The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) is hosting a meeting Aug. 16 in Victoria for anyone interested in becoming involved in a partnership to improve and protect water quality in the Garcitas Creek and Arenosa Creek watersheds.
The meeting, free and open to the public, will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Victoria Educational Gardens Pavilion, 283 Bachelor Drive.
Dr. Allen Berthold, TWRI senior research scientist, College Station, said the meeting is the first in a series with local stakeholders to address water quality impairments in Arenosa and Garcitas creeks.
“Bacteria concentration in Arenosa Creek currently exceeds the state water quality standard for recreation,” he said.
Berthold said through a project it manages, TWRI will be working with local landowners, agricultural producers, residents and other stakeholders to develop a plan comprised of strategies to reduce bacteria and other pollutants in local waterways.
“At the meeting, we will discuss the water quality data then present an overview of partnership structures, strategies and examples of different approaches for addressing water quality issues,” he said.
Michael Schramm, TWRI research associate, College Station, said organizing a watershed partnership with interested stakeholders is the meeting’s main purpose.
“The goal of the partnership is to develop a plan for improving water quality and reducing bacteria levels in the creeks,” he said.
“Getting local involvement from interested individuals and developing a voluntary plan of action is the first step to successfully improving and protecting water quality,” he said.
For more information, visit the project website or contact Schramm at michael.schramm@ag.tamu.edu.
