The ten-acre Betty Brown Unit is a recent addition to the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.   The property was donated to US Fish & Wildlife Service by FOBWR Lolita and Bob Muhm.   The name "Betty Brown" is a traditional name for the property, although its origin is unknown.

Betty Brown Unit is located on County Highway 819B, near Churchill, Texas. It fronts directly onto the San Bernard River; a trail connects a small parking lot to the riverfront.

In March 2007, Members of FOBWR assisted the USFWS prepare the Betty Brown Unit for public visits.   Other participating volunteer organizations included Friends of the River San Bernard and Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter.   Projects included: Construction of a birding and nature trail through the unit. Placement of an entrance sign along the road. Compilation of a species list of flora and fauna. FOBWR member Kirby Rapstein and USFWS staffer Thomas Adams compiled a species list of plants near the trail.   Among other things, they identified several Common Hoptrees (Ptelea trifoliata, L), a species rarely found in Coastal Texas.

Foliage of Common Hoptree. Source: Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson. Common Hoptree. USDA Forest Service, Fact Sheet ST-530, October 1994. <http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/PTETRIA.pdf>.

The crew gets ready to go...
Photo: Neal McLain.

Reconnoitering a route for the trail.
Photo: Neal McLain.

Pat Webb (FORSB) and Tom Schneider (USFWS) clear brush along the trail.
Photo: Neal McLain.

Kirby Rapstein (TMN-COT) and Keith Ramos (USFWS) clear brush and remove small trees.
Photo: Tom Schneider.

Mary Ruth Rodenbaugh, County Commissioner for Precinct 4, assists with clearing operations.
Photo: Tom Schneider.

The trail after clearing operations.
Photo: Neal McLain.

Erecting the new entrance sign.
Photo: Neal McLain.

The crew gathers around the new entrance sign.
Photo: Keith Ramos.