The Nueces River Delta is a semi-enclosed body of water where the Atascosa, Frio and Nueces rivers meet the Gulf of Mexico. This area, containing a mix of fresh and salt water, is referred to as a “brackish water system.”
The Nueces River Delta is an estuary. It offers a variety of habitats to the different species that have adapted to the wide range of salinity as the freshwater meets the salty ocean. Other kinds of estuaries include coastal marshes, natural reefs, open bays, tidal flats, sea grass meadows, gulf beaches and barrier islands. Each provides a unique ecological area for organisms that have adapted to conditions found in these systems.
For more information on learning opportunities at the Nueces Delta Preserve, click here.