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ITEM# 1: CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL------------------1:30 P.M.

 Michael Burke, SRBA Executive Director called the Meeting to order at 1:30 P.M.

He welcomed and thanked everyone for coming.

He asked that each one please state their name and whom they represent.

ITEM# 2; APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 Michael Burke, SRBA Executive Director asked were there any questions or comments

to the Minutes for July 15, 2004.

Mr. Rob Cook, TCEQ stated that he would like a correction to Item# 4 in the last paragraph .He stated that he would not eat the fish from Days Creek.

Diane Atkinson made the motion and Dr. Jane Morris seconded to approve the Minutes for July 15, 2005 as presented with the correction of Rob Cook stating that he would not eat the fish from Days Creek.

The motion carried with all members present voting AYE.

ITEM# 3: PRESENTATION BY ANDREA RHODES:

(Student of Texarkana College and Chemistry Club).

Michael Burke, SRBA Executive Director stated that he would like to vary from the Agenda. He stated that our first presentation will be done by Andrea Rhodes, a student of the Texarkana College and a member of the Chemistry Club.

Ms. Andrea Rhodes talked on the group’s efforts in water monitoring in the Sulphur River Basin. She presented maps of the basin in Northeast Texas and a list of the equipment they use at the monitoring sites.

She spoke on field measurement and water monitoring activities on collecting water and sediments. She stated that when they collect water samples the mouth of the jar has to be upstream with the date and time labeled on the jar and immediately the samples has to be put on ice.

Benthic evaluation is collected within five minutes of steady kick net.

Nekton is collected using a seine net and an electro shocker.

The Kerr-McGee Plant was built in 1905. The wood preservation (creosote) that is used

for treating the wood is a thick oily liquid.

There was a study done at the Kerr-McGee Plant in 1904 (ten years ago).

Andrea stated that monitoring on Days Creek are done at the Old Kerr-McGee Plant, Lubbock Street and Howard Street.

She stated that Dissolved Oxygen indicates the amount of oxygen available in the stream and certain minimum concentrations are needed to support aquatic life.

She stated that Routine Station monitoring is primarily used to expand and maintain the long-term water quality database. The focus of this monitoring is to improve our ability to follow trends and to identify water quality changes in the watersheds of the Sulphur River Basin.

She stated the aquatic life use rating for the nekton studies was intermediate for all studies, which means that this water body supports the expected aquatic life use most of the time.

ITEM# 4: REVIEW OF BASIN HIGHLIGHTS REPORT:

 Michael Burke, SRBA Executive Director gave the Presentation of the Basin Highlights Report due to the absence of Paul Price and Associates.

He stated that Paul Price and Associates produces the Basin Highlights Report and the Basin Summary Report. They take the data from TCEQ and Texarkana College and produce the reports. The Basin Summary Report is a period of five years monitoring data and the Basin Highlights is a period of one year monitoring data.

He stated there are six watersheds on the Draft 2004, North Sulphur River, Sulphur River, Wright Patman Lake, South Sulphur River, White Oak and Lower Sulphur River.

The Special Study was designed in 2002 as a response to Lake Wright Patman being on the 303 (d) listing for dissolved oxygen in the year 1998 and in 2000 for dissolved oxygen and pH concerns. This study was to identity taste and odor problems with the water.

As part of a TCEQ Special Study, SRBA also evaluated benthic communities, nekton communities and habitat at 3 sites; Days Creek below its junction with Howard Creek, Days Creek near Kerr-McGee and Days Creek at Lubbock Street. The aquatic life use rating for the nekton studies was intermediate for all studies. The aquatic life use rating for the benthic study was limited at the Kerr McGee and Lubbock Street sites in May, and other ratings were immediate. The habitat analysis resulted in a rating of high for each site.

A number of special studies have been conducted in the Sulphur River Basin in the last years within the Clean Rivers Program.

The Sulphur River Watershed is the largest watershed in the Sulphur river Basin occupying the northern half of the central region of the basin.

ITEM# 5: HEAR REPORT ON CURRENT MONITORING IN BASIN:

Dr. Mike Buttram, Texarkana College

 Dr. Mike Buttram of Texarkana College gave the presentation on the FY2005-2006 Monitoring.

He spoke of the routine site as Lake Wright Patman. He stated that at Highway 8 there was high dissolved oxygen and North Shore had high dissolved oxygen with the International Paper intake. He stated they have for the last five years been doing the testing at the bridges at south state line for Days Creek. He stated that at this time of the year there is high dissolved oxygen during the day on the top of the water. He stated the deeper you go the lower the dissolved oxygen is.

He spoke on the systematic sites they do testing five times. The locations are Akins Creek and Highway 67. He stated his chemistry class will do 18 visits in August at Wagner Creek and Highway 82. He stated that below the wastewater treatment plant the beavers are stopping up the streams and on Tucker street site the beavers are busy. They found some stripped sun fish. He stated they test on Nix Creek from Arkansas down the railroad tracks into Texarkana.

He stated that the FY2006 routine sites will be at Lake Wright Patman, Anderson Creek, Big Creek and Rice Creek, Caney Creek at Highway 82, Lake Wright Patman, and White Oak Creek on Highway 259.

Ron Burnett asked if the City of DeKalb discharges into Anderson Creek and Dr. Buttram said no. They discharge into Red River.

Dr. Jane Morris asked if one sampling point was below the New Boston Land Fill and Dr. Buttram stated yes.

Ron Burnett asked have the fish been tested and should there be warning signs on Days Creek. Mr. Cook stated they do not test the fish because they do not have the funds. The testing would be done by the Texas Department of Health. Mr. Cook stated that he saw no reason to have warning signs at Days Creek.

Dr. Morris stated that she would like to be able to get a copy of all the literature before the meeting each year so she could read it.

Ron Burnett asked questions in regard to the creosote site and Rob Cook, TCEQ, will be responding back to him.