This action approves an award in the amount of $465,013 to the university of houston - clear lake

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded the University of Houston Clear Lake a $465,013 cooperative agreement under the Geographic Programs - Gulf of Mexico Program (CFDA 66.475) from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2025. The award will support efforts to determine the source of fecal contamination in two watersheds connecting to Galveston Bay to enhance land protection and water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.

Specifically, the University of Houston Clear Lake will track the source of chronic fecal contamination impairments in the Western Galveston Bay watershed and demonstrate a real-time, point-of-sampling methodology for detecting amounts and sources of fecal contamination. It will also develop a rapid, field-deployable microbial source tracking and risk assessment protocol. Additionally, subrecipient activities funded under the award will conduct metagenomic analysis and disseminate results to stakeholders through outreach programs to educate communities about fecal contamination risks in West Galveston Bay. The anticipated outcomes are improved resilience and water quality for surrounding communities.

The purpose of this award is to determine the source of fecal contamination in two watersheds that connect to galveston BAY to enhance land protection and water quality in the gulf of mexico. Activities: the activities to be performed include tracking the source of fecal contamination of chronically impaired waterways in the western galveston BAY watershed and demonstrating the concept of a real-time, point-of-sampling methodology for detecting the amount and source of fecal contamination. Outcomes: anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include the development of a rapid, point-of-sampling MST and risk-assessment protocol that will allow managers to track sources in the field and provide data during extreme weather events. In addition, the education of students through this project will educate the community about the sources and risks of fecal contamination in west galveston BAY. Those educated will include hundreds of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science in projects that involve bioinformatics. In the end galveston BAY communities will become more resilient to the harmful contamination that can occur during severe weather events. Intended beneficiaries are the communities located in and around western galveston BAY, who will benefit from improved community resilience and water quality. Subrecipient: subrecipient activities will be funded to conduct metagenomic analysis and to disseminate results to the public and stakeholders through outreach programs.