Watershed coordinator roundtable talks microbial source tracking, gathers Texas water professionals

Texas watershed coordinators and water professionals gathered in College Station on May 20 for the semi-annual Texas Watershed Coordinator Roundtable. Part of Texas Water Resources Institute's Watershed Planning Short Course program, the roundtable gives attendees the opportunity to network and discuss happenings in the watershed planning space.

This meeting focused on microbial source tracking (MST), providing an update on methods used to identify sources of bacteria in Texas waterbodies. 

"State and national experts presented recent advances in the science, applications, and future directions of the approach to addressing water quality and human health risks," TWRI program specialist Tina Hendon said. "MST methods are currently being used to inform water quality management in other states. More work is needed to identify potential benefits and limitations before these technologies and methods are widely adopted by Texas state agencies."

Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with other professionals throughout the day.

"Texas Watershed Coordinator Roundtables are crucial for facilitating communication and collaboration among professionals working to improve water quality and protect watersheds across the state," Hendon said. "These meetings provide a platform for sharing knowledge, addressing common challenges, and developing solutions for effective watershed management."

Authors

Cameron Castilaw is a communication specialist at the Texas Water Resources Institute. She works with the communications team to create social media content, write for TWRI’s various platforms and print projects, and find new ways to inform people of TWRI’s mission and programs.

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