Institute to hold meeting on improving Cibolo Creek water quality

Contact: Clare Entwistle, 210-277-0292 ext. 110, [email protected]

Patricia Carvajal, 210-302-3672, [email protected]

LA VERNIA – The Texas Water Resources Institute is hosting a meeting for anyone interested in becoming involved in a partnership to improve and protect the mid and lower Cibolo Creek watershed.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at the La Vernia Chamber of Commerce Hall, 12301 U.S. Highway 87 W. in La Vernia.

Clare Entwistle, a research associate with Texas Water Resources Institute in San Antonio, said the meeting is one in a series of meetings with stakeholders on developing strategies to address water quality impairments in the watershed.

“The mid and lower portions of Cibolo Creek are both currently designated by the state as impaired waters due to elevated bacteria concentrations and low dissolved oxygen concentrations,” she said.

The institute is coordinating a project with the San Antonio River Authority to work with local stakeholders on developing a plan to address water quality issues, Entwistle said.

She said the meeting will focus on finalizing the steering committee membership and organizing workgroups. The institute is considering having three main workgroups to develop management strategies: agriculture and wildlife, urban and stormwater, and centralized wastewater.

“Anyone with interest and knowledge in these areas is encouraged to participate in these workgroups,” she said.

Entwistle said there will also be a presentation on how potential pollutant sources are identified and how needed load reductions are calculated.

She said current water quality data and any new watershed characterization developments will also be presented.

Entwistle encouraged interested stakeholders to become part of the planning process.

“Even if someone was not able to attend the previous meetings, we are still urging residents of the region to attend this meeting,” she said. “Stakeholder input is essential for identifying land and water issues and ensuring appropriate and desirable management measures are included in the watershed-based plan.”

This effort is funded through a nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

For more information, visit the project website at http://Cibolo.tamu.edu or contact Entwistle at [email protected] or Patricia Carvajal with San Antonio River Authority at [email protected].