Peyton Creek Restoration Project

Project Description:  Peyton Creek is a small, unaltered tributary that drains southeast from the Colorado River watershed, into Lake Austin and ultimately into the northeast arm of East Matagorda Bay in Matagorda County, Texas.  The freshwater marshes are variously dominated by California bulrush, Olney bulrush, southern reed, lance-leaf arrowhead, southern wild-rice, cattail, and Drummond’s rattlebush.  These plants are important for fish and wildlife, either consumed directly, or by providing microhabitat for fish and invertebrate prey species.  These freshwater aquatic beds also provided excellent brood-rearing and molting habitat for mottled ducks, a species declining throughout most of its range, as well as meeting habitat needs of a host of other resident and migratory wetland bird species.  This habitat type is also important nursery grounds for recreationally and commercially important aquatic species including blue crab and white shrimp.  The area has long been a popular destination for commercial and sports fishing, waterfowl hunting, and other outdoor recreation.

Around 1985, water hyacinth, an aggressive, invasive floating aquatic plant native to Brazil, became established in Peyton Creek and quickly spread into the adjacent sloughs and ponds.  The impact to fish and wildlife resources following the invasion of water hyacinth has been disastrous.  The historic stands of native aquatic plants have been all but completely eliminated due to shading and competition.  The dense mats of water hyacinth in the shallow lakes, ponds, and sloughs are trapped, and not susceptible to periodic flushing during high water events, and as a result rapidly cover the entire open water surfaces following the return of favorable growing conditions each spring.  Restoration of the freshwater aquatic habitats on Peyton Creek will require an aggressive, integrated program to remove enough of water hyacinth biomass to eliminate its competitive advantage, allowing the recruitment and reestablishment of important native aquatic plants.

Potential Partners:  Coastal Conservation Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas R.I.C.E., TexasGenco, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Texas Coastal Program, & the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers