Physiographic features

These nearly level soils are in shallow-water grass flats of bays and lagoons. Water depth is generally less than 4 feet. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent but is mostly is less than 0.5 percent. Elevation ranges from -5 to 0 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

The climate is predominately maritime, controlled by the warm and very moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. The climate along the upper coast of the barrier islands is subtropical subhumid and the climate on the lower coast of Padre Island is subtropical semiarid (due to high evaporation rates that exceed precipitation). Almost constant sea breezes moderate the summer heat along the coast. Winters are generally warm and are occasionally interrupted by incursions of cool air from the north. Spring is mild and damaging wind and rain may occur during spring and summer months. Tropical cyclones or hurricanes can occur with wind speeds of greater than 74 mph and have the potential to cause flooding from torrential rainstorms. Despite the threat of tropical storms, the storms are rare. Throughout the year, the prevailing winds are from the southeast to south-southeast.

The average annual precipitation is 45 to 57 inches in the northeastern half of this area, 26 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area, and 30 to 45 inches in the rest of the area. Precipitation is abundant in spring and fall in the southwestern part of the area and is evenly distributed throughout the year in the northeastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate-intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 68 to 74 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 340 days and ranges from 315 to 365 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Climate stations used

• (1) CORPUS CHRISTI NAS [USW00012926], Corpus Christi, TX

• (2) PADRE IS NS [USC00416739], Padre Island Ntl Seashor, TX

• (3) PORT MANSFIELD [USC00417184], Port Mansfield, TX

• (4) PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP [USW00012957], Los Fresnos, TX

• (5) PORT ISABEL [USC00417179], Port Isabel, TX

Influencing water features

These soils are permanently submersed in seawater

Wetland description

This site is permanently submersed with seawater.

Soil features

The Baffin series consists of very deep, very poorly drained (permanently submersed) soils that formed in slightly fluid sandy and loamy estuarine sediments. The Baffin series is the only correlate soil and is classified as a Coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, calcareous, hyperthermic Sodic Hydraquents.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

The animal communities of the Coastal Prairie communities are influenced by fresh and salt water inundations. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times become abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Alligators are locally abundant and make frequent use of the marshes depending on salt concentrations in the marshes.

The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Whooping cranes are an important endangered species that occur in the area, especially near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Northern harriers are common predatory birds seen patrolling marshes. Curlews, plovers, sandpipers, and willets are shorebirds that make use of the tidal areas. Seagulls and terns are plentiful throughout the year trolling the shores as well. Further inland, rails, gallinules, and moorhens make use of the brackish marshes.

Inventory data references

Information presented was derived from the Range Site Description, NRCS clipping data, literature, field observations, and personal contacts with range-trained personnel.

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Contributors

Tyson Hart, Ecologist, NRCS, Nacogdoches, TX

Approval

Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023

Acknowledgments

Site Development and Testing Plan:

Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document. Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.