Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Larry Redmon, 979-845-4826, l-redmon@tamu.edu
ROBSTOWN – A half-day program to help livestock owners, land managers and others understand the best management practices designed to help reduce bacterial contamination of water bodies will be offered Jan. 27 in Robstown.
In response to the educational need, this event is being offered by the Coastal Bays Foundation and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Lone Star Healthy Streams program, said Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage and Bennett Trust specialist in College Station.
The program will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the auditorium of the Johnny Calderon Building, 710 E. Main St. Lunch will be provided at no cost.
The Lone Star Healthy Streams program will offer information on topics such as: defining awatershed, the Clean Water Act, best management practices related to beef cattle and horse production, and feral hog management.
Each segment will provide important information that can help minimize the amount of bacteria entering state waterways, Redmon said. Water quality management agencies across the state and local stakeholders are helping combat bacteria pollution through management strategies and watershed plans that help restore water quality.
“Bacteria are the leading cause of water pollution in the state of Texas,” he said. “When found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and other water bodies, fecal bacteria serve as indicator species for the presence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses or parasites, which can cause waterborne illnesses, including typhoid fever, dysentery and cholera.
“One vital component of this approach, however, is educating citizens about bacteria, its common sources and methods that can be used to help minimize or prevent bacteria from entering our waterways,” Redmon said.
For more information or to preregister, contact Teresa Carrillo with the Coastal Bays Foundation at 361-882-3439 or tcarrillo@baysfoundation.org.
The program is made available through a grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funds.
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