Institute to hold third meeting on improving Carancahua Bay water quality

Contacts: Allen Berthold, 979-845-2028, [email protected]

Michael Schramm, 979-458-5962, [email protected]

LOLITA – The Texas Water Resources Institute, or TWRI, is hosting a Feb. 13 meeting in Lolita for anyone interested in becoming involved in a partnership to improve and protect water quality in Carancahua Bay.

The free meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Lolita United Methodist Church, 94 College St.

Michael Schramm, an institute research associate in College Station, said the meeting is the third in a series of meetings with local residents and other local stakeholders to develop strategies to  address water quality in the bay. He said the upper portion of Carancahua Bay is currently designated impaired for primary contact recreation due to elevated levels of fecal derived bacteria.

“The goal of the meeting is to get local input on potential pollutant sources and identify feasible voluntary management strategies,” he said.

Dr. Allen Berthold, an institute research scientist in College Station, said the TWRI manages a project that works with local landowners, agricultural producers, residents and other stakeholders to develop a plan and strategies to reduce bacteria in local waterways.

“We will explain the amount of water quality pollutants reaching Carancahua Bay and the reductions needed to meet water quality goals,” he said.

Schramm encouraged interested individuals to take part in the planning process.

“We’re inviting all interested individuals to attend this meeting as their input is essential for identifying appropriate and desirable plans of action that will improve water quality in the region,” he said.

For more information, visit the project website at http://matagordabasin.tamu.edu/carancahua-bay/ or contact Schramm at [email protected].