The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) is hosting a meeting Dec. 15 for anyone interested in improving and protecting the Lavaca River watershed.
The free meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Jackson County, 411 N. Wells St. in Edna.
Clare Entwistle, TWRI research associate, said the meeting is the second in a series of meetings with stakeholders to develop strategies needed to address water quality impairments in the watershed.
“Both the above-tidal portion of the Lavaca River and Rocky Creek, which primarily occupy parts of Lavaca and Jackson counties, are currently designated by the state as impaired because of elevated bacteria concentrations,” she said.
A main objective of collaboration between TWRI and stakeholders is to develop a plan to address bacterial pollution in the watershed, said Dr. Allen Berthold, TWRI research scientist.
Berthold said TWRI staff will give an overview of the first meeting and provide an example of a watershed-based plan. The group will also discuss potential point and nonpoint sources of pollution for the Lavaca River and Rocky Creek and the needed steps to reduce bacterial pollution in the watershed.
“We will explain the watershed-based planning process to address these water quality concerns and the proposed timeline for developing a plan,” he said.
Entwistle said interested stakeholders should become part of the planning process.
“Even if someone was not able to attend the meeting we held on Oct.24, we are still encouraging all interested citizens in the region to attend this meeting,” she said. “Their input is essential for identifying land and water issues and developing and implementing a watershed-based plan.”
For more information, contact Entwistle at clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu or Berthold at taberthold@ag.tamu.edu.
