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Red tide update, October 20, 2000
Texas Parks and WildlifeThis is the Texas red tide update for Friday, October 20. Red tide has been less visible in Texas over the past few days. Department staff flew over the coast from West Galveston Bay to Espiritu Santo Bay yesterday. They saw visible red tide patches at the western end of East Matagorda Bay, the eastern shoreline of Lavaca Bay from Powderhorn to Port Lavaca and in Espiritu Santo and Shoalwater Bays. Other areas appeared clear. Staff drove along South Padre Island yesterday, and did not detect the respiratory irritation associated with red tide. Other than a small fish kill in Corpus Christi Bay yesterday, no new fish kills due to red tide have been reported.
Three common signs of a red tide bloom are discolored water, dead fish, and breathing difficulty. To report sightings of red tide during regular business hours, call your local TPWD office or the Kills and Spills Team at (512) 912-7055. To report red tide over the weekend, page Dave Buzan at (800) 299-4099, personal identification number 2366. For more information about red tide and the latest updates, visit the TPWD web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us and click on the red tide symbol, or call the TPWD hotline at (800) 792-1112, press "4" for fishing, then press "9" for red tide.
Cindy Contreras
Water Quality Coordinator
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
USA(512) 912-7095
(512) 707-1358 fax