News, Views, and Events
San Bernard is accepting comments until October 3, 2011 on a 3-D seismic project crossing the Big Pond, Bird Pond, Buffalo Creek, Otto and Wisch tracts. Contact Project Leader @ 979-964-4011 for a copy of the Operational Plan and Environmental Assessment.
14th Annual Migration
Celebration
The 14th Annual Migration
Celebration will take place at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge during
the second weekend of April, 2008. Free Admission. This family oriented
event includes hands-on activities for kids, guided van tours of the Refuge,
animal tracks, talks, birds of prey presentations, and other exciting
events. Bring your family to join us during this exciting weekend.
For more information
on activities, directions and schedule of events, please call the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service at 979-849-6062 or visit the Friends of Brazoria
Refuges web site at www.refugefriends.org.
Come to the
Water…
The Brazoria and San Bernard National
Wildlife Refuges have established new public use facilities for fishing opportunities.
At the Brazoria NWR,
a new launching ramp was built to allow access of non-motorized boats,
kayaks and canoes into the Salt Lake recreation area. The new facilities
include an open shelter with a picnic table, a boat ramp with floating
dock for loading/unloading and an accessible fishing area with restroom
and parking space.
The Cedar Lake Creek fishing
area has been improved at the San Bernard NWR. A new accessible fishing
pier and parking space provides easy access to the creek while the Cedar
Lake Creek Fishing Trail takes the adventurous angler up stream for nearly
300 yards of relaxing fishing and crabbing. The trail also provides great
birding opportunities during the spring and fall migration.
Bring your family to enjoy
these facilities and do not forget to always come prepared with water,
food and bug repellent.
Visit Hudson Woods!
Hudson Woods Unit, located
five miles west of Angleton, contains a beautiful bottomland forest. Along
with a picturesque oxbow lake, the unit is a good example of the once extensive
bottomland forest which extended across the Brazos and San Bernard River floodplains
and referred to as the canebrake forest by early settlers. Hudson Woods is
home to native bottomland wildlife and is vitally important for large numbers
of migrating songbirds as they move between their summer and winter grounds.
Whether you are a birder or just want to experience the solitude of this wonderful
woodland, don’t miss Hudson Woods.
An accessible boardwalk
will guide you to the Scoby Lake observation platform, where you can enjoy
the view of the local residents; like American alligators, anhingas, herons
and wood ducks.
Hudson Woods is open
from dawn to dusk seven days a week throughout the Year. Click
for directions to Hudson Woods.
A Giant in the Woods
Biggest Live Oak in Texas
On April 7th, 2003 the
Texas Forest Service presented the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge with
the Champion Tree Certificate for the largest known Live Oak tree in the State
of Texas. The impressive giant surpassed the previous champion from Goose
Island State Park.
The tree circumference
measured 386 inches with a height of 67 feet. The average crown spread is
100 feet. The tree is located in one of the bottomland units of the Austin
Woods Conservation Partnership Project.
Visitors can enjoy an
exciting experience while walking the 3/4 mile trail to the observation platform
in front of the San Bernard Oak. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes, water
and bug repellent. Access to the trail is controlled in order to minimize
disturbance to the tree. Individuals and groups interested on visiting the
San Bernard Oak must contact or visit the San Bernard NWR office to make reservations
at 979-964-3639. The office is open for reservations from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information about
the Texas Mid-Coast NWR Complex, please contact the Angleton administrative
office at 979-849-6062. |
