Project Description
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC or “Grantee”) will use Coastal Management Program Cycle 28 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funds to evaluate the vulnerability of OSSFs and other buried sewage structures to tidal fluctuations, hydrologic conditions, and other factors that link bacteria and nitrogen inputs to nearshore waters using groundwater-seawater interaction analyses and source tracking. TAMU-CC will continue monitoring the water table and its response to tidal fluctuations/precipitation at a large-scale using high temporal resolution sampling. TAMU-CC will also complete high-frequency sampling at two highly impacted areas: Surfside-Quintana Park and Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve. TAMU-CC will analyze groundwater, porewater, surface-water, and sediment core samples for molecular human and animal markers (bird and dog), culture-based FIB, nitrogen isotopes, nutrients, and groundwater tracers. This Project will identify processes leading to contamination of coastal waters. Additionally, this study will enhance the quality and function of Coastal Natural Resource areas (CNRAs) by identifying sources of contamination to Texas coastal waters and inform mitigation of adverse impacts on recreational use of waterways and resiliency planning.
Basics
Classification
- Non-construction