LEAGUE CITY — A plan developed by stakeholders under the leadership of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to decrease the amount of bacterial pollution in Dickinson Bayou has been approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The “Implementation Plan for Eight Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in Dickinson Bayou and Three Tidal Tributaries” outlines ways to decrease bacteria found in the waste of warm-blooded mammals including people, dogs, cats and cattle, according to Charriss York, Texas Coastal Watershed Program specialist in Clear Lake.
“Bacteria from this waste may indicate the presence of disease-causing microorganisms that can make people ill if they are in direct contact with the water while swimming, wading or recreating on Dickinson Bayou,” she said. “Because of the high fecal bacteria concentrations, the TCEQ initiated a Total Maximum Daily Load project to determine the extent of the problem and ways to reduce fecal bacteria contamination.”
AgriLife Extension experts led local stakeholders through the process of creating the technical document, which targets bacteria pollution in Dickinson Bayou by point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and non-point sources like stormwater runoff, York said.
Reduction measures include:
— Better management of septic systems through educational activities.
— Improvements to wastewater collection systems and wastewater treatment plants.
— Reducing runoff from pet and other animal waste.
— Restoring natural areas along the Bayou.
— Preserving natural wetlands and constructing new wetlands to filter runoff.
— Installing low impact development practices including rain gardens, swales and rainwater harvesting tanks.
York said the plan recommendations are a mix of voluntary measures and enforceable actions, and the plan also identifies how funding can be obtained for these activities and the parties responsible for implementing them.
More information about the project can be found online at www.dickinsonbayou.org or http://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/tmdl/80-dickinsonbayoubacteria.html/#i-plan
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