The pipeline areas were backfilled to the original land elevation. 

 Growth of plants is very rapid in this area; since only a narrow strip had 

 been altered, restoration effects stopped at this point. 



San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge 



The San Bernard NWR was acquired in 1968. Other land parcels have been 

 added to the refuge since that date. Texas Railroad Commission maps show at 

 least 17 wells drilled on what is now the refuge. Some of these wells were 

 drilled in the late 1940' s. Since the refuge was purchased, however, only 

 three wells have been drilled, two by North American Royalties in 1972, and 

 one by Houston Oil and Minerals in 1976. Apparently all the wells that have 

 been drilled on refuge lands have been dry. 



Preexpl oration. Several explosive seismic surveys have been run over 

 refuge lands. Typical shot lines are 3.2 to 5.5 km (2 to 3,5 mi) in length, 

 and some of the surveys have had intersecting shot lines. On one of the 

 surveys, holes were drilled approximately eyery 75 m (250 ft). Permits were 

 limited to a two-week period, and requests for seismic surveys during the 

 migratory waterfowl season have been turned down by the USFWS. 



Access to the site. All of the wells drilled before the refuge was 

 acquired were probably accessed by land. Many of the older drill sites are in 

 the area of marsh that can be relatively dry at some times of the year. The 

 two North American Royalty wells were reached by a combination marine-overland 

 method. A short channel was dug off the Intracoastal Waterway to an unloading 

 slip, and equipment was carried by barge to the unloading slip. Then a board 

 road was built directly on the marsh surface to the wellsite. Little fill was 

 used in making this road since the marsh soil was strong enough to support the 

 loads, and the exploration company had agreed to do as little filling as 

 possible. When the first well was unsuccessful, the company moved several 

 hundred meters away and drilled a second hole, again using the marsh-level 

 road. 



The most recent drilling was done by Houston Oil and Minerals. The 

 original plan was to come onto the refuge from solid ground to the west of the 

 wellsite, then build a levee across the marsh to reach the well stake. This 

 was opposed by USFWS staff. The company modified its plan to build a levee 

 with board road with a specific elevation to a particular spot. Then it would 

 turn the road further south and reach the well stake. The company used stag- 

 gered borrow pits (each 10 by 30 m) and placed conduit through the levee in 

 spots selected by the refuge manager. In this manner the road occupied a 

 slightly elevated area between two drainages and only minimally altered runoff. 

 Staggered borrowed pits (placed alternately on both sides of the road) decreased 

 the problem of saltwater intrusion and rapid drainage. The levee road also 

 served as a side of an impoundment that would be used for encouraging waterfowl 

 foods. 



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