Attoyac Bayou watershed steering committee formation topic of Dec. 9 meeting

NACOGDOCHES – Landowners and others in the Attoyac Bayou watershed are invited to participate in a meeting about protecting and restoring water resources in that watershed, according to the Texas Water Resources Institute.

The public meeting on Dec. 9 in Nacogdoches will consider the formation of a watershed steering committee, one of the first steps in developing a watershed protection plan, said Lucas Gregory, an institute project manager.

The meeting, hosted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will be from 6-8 p.m. at the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex, 203 W. Main St. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

The water institute is part of Texas AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

The AgriLife agencies partnered with Castilaw Environmental Services and others to work with landowners in portions of Rusk, Shelby, Nacogdoches and San Augustine counties to evaluate water quality and examine watershed management options, according Anthony Castilaw, president of Castilaw Environmental Services and the Attoyac Bayou watershed coordinator.

Throughout this project, landowners will be informed of management practices that can be voluntarily implemented to reduce bacteria levels in the Attoyac Bayou, Castilaw said.

“Furthermore, landowners will work together to develop a watershed protection plan that will outline how selected management measures will be implemented to restore water quality,” he said.

Gregory said forming a watershed steering committee that serves as a decision-making body of watershed landowners and local government officials has worked well in developing protection plans for other watersheds.

“This approach is exactly what we’ll discuss with stakeholders during this meeting,” Gregory said.

He said project members will explain the purpose of a watershed steering committee and consider steering committee members. Project staff also will present draft ground rules for the Attoyac Bayou Watershed Steering Committee for consideration.

According to Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent for Nacogdoches County, local input is the key to developing an effective watershed steering committee and watershed protection plan.

“The landowners know the watershed and what will work to restore water quality, so active landowner participation is critical to the success of this project,” Gulley said.

Other project partners are Stephen F. Austin State University and its Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Pineywoods Resource Conservation and Development, and the Angelina and Neches River Authority.

Funding for the development and support of the Attoyac Bayou Watershed Protection Plan is through a Clean Water Act grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information, see http://attoyac.tamu.edu/. -30-