The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) is hosting two meetings in May for anyone interested in becoming involved in a partnership to improve and protect the mid and lower Cibolo Creek watershed.
The first meeting will be May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Bexar Social Hall, 15681 Bexar Bowling in Marion. The second meeting will be May 30 at 6 p.m. at Kosciusko Hall, 7975 E. Farm-to-Market Road 541 in Stockdale.
Clare Entwistle, a TWRI research associate, said identical information will be distributed at both meetings so interested people can attend either meeting.
Entwistle said the meetings are the first in a series of meetings with local watershed stakeholders on developing strategies needed to address water quality impairments in the watershed.
“The mid and lower portions of Cibolo Creek are both currently designated by the state as impaired because of elevated bacteria concentrations and low dissolved oxygen concentrations,” she said.
The institute is coordinating a project with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to develop a watershed-based plan.
Entwistle said the initial meetings will provide an introduction to the stakeholder process and the watershed planning process.
“We will explain the watershed-based planning process to address these water quality concerns and the proposed timeline for developing a plan,” she said.
Current water quality data will also be presented, as well as an introduction to point and non-point pollution sources for the different impairments.
Entwistle said interested stakeholders should become part of the planning process.
“We’re encouraging citizens of the region to attend this meeting as their input is essential for identifying land and water issues and ensuring that appropriate and desirable management measures are included in the watershed-based plan,” she said.
For more information, contact Entwistle at clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.eduor Patricia Carvajal with SARA at pmcarvajal@sara-tx.org.
