The Medina River in Castroville. Photo by Tina Hendon.
The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) has opened the formal public comment period for the draft Medina River below Diversion Lake Watershed Protection Plan. Comments from residents and stakeholders will be accepted Jan. 23 - Feb. 22, 2025.
A copy of the draft plan is available for download at medina.twri.tamu.edu.
The voluntary, stakeholder-driven watershed protection plan was created to improve water quality in the Medina River below Diversion Lake, located in the San Antonio River basin.
Residents can submit comments to Tina Hendon, TWRI program specialist, at Tina.Hendon@ag.tamu.edu by Feb. 22, 2025, when the comment period closes.
Portions of the Medina River and Medio Creek are designated by the state as impaired because of elevated bacteria concentrations. There are also nutrient concerns present in the watershed as well.”
Over the past year, area stakeholders have volunteered their time to work with TWRI staff on digging into the details, providing local information and perspectives, and guiding the development of the watershed protection plan, she said.
“We would like to thank the local leaders and landowners who have participated in this watershed planning process,” Hendon said. “And we’d like to call on any local residents, agricultural producers or landowners to review the final draft of the plan and send comments and questions.”
She added that public involvement will continue to be critically important to improving water quality in the Medina River watershed.
Funding for the watershed protection plan development is provided through a Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
TWRI is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and combines expertise across the agencies of Texas A&M AgriLife.
For more information, contact Hendon at Tina.Hendon@ag.tamu.edu. Read more about the watershed at medina.twri.tamu.edu.
