The Lone Star Healthy Streams Program: Reducing Bacterial Runoff Associated with Horses.

The Lone Star Healthy Streams Program: Reducing Bacterial Runoff Associated with Horses Abstract: Approximately 300 Texas water bodies currently do not comply with state water quality standards established for E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria. Elevated concentrations of E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria in water are an indicator of fecal contamination and can pose an increased healthy risk to users downstream. Through cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, The Lone Star Healthy Streams program was developed to research practices that will reduce bacterial runoff and to spread this information through statewide Extension programs and workshops. The Lone Star Healthy Streams program aims to educate Texas livestock producers and land owners on how to best protect Texas waterways from bacterial contributions associated with the production of livestock and feral hogs. To achieve this goal, groups of research scientists, resource conservation agencies, and producers have collaborated to compile five Lone Star Healthy Streams manuals which include best management practices known to reduce bacterial contributions to lakes, rivers, and streams. In addition to reducing bacterial contributions, the best management practices discussed allow livestock producers and land owners to further protect Texas waterways from sediment, nutrient, and pesticide runoff while potentially increasing the productivity of the property. As part of the five livestock categories, horses were identified as a potential contributor of bacteria in runoff flowing into surface waterbodies. As a potential source, best management practices were researched and summarized for dissemination to land owners and horse owners.