Houston-Galveston Navigation Channels Texas Project. Report 1. Galveston Bay Field Investigation

A field hydraulic data collection program was conducted in Galveston Bay from 12 July 1990 until 16 January 1991. During this period eight current meters, six water level recorders, six salinity meters, and one wind speed and direction recorder were deployed and maintained in the bay. The current meters recorded salinity in addition to current speed and direction, and four of the water level recorders also measured salinity. Approximately half the gages were maintained at the same location for the entire survey period, while the remaining gages were redeployed at new locations at the midpoint of the survey. This redeployment allowed different areas of the bay to be monitored. On 19-20 July 1990, intensive over-the-side measurements were made for a lunar day (25 hours) from five boats stationed along the Houston Ship Channel. From each boat, hourly vertical profiles were made at two to four stations. The vertical profiles consisted of current speed and water sample at five depths (three depths if water depth was less than 35 ft). The water samples were analyzed for salinity and total suspended matter. These data are to be used in the verification of numerical models of Galveston Bay and in increased understanding of the physical processes working in the bay. Appendix A presents the data collection equipment and laboratory analysis procedures, and Appendix B describes the Estuarine Boundary Layer Instrumentation System (EBIS). Current meters, Suspended sediment, Salinity, Water-levels, Ship channel