LCRA announces its newest volunteer water quality monitor Marsha Hardy, emergency management coordinator with San Saba County. Hardy is certified as a Colorado River Watch Network water quality monitor and is monitoring at Risien Park each month and submitting her data to LCRA. Judy McCoy, San Saba Middle School teacher, also monitors at Risien Park with her students.

The Colorado River Watch Network is the first and largest regional volunteer network of water quality monitors in Texas. The success of the program is due in large part to the uncommon commitment of more than 100 volunteers. The information collected by the Colorado River Watch Network is used as an early warning system for potential threats to water quality.

LCRA staff uses data from volunteers and its professional monitors to prepare its Water Quality Index Report. LCRA also issues the water quality index monthly to characterize the general water quality of the rivers, tributaries and the Highland Lakes. The index is based on a set of core parameters including: dissolved oxygen, nutrients, temperature, total dissolved solids or specific conductance and bacteria.

For August, water quality in the San Saba River was rated excellent. Water quality parameters were within optimal ranges for this time of the year. Dissolved oxygen was high enough to support a healthy fish community. Bacteria and nutrient levels were low and therefore not a concern for contact recreation. The water temperature was 82°F.

For more information about water quality please visit LCRA’s State of the River Web page at http://www.lcra.org/water/quality/state.html.