Freshwater Inflow Workgroup Meeting Notes
April 6, 2006
Introductions and review agenda
10:15 - 11:00 How our freshwater inflow science should relate to water quantity management and policy
- Bruce Moulton, TCEQ - The Nueces Estuary Advisory Council (NEAC), the role of freshwater inflow science in the actions of the council and how the NEAC may be a model for the future role of science in freshwater inflow policy and management
- Glenda Callaway, Ekistics - The role of and use of freshwater inflow science by the Galveston Bay Freshwater Inflow Group and how that experience may help us learn how freshwater inflow science should be used in future similar situtations
Question 7: How does relative abundance in a bay vary over specific months, seasons or years?
Proposed tests:
- Coherency of the time signal for individual species measured by different gear types (Ward).
- Consistency of the annual signal of counts for individual species over time (Ward)
- Consistency of time trends for the same species between different gear types in a given bay (Ward, MacFarlane)
- Are there statistically significant correlations (0.05 level of significance) between abundances of populations as measured by different sampling methods, i.e. bag seine, trawl, gill net, landings within individual bay systems? (Solis)
Suggested process questions we should address and resolve to move forward in addressing Question 7:
- Which bay (or bays) should we apply Question 7 to? Propose using Galveston Bay
- What species should we apply Question 7 to?
- Which gear types should be analyzed? Bob McFarlane has suggested starting with bag seine and trawl, using gill net when necessary and then using fishery dependent data.
- What is the period-of-record for data we should select? Bob McFarlane proposes the longest available period-of-record.
- Clearly define the tests described above so there is understanding among all members of the group about what will be done.
- Identify who will conduct the analysis and who will review the analysis.
11:00 - 12:00 The Utility of TPWD Coastal Fisheries fisheries independent data in analysis supportive of freshwater inflow needs analysis
- 11:00 - 11:05 Dave Buzan, TPWD Coastal Studies - Background
- 11:05 - 11:15 Mark Fisher, TPWD Science Director - Correlating finfish relative abundance with season
- 11:15 - 11:30 Jim Tolan, TPWD Coastal Studies - Correlating shrimp relative abundance with season
- 11:30 - noon Group discussion
Noon to 1 pm Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 pm Continuation of "How our freshwater inflow science should relate to water quantity management and policy"
- Paul Montagna, UTMSI - Experience in other states and countries regarding the role of science informing freshwater inflow management and policy
- Cindy Loeffler, TPWD - Consensus Water Planning
- Barney Austin, TWDB - The Environmental Flows Advisory Committee
2:00 - 2:25 Carla Guthrie, TWDB
Evaluating
the need for salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature as measured by
the TWDB's Datasonde program
2:25 - 2:55 Freshwater Inflow work updates
- Nathan Kuhn, TPWD - Status of freshwater inflow studies for San Bernard Estuary
- Junji Matsumoto, TWDB - Status of freshwater inflow studies for East Matagorda Bay
- Grace Chen, TPWD - Draft report of verification of freshwater inflow model for the Mission-Aransas Estuary
- Jack Tatum, Sabine River Authority - George Ward’s comments on freshwater inflow recommendation for Sabine Lake system
2:55 - 3:00 Conclude meeting and schedule next meeting