Departmental Seminar

Coastal watersheds in Texas have experienced significant human population growth over the past several decades. In addition, Texas estuaries are being increasingly affected by climate change and growing human freshwater demands. These factors have the potential to negatively impact coastal water quality, which is a critical determinant of ecosystem health. Data synthesized from several long-term water quality monitoring programs were used to address the question: “How has water quality changed on the Texas coast?” Results indicate localized increases in salinity, localized eutrophication in estuaries with urbanized or agricultural-dominated watersheds, and fecal bacterial pollution at both local and regional scales. These findings can help guide targeted studies in estuaries experiencing water quality degradation to better understand drivers and identify solutions.