Water quality in the Arroyo Colorado affects the Laguna Madre, Gulf of Mexico and their coastal natural areas. San Benito Wetlands Phase 4 will build upon previous projects that addressed the San Benito wetlands. These wetlands are an important and recommended best management practice in the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan to protect water quality and coastal natural resource areas of the Arroyo Colorado, estuaries at its mouth, the Lower Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico.
Project goals include determination of pollutant loads entering the Arroyo Colorado, increased ecotourism, enhanced educational opportunities and coastal wetland access.
This project is funded by the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program.
Project Overview
The San Benito Wetlands Phase 4 project will help to achieve objectives and implement strategies for water quality, habitat restoration, resource protection, education and outreach, public involvement, economic development, recreation, and minimization of adverse human impacts.
San Benito is one of the local municipalities working with the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership (ACWP) to meet goals outlined in the Update to the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan. Phases 1-3 were accomplished through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Coastal Management Program funding to capitalize on San Benito’s wastewater infrastructure and 165-acre property along the Arroyo. San Benito constructed its modern wastewater treatment plant in 2008 and currently serves over 7,000 accounts. To address root issues and decrease impacts on coastal resources, the Texas Water Resources Institute initiated a wastewater reuse and tertiary treatment project with San Benito to reduce amounts of bacteria, sediments and other impairments entering the Arroyo Colorado tidal segment. Phases 1 and 2 restored abandoned polishing ponds into wetlands. Each month, 4,240,800 gallons of treated effluent is piped from the plant to filter through wetland vegetation and rock berms. Phase 3 added the capacity of three (of six) large former settling ponds, diverted 62 million gallons of treated effluent in four months and included public education amenities.
Objectives
- Enhance public access and education.
- Enhance wetland habitat.
- Determine amounts of pollutants diverted from the Arroyo Colorado.
- Determine seasonal water levels to maximize wildlife usage and ecotourism potential.
- Involve the public in bird counts and development of a bird checklist.
- Initiate ecotourism.
Tasks
- Purchase pumps, install water gauges and replace deteriorated deck boards and rails.
- Provide public access to wetland piers and environmental education through signage, and outreach activities.
- Restore native wetland and riparian habitat.
- Monitor treated effluent leaving the wastewater treatment plant and water in the settling/evaporation ponds as well as water level gauges.
Project Reports
