Four Corner - Texas Water Development Board

• Upland areas or primarily upland areas. These areas were identified using both
the resource review and field investigation phases of this project.
• Wetland areas or potential wetland areas. These areas were identified using both
the resource review and field investigation phases of this project.
• Areas recently cleared which are developing wetland characteristics. These areas
were identified during the field investigation phase of this project. At least two
parcels of undeveloped property were observed to be recently cleared; these areas
were most likely cleared within the past 6 to 9 months. Each of these areas now
possess an undulating ground surface which is conducive for collecting and
trapping water. Wetland vegetation was observed to be growing in many of the
depressions created by the clearing activities. At present, two of the three
wetland criteria (e.g., hydrology and vegetation) were met in these areas. Without
appropriate intervention, wetlands may establish in these rather flat, poorly
drained areas. Further research would need to be conducted to determine whether
or not wetlands historically existed in these areas.
• Areas not physically visited. These areas include areas which were not walked
during the field investigation aspect of this study and which the resource review
of these areas was not definitive as to whether or not wetlands existed in these
areas. Based on the ground truthing activities which were conducted within the
study area, most of the areas not physically visited are most likely to contain
upland or primarily upland areas.
Overall, ground truthing was accomplished for the majority of the undeveloped parcels
of property located within the study area. Additionally, Keegans Bayou and Red Gully
are considered jurisdictional waters of the United States. Any activities impacting these
waters, such as outfalls, road crossings, etc., would need to be evaluated for potential
permitting requirements under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899.
D. Historical Background - The wide variety of native floral and faunal resources
supported an indigenous population in Fort Bend County. When Cabeza de Vaca, a
survivor of the Narvaez expedition to colonize southern Florida, was shipwrecked in
1528 on what has often been identified as Galveston Island (probably Oyster Bay
Peninsula), he was met by the native Americans of the area (Krieger, 1959). This group
of Native Americans was part of the Karankawa group that was probably made up to at
least five tribes (Aten. 1983). There were three other related native groups on the upper
Preliminary Engineering Report
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