Protecting safe recreation and building community awareness of local water quality conditions with the Texas Coastal Bend Blue Water Task Force.
The Texas Coastal Bend is home to scenic beaches, diverse marine life, and abundant outdoor activities. From surfing and boating to birdwatching and fishing, the region offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast. However, the area faces challenges due to mounting pressures on its beaches and water resources from rapid commercial and residential development, driven by the increasing demands of its popular tourism industry and a growing local population.
While industrial wastewater on the Texas coast mainly impacts the bays behind the barrier islands, the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are vulnerable to urban runoff, sewage leaks, and other forms of pollution. Surfers have also been noticing an uptick in waterborne illnesses — like earaches and stomach problems — after heavy rains, so the Texas Coastal Bend Chapter decided to take action three years ago and start a Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) program. With ongoing development on North Padre Island, the chapter also wanted to gather baseline data to track how newly constructed streets, yards, and parking lots might increase runoff and affect water quality over time.
To launch their new BWTF program, the Texas Coastal Bend Chapter teamed up with Dr. Jeff Turner’s lab at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to begin testing three sampling sites at local beaches popular for surfing and general beach-going. The chapter’s BWTF program complements the year-round beach monitoring program run by the Texas General Land Office, providing more valuable water quality data to inform safe recreation in the community and raise public awareness of local pollution problems.
Left: Texas Coastal Bend BWTF volunteer lead, Tommy Shilts, collects a water sample. Right: Samples are processed by students in the lab at Texas A & M University.
Every Thursday, Surfrider volunteers collect water samples from Padre Balli Beach and two sites near Packery Channel and deliver them to the university lab, where students test them for enterococcus bacteria. The results are ready by Friday, ensuring up-to-date water quality information for beachgoers planning their weekend activities. This collaborative relationship is a win-win situation for both the chapter and the participating university students. The college students receive valuable hands-on lab experience while exploring career opportunities in water quality and environmental science. The reputation of the chapter’s program benefits from its association with an academic research laboratory, and the chapter is spared the cost and time required to perform the lab analyses. Texas Coastal Bend is proud to be the first chapter to bring a BWTF program to the Gulf of Mexico.
To help keep the public informed about water quality conditions and when it’s safe to swim or surf at the beach, the chapter shares its water quality results widely in their community every time they test. All of the chapter’s data is posted on Surfrider’s BWTF website and is shared in a water quality report via social media and email. These reports are often picked up by local media outlets, such as 3News (KIII-TV). The chapter also distributes stickers with a QR code that links directly to their test results, making it even easier for the community to stay informed about local water quality conditions.
So far, the results of the Texas Coastal Bend BWTF program have been generally clean. There have been a few instances of elevated bacterial levels after heavy rains. When this happens, the chapter quickly alerts the public to ensure everyone’s safety. Along with their regular bacteria testing, the chapter has also started monitoring salinity, turbidity, and pH to gather more information about environmental conditions at each site. Looking ahead, they’re excited to expand their sampling efforts to more locations in Port Aransas. As the program grows, the chapter is dedicated to keeping its community’s beaches safe, clean, and enjoyable for everyone.
Make Promises Happen Surf Camp
Another program the chapter is proud to support is the Make Promises Happen Surf Camp, which serves individuals with disabilities. Founded 26 years ago by chapter Co-Chair Cliff Schlabach and his wife RoxAnne, the camp helps children from Texas and Oklahoma experience the joy of surfing in a supportive and inclusive environment. The chapter adopted the camp in 2004, and it’s held annually in Port Aransas. This year’s event is scheduled for July 19th. The camp is not just about surfing — it’s about building confidence, creating friendships, and making lasting memories for everyone involved. It’s always a blast, and it’s often hard to tell whether the campers or the volunteers have more fun! Whether they are making sure the water is safe or cheering on the campers as they catch waves, it’s all about making the beach a place where everyone can enjoy the water.
The Texas Coastal Bend chapter hosts he Make Promises Happen Surf Camp in Port Aransas.
If you plan to visit Corpus Christi or North Padre Island, Texas, connect with the Texas Coastal Bend Chapter for information on local events and current water quality conditions. And don’t forget to check out the latest Clean Water Report!