Area landowners and citizens interested in learning about a water quality study on Mid Pecan Bayou are invited by Texas AgriLife Research, Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to attend a public meeting on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in Brownwood.
The meeting, hosted by Texas AgriLife Research, Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Adams Street Community Center, 511 East Adams Street. Registration will begin at 6:00 p.m.
“We are conducting this study to assess factors affecting the use of Mid Pecan Bayou,” said Dr. Larry Beran, Research Scientist with Texas AgriLife Research. “This study is the first step in the process to ensure common sense is applied to the state’s water quality standards.”
Mid Pecan Bayou is located in Brown County, southeast of Brownwood and extends from a point immediately upstream of the confluence of Mackinally Creek to a point immediately upstream of Willis Creek. The bayou currently exceeds the state water quality standard for contact recreation and is listed as impaired on the Texas 303(d) List due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria. The State is required by the federal Clean Water Act to address these impaired waterbodies, reduce the bacterial pollution and to protect public health. Almost 300 waterbodies statewide currently are on this list of impaired waters.
“A recreational use attainability analysis is being conducted to determine the level of aquatic recreation actually occurring,” Beran said. “We’re interested in activities like wading, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating and fishing.”
The meeting will provide an overview of the Recreational Use Attainability Analysis process, project goals and timeline, and provide an opportunity to gain landowner input on the process.
“As landowners, this meeting is an opportunity for you to stay informed and help make decisions that will affect the status of the Mid Pecan Bayou,” said Jule Richmond, Chairman of the Pecan Bayou Soil and Water Conservation District. “Our unified efforts insure the quality of our local waterways.”
The funding for this project was made possible through a State General Revenue Nonpoint Source Grant from Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
More information about the Mid Pecan Bayou Recreational Use Attainability Analysis, including the agenda for the February 22 meeting, is available at the TSSWCB website or by contacting Beran at 254-968-4144 or lberan@ag.tamu.edu.
The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board is the lead agency for planning, implementing, and managing programs and practices for preventing and abating agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint sources of water pollution. The agency also coordinates the programs and activities of the state’s 216 soil and water conservation districts, administers a water supply enhancement program for the selective control of water-depleting brush, and facilitates the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee.
