Cow Bayou


Cow Bayou is a bayou in Orange County and Japser County in the U.S. state of Texas. It was formed by the Gum Slough and Dognash Gully. The bayou runs through the cities of Buna, Mauriceville Vidor, and Bridge City. There are 3 tributaries of the Cow Bayou, which includes Cole Creek, Terry Gully, and Coon Bayou.

History

In the early 1910s, the bayou was formed by rice farmers. Since rice production skyrocketed over there, By 1911 almost all farmers in Orange County were using the bayou. In 1940 the Cow Bayou Swing Bridge was created, the bridge was the last major component constructed along Texas State Highway 87. The bridge is 806 feet long and has 2 lanes. In 1963 Congress improved the bayou by constructing a channel 100 feet wide and thirteen feet deep for 7.7 miles from its mouth to Orangefield. It wasn't till 1967 when the project came into effect since oil wells were blocking the construction plan.
Fleash-eating bacteria was found in September 17, 2022, when a resident went into the water. This is the first case of flesh eating bacteria in Orange County. Officials have been warning residents about the flesh eating bacteria since the attack.

Wildlife

Marine mammals:
  • West Indian manatee
  • Bottlenose dolphin
  • Bull shark
  • Hammerhead shark
  • Blacktip shark
  • American alligator
Smaller fish species:
Taxa-----
TaxaCommon nameTaxaCommon nameTaxaCommon name
Anchoa mitchilliBay anchovyGobinellus boleosomaDarter gobyMicrogobius gulosusClown goby
Fundulus blairaeBlair's starhead topminnowGobiosoma boscNaked gobyMugil cephalusStriped mullet
Brevoortia patronusGulf menhadenLeiostomus xanthurusSpotNotropis emiliaePugnose minnow
Citharichthys spilopterusBay whiffLepomis macrochirusBluegill sunfishPercina scieraDusky darter
Etheostoma chlorosomumBluntnose darterLepomis microlophusRedear sunfishPimephales vigilaxBullhead minnow
Fundulus chrysotusGolden topminnowLepomis punctatusSpotted sunfishSyngnathus scovelliGulf pipefish
Fundulus grandisGulf killifishLepomisSunfish--
Fundulus notatusBlackstripe topminnowLucania parvaRainwater killifish--
Gambusia affinisMosquitofishMenidia beryllinaTidewater silverside--

Big fish species:
Taxa-----
TaxaCommon nameTaxaCommon nameTaxaCommon name
Aplodinotus grunniens Freshwater drumDorosoma cepedianumGizzard shadIctalurus furcatusBlue catfish
Ictalurus punctatusChannel catfishIctiobus bubalusSmallmouth buffaloLepisosteus oculatusSpotted gar
Lepisosteus spatulaAlligator garMicropogon undulatusCroakerMicropterus salmoidesLargemouth bass
Minytrema melanopsSpotted suckerMorone mississippiensisYellow bassMugil cephalusStriped mullet
Paralichthys lethostigmaSouthern flounderPomoxis annularisWhite crappiePomoxis nigromaculatusBlack crappie
Strongylura marinaAtlantic needlefishOncorhynchus mykissRainbow troutSciaenops ocellatusRed drum
Pogonias cromisBlack drumHerichthys cyanoguttatusYellow bullhead--
Oreochromis niloticusNile tilapiaArchosargus probatocephalusSheepshead--
Ameiurus melasBlack bullheadAriopsis felisHardhead catfish--