Clean Coast Texas - a new initiative that could help Sargent!

I attended a webinar on Clean Coast Texas –an initiative of the Texas Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program that helps communities reduce pollution and enhance water quality along the Texas coast as part of the Texas Coastal Management Program and Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan. 

This is not an initiative to increase regulations – it is an initiative to create resources, tools, best practices and help to communities to improve water quality along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is first and foremost designed to help communities identify sources of problems that are affecting water quality and then help them find solutions to those problems.  Septic, livestock, storm water,

There are a lot of resources out there to help communities have a positive impact on the water quality.

We HAVE to make sure that all money just doesn’t go to the big money areas of Galveston and Port Aransas. Clean Coast Texas knows where there is funding and is doing the research to help prioritize that funding– they are looking at what areas need the most help and where what funding could help that area the most.  We have to have be ready to make sure Sargent is heard. For instance, there is a new federal program  from FEMA called BRIC program and they listed off another 7-8 programs we could work with them to apply to for resources to ensure we can have clean water!

I asked specifically about our issues with fecal contamination – Jason Pinchback from GLO who was working with me last year about our water quality contamination is leading a part of this initiative.  They are taking 11 years of GLO water quality data for all the areas on the coast, including ours, that have major issues with water quality to come up with a comprehensive analysis. They will be sharing some of that research on March 18^th – 12-1 PM. The goal is to find the source and help us find resources to eliminate those issues.

They made it very clear – they are providing resources but if the local government doesn’t get involved they will work with other local communities where the government DOES get involved. It will be up to us to ensure that our elected officials take FULL advantage of the resources and the research.

There are different programs and grants to help – but we have to have a comprehensive plan and actions from the community/elected officials to get access to those programs. 

Now I know all those cynics will say oh great, another program, will go nowhere – just a lot of talk.  BUT we can’t take the risk of doing nothing and missing out on helping our community ensure we have a great beach AND clean water for a perfect fishing/beach area.

So what is the next step?  I will digest some of these things and look at the resources. Then we need to get with our elected leaders and see what Sargent is going to do to be a part of Clean Coast Texas.

Note they are also engaged with the Texas Stream team - most of the plastic that hits our beaches is coming out of the rivers. This will also help with the tons of crap we pick up off our beach every week. 

More to come……….