Project Summary

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

This project will address regional microbiological water quality monitoring issues in the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP) study area and support the Implementation Strategy for the Coastal Bend Bays Plan (CBBEP, 1998) which includes an action plan for Public Health. The first objective in the Bays Plan is Ato ensure that any threat of waterborne illness and disease is minimized@. The action for that objective is to facilitate a regional approach to recreational water quality management. The CBBEP project area includes three estuaries that are used extensively for recreational activities. The development of a predictive model to assess contact recreation risk based on dry/wet weather monitoring is the second step of the Bays Plan action.

A group of public health officials who have met in a workshop format through a previous project will work in partnership with the Principal Investigator (P.I.) and CBBEP personnel to identify recreational waters in their counties that may have impaired water quality. Five of these sites will be monitored for one year, twice a month and twice after a minimum of three rainfall events for levels of indicator bacteria and water quality parameters such as salinity, temperature etc. Intensity of recreational use of the sites will be assessed by counts during the year. The data will be evaluated to assess the need for establishing a program of routine monitoring at these sites.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total


In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments