Effect of Freshwater Inflow on Habitat Suitability Change in Texas Bays

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NFWF2016c.pdf (1.93 MB)

Date

2016-11

Authors

Turner, Evan L.
Savage, Kelley
Trungale, Joe
Palmer, Terence A.
Montagna, Paul A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/90109

Abstract

Freshwater inflow is critically important for foundational estuarine invertebrate species such as the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica. This empirical study tests the viability of the proactive management strategy of the release of supplementary freshwater inflow into two Texas bays to increase oyster health. An oyster habitat suitability index was created through regression analyses to test the effect of altered inflows. We demonstrate the inflow requirement to lower salinities from base marine (35 PSU) conditions to polyhaline (25 PSU) conditions is possible within human release activities if directed in Tres Palacios Bay and Caranacahua Bay, Texas. Even small inflow supplements such as 1,500 acre-ft of additional freshwater added during the summer months can enhance oyster health. This health improvement is due to lowering the risk of the oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) prevalance by decreasing salinities to between 20 and 25 PSU.

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Turner, E. L., K. Savage, J. Trungale, T. A. Palmer and P. A. Montagna. 2016. Effect of freshwater inflow on habitat suitability change in Texas bays. Report to the Texas Environmental Flows Working Group and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA, 35 pp.

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