TPWD 1973 F-6-R-20 #1547: Job Progress Report: Pollution Investigations, Fisheries Investigations Region 5-B, Project F-6-R-20

JOB PROGRESS REPoRI As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-6-R-20 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS REGION 5-B Job No. VI, Pollution Investigations Projecd Leader: R. L. McCabe Clayton T. Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Lonnie Peters R. J. Kemp, Director Chief, Inland Fisheries . Fish and Wildlife Division May 7, 1973 SUMMARY Water monitoring stations were established and utilized on the Guadalupe, Aransas, Atascosa, Frio, San Antonio, and Nueces Rivers and their tributaries in areas where industrial or agricultural pollution might occur. No serious water quality problems were encountered during the semiannual surveys. The Texas Water Quality Board has eXpanded its monitoring program to include areas of rivers sampled by this project; therefore, the extensive monitoring program conducted by project personnel during segment 20 is no longer needed and should be discontinued. As in past years, project personnel participated in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Pesticide Monitoring Program on Lake Corpus Christi. No instances of pollution or fish die-offs were observed by department per- sonnel or reported by outside sources and no special pollution investigations were necessary. JOB PROGRESS REPORT State Texas Project No. F-6-R-20 Project Title: Fisheries Investigations Region 5-B Job No. VI Job Title: Pollution Investigations Period Covered: January 1, 1972 to December 31, 1972 Project Statement Objective: _ To determine the source and nature of natural or man-made pollutants which affect fish populations. Segment Objectives: 1. To conduct reconnaissance along rivers and tributaries for the pur- pose of locating sampling sites in areas where industrial and/or agricultural pollution might occur. 2. To establish and utilize sampling stations, based on information obtained by reconnaissance, for the purpose of monitoring water quality in areas where pollution might occur. 3. To investigate incidences of pollution or fish die-offs when ob- served by departmental personnel or when reported by other interested citizens and to report the findings to the appropriate authorities. 4. Confirmed cases of detrimental pollution will be referred to the appropriate enforcement agency. Procedures and Findings: Reconnaissance work was conducted on the Guadalupe, Aransas, Atascosa, ' Frio, San Antonio, and Nueces Rivers and their tributaries for the purpose of locating sampling sites in areas where industrial and/or agricultural pol- lution might occur. On the basis of information obtained during preliminary reconnaissance, sampling stations were selected and utilized in a semiannual water monitor— ing survey. Water sampling sites were established above and below points of confluence in areas where pollution was most likely. The locations of the 13 selected stations were plotted on county maps (Figure 1). Two stations involved monitoring of effluents from municipal sewage treatment plants at. their junctions with river systems. These stations were located on the Frio 053mm \ :2: mzngmvzl :I. $5.5 0 20.595 oEEwm C 3.5 WEE & I. .mcoflumum wcwuouwcoz woumz mo cowumooq .H owswwm River at Three Rivers and the Nueces River at George West. No problems in water quality were observed at the Three Rivers sampling station. Water analyses conducted at George West in April showed low oxygen and high carbon dioxide contents. The Texas Water Quality Board conducted an investigation of the area and plans for improving the George West sewage treatment fa— cilities have been implemented. Surface and bottom water samples were taken during each of the two surveys. In shallow areas only surface samples were taken. Analyses in- cluded dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, ph-th alkalinity, total alkalinity, chlorides, and total hardness. Air and water temperatures were also record— ed. Results of these analyses are presented in Table 1. No detrimental conditions were observed during the surveys; likewise, no incidences of pollution or fish die-offs were observed by project personnel or reported by outside sources, and no in—depth investigations were necessary. _ As in past years, assistance was given to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its annual pesticide monitoring survey of Lake Corpus Christi. The survey was conducted on November 6-7. Selected fish samples were frozen and shipped to the appropriate laboratory for analyses. At the time of writing of this paper, the results of the 1972 analyses have not been received. The segment 19 (1971) analyses showed no harmful amounts of pesticides to be present in the Lake Corpus Christi fish samples (Table 2). Those samples were tested for lipids, 11 organochlorine insecticides (DDE, TDE, DDT, dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, BHC, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane, and toxaphene), PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), and selected metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium). Recommendations: The Texas Water Quality Board has expanded its monitoring program to include areas of rivers and tributaries where pollution might occur. There- fore, the extensive monitoring program conducted by project personnel during segment 20 should be discontinued. It is recommended that this job be limited to the investigation of pollution or fish die-offs when observed by depart- mental personnel or when reported by outside sources. As in previous years, findings should be reported to the appropriate authorities. Confirmed cases of detrimental pollution should be referred to the appropriate enforcement agency. Prepared by: K. K. Sellers Approved by, Assistant Project Leader Date May 7, 1973 E. M. C. 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