Bay, especially from the gates of Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi to TAMU-CC and into Oso Bay. Streaks of red tide were found in the Corpus Christi Marina, where an unformed fish kill was also reported.

Birds were seen feeding along Ocean Drive this afternoon, from the Swantner Park area to TAMU-CC. Dead fish were reported from Corpus Christi Bay, mostly bay anchovy, hardhead catfish and gafftopsail catfish.

Streaks of red tide were found in the lower Laguna Madre near Laguna Vista and Port Isabel, South Bay, and the Brownsville Ship Channel.

November 9, 2009

There have been no reports of new fish kills or aerosols along Port Aransas to Mustang Island State Park.

The Red Tide bloom in the Corpus Christi Bay resulted in fresh dead fish washing onto the beach Friday. Water samples collected in the bay showed very high cell count levels. The aerosol levels however, are not reported to be high and there have been no new fish kills over the weekend. Due to a front that came in Sunday the Red Tide was pushed further south and can now be seen in Oso Bay.

Cell count levels taken for Isla Blanca Park were low on Saturday but were reported in the moderate range this afternoon. Cell counts for Brazos Santiago Pass, however were reported in the moderate range on Saturday and have dropped to very low levels by this afternoon. Cell count levels taken at the UTPA Coastal Studies Lab have remained in the moderate range throughout the weekend. And cell count levels from the South Padre Island Beach Access Road #5 to 6 continue to fluctuate between moderate to high levels.

November 6, 2009

There are still reports of Red Tide in the Corpus Christi Bay area.

Cell count levels for Port A were reported yesterday to be very low but still present.

Reports from earlier this morning indicated that there were no new fish kills on South Padre Island or the Lower Laguna Madre. Cell counts taken between Access Roads #5 and 6 were in the moderate range. Light to moderate aerosols were reported from Brazos Santiago Pass to Access Road 6. Cell counts taken at Brazos Santiago Pass on the north side were low. However, cell counts taken at the UTPA Coastal Studies Lab were still very high.

A report came in earlier today that indicated Red Tide has been seen for the first time in the San Fernando District of Mexico. Our translation suggested that cell count levels were very high for this area and there was an associated fish kill.

November 5, 2009

Today there were reports of a fish kill in Corpus Christi Bay along the shoreline from Oleander Point to Cole Park. The fish kill was dominated by bay anchovy around 1 to 2 inches in length and also included hardhead catfish and needlefish. Red Tide was reported to be visible on Peoples Street and around G-H Piers to Landry’s. Shrimp boats also reported seeing Red Tide along the bulkhead to the Federal Courthouse and along Shoreline at about 20 to 30 feet out. Red Tide was also reported to be along the shoreline in the south basin from Old Coliseum to the Haulout area from the bulk to about 50 feet out into the water. A very small amount of Red Tide was visible between Cooper Ally and Lawrence St. So far no eye irritation has been reported.

Yesterday the Town of South Padre Island reported fresh dead finger mullet washing ashore within the city limits. There was a rough estimate of 10 to 15 individuals every 10 yards. Light aerosols and minor stretching were also reported. As of today there are no new fish kills that have been reported along the beaches of South Padre Island.

Cell counts were at moderate levels off the south shore of Bahia Grande and red streaks could be seen about 200 miles from the shoreline. Cell counts taken today at Isla Blanca Park boat ramp were in the moderate to high range. Cell counts taken on Brazos Santiago Pass (north side) were at moderate levels, as were cell count levels for Brigepoint.

Cell counts taken at the UTPA Coastal Studies Lab, The Palms, and La Quinta were at high to very high levels and cell counts levels between South Padre Island Beach Access road #5 and #6 ranged from moderate to very high.

There is an overflight scheduled for tomorrow with the Coast Guard. Areas of interest will include the gulf passes of Aransas Pass, Packery Channel, Mansfield Pass and Brazos Santiago, the gulf shores from Cedar Bayou to the U.S./Mexico Border, Corpus Christi Bay and the Lower Laguna Madre.

November 3, 2009

Reports from this past Saturday, October 31st, indicated that dozens of fresh dead fish (jacks) were washing ashore around the 20 to 40 mile markers on Padre Island National Seashore and high aerosol levels persisted.

For areas further north to Bob Hall and Packery Channel there was clear surf out to the second sandbar with no noticeable aerosols. Fishing was reported to have picked up considerably with large amounts of bait fish in the water.

Reports from yesterday afternoon indicate that fresh dead fish (finger mullets and ladyfish) were washing ashore at a density of approximately 10 fish per 100 yards, and there were light aerosols between access roads 5 and 6 on South Padre Island. Water samples collected around the town of South Padre indicated the presence of Red Tide from 6 miles north of the Brazos Santiago Pass to Access road 4 on Boca Chica. Water discoloration and aerosols were also reported in the Brownsville Ship Channel.

Currently there are no cell count levels to report for water samples taken today around South Padre Island, however aerosols are reported to be severe and the surf water is discolored along the Island and fresh dead fish are washing ashore.

Water samples collected at Port A pier returned very low cell counts for K. brevis.

November 2, 2009

Cell counts were taken on Saturday, October 31, at the west end of Queen Isabella Causeway, Brazos Santiago Pass, and at UTPA Coastal Studies Lab. All counts were in the moderate range.

There were no significant aerosol effects reported for South Padre Island, possibly due to a slight offshore wind this past Saturday, and no report on any new dead fish washing ashore.

Cell counts taken today, November 2, at Bridgepoint and surrounding areas, were very low. Cell counts from Boca Chica, however, were still very high.

October 30, 2009

Cell counts from late yesterday afternoon showed that levels of Karenia brevis were very high along South Padre Island beach access roads 5 and 6, Brigepoint, Brazos Pass along the north side and at the Isla Blanca boat ramp. Low to moderate levels of cells was reported along the South Bay and at the west end of the Q.I.M. Causeway. Cell counts taken late yesterday afternoon from Access Road 2A and at Bob Hall Pier on Padre Island were very high.

As of today no fresh dead fish have washed onto the shore along Mustang Island or the portion of North Padre Island from PINS boarder north to Packery Channel. Reports from Port Aransas suggest the effects of the aerosols are decreasing.

The Coast Guard overflight for this Saturday has been cancelled and the schedule for Sunday and Monday remain unsure.

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