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One of the most important properties of water is that it is the most universal solvent. It is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid. Unfortunately, this property means that water can carry many pollutans into ocean waters – oil, pesticides, fertilizers, pet wastes, and others. These pollutants can harm ocean ecosystems, close [...]

Bald eagle and brown pelican populations nearly became extinct along Louisana’s coast because of reproductive problems tied to pesticide exposure. Today, however, brown pelicans are re-established in their historic range, and the number of nest sites in the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary are increased from 675 in 1990 to 6,500 in 2001. Bald eagle populations are also [...]

Did you know that an average roof sheds 160 gallons of water per hour during an average rainfall? According to the Georgia Wildlife Federation, during this period of extended drought in the southeastern U.S., rain barrels are becoming a popular, inexpensive and easy source of collecting rainwater for outdoor use. By placing the barrels uphill [...]

We often think about how land animals survive the winter, but what about marine animals? Manatees despite their hefty appearance have only about an inch of fat to insulate them from cold water temperatures, meaning that they can die of hypothermia when water temperatures dip below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer, manatees can be [...]

Did you know that over half of America’s wetlands have been destroyed? Wetlands include marshes, bogs, swamps and similar areas found between water and flat vegetated land, such as the edges of rivers, streams, lakes and coasts. Some impacts of wetlands loss include impaired water quality, less diverse habitat and diminished recreational opportunities. Viewer Tip: [...]

Did you know that 41 percent of the United States’ coastal wetlands are in Louisiana and that 40-60 square miles are lost each year due to both natural and human-caused impacts? One of the benefits of wetlands is that their plants and bacteria filter out fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants found in rain water runoff [...]

Did you know that roughly half of Galveston Bay is permanently or temporarily closed to shellfish extraction due to bacteria in the water that would be a risk for humans consuming the shellfish? Viewer Tip: Do your part to avoid adding to the bacteria problems and help create an environment that can support healthy shellfish. [...]

A major source of water pollution in Louisiana comes from independent home sewage systems. In fact, over 1.3 million people in the state depend on home sewage systems. However, more than 50 percent of those systems are malfunctioning due to incompatible soils or inadequate maintenance. When sewage leaks into the ground, it can contaminate our groundwater and surface [...]

Did you know that as of 2002, many miles of rivers and streams in Texas did not meet standard usage requirements? 2,215 miles did not meet safe swimming conditions, 455 miles did not meet aquatic life standards, 285 miles had fish consumption advisories or bans and 825 miles did not meet general use requirements due [...]

Did you know that the oil from a single automobile engine can produce an eight-acre oil slick, and a single quart of motor oil can contaminate as much as two million gallons of drinking water? Many of the chemicals needed to run your car, such as anti-freeze, battery fluid, gasoline and motor oil, are poisonous [...]

Between 1992 and 2002, Galveston Bay Watershed lost about 3.1 percent of its wetlands – more than 9,100 acres. The largest percentage of that loss took place in Harris County, where the city of Houston is located. One of the benefits of wetlands is that their plants and bacteria filter out fertilizers, pesticides and other [...]

Did you know that wetlands help moderate global conditions? They store carbon in their plants and soil and act as a sink that counter-balances carbon dioxide emitted into the air from plant and animal respiration and combustion of materials such as coal, oil and natural gas. Viewer Tip: Protect wetlands by keeping household chemicals out [...]

Did you know that 75 percent of U.S. commercial fish and 80 to 90 percent of the recreational fish catch is dependant on estuaries (areas where fresh water and salt water mix) for habitat at some point during their lives? Viewer Tip: Estuary habitats can be degraded by erosion, pollution or chemicals that reach the water [...]

Plastic and metal trash in rivers and streams, which eventually lead to the Gulf, are far slower to decompose than other types of litter. In fact, a six-pack yoke could last over 400 years in salt water and a discarded aluminum can could take 100 to 500 years to disintegrate! Viewer Tip: Protect our waters – [...]

Did you know that high nutrient levels in the Gulf can lead the occurrence of harmful algal blooms, destruction to sea grass beds, and mortality of important fishery species such as brown shrimp? Animal waste is one source of increased nutrient levels and bacterial pollution in our waters. Viewer Tip: Avoid giving your pets and [...]

Did you know that the first inch of rainfall is responsible for transporting the bulk of pollutants into local streams and rivers? A rain garden (an area planted with water-tolerant plants, designed to capture rain water) allows 30 percent more of the water from the storm to soak into the ground rather than running off [...]

Did you know that weeds are the leading pest problem with lawns in Lousiana? Some weeds begin to germinate and grow slowly during the winter months, even though grass may be dormant. Once spring temperatures roll around, these weeds can shoot up quickly. Treating your lawn now can help to avoid major weed invasions this [...]

Florida’s coast is home to about 60 percent of the state’s residents! As development increases near the shoreline, there are more paved surfaces, such as roads, sidewalks and driveways. When rain water runs off these surfaces, it can carry harmful chemicals and nutrients into storm drains and eventually to streams, rivers and the ocean. Viewer [...]

Alabama has over 180 different species of freshwater mussels in its rivers and streams. Freshwater mussels are bivalve organisms related to clams and oysters. They act as food for aquatic animals, fishes and birds, as well as some land mammals. Mussels are filter feeders, meaning they feed by taking in water, filtering out plankton (microscopic [...]

The Galveston Bay Watershed is fed by two major rivers – Trinity and San Jacinto – and contains five sub-bays – Trinity, Upper Galveston, Lower Galveston, East Bay, and West Bay. Together, the five sub-bays have 1,171 miles of shoreline and the entire Galveston Bay watershed covers more than 33,000 square miles of land, including [...]