WATER WORLD: The effects of extreme rainfall on Texas 
ecosystems -- land and sea -- today on Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

After Texas' 5-year drought, the rainfall Memorial Day 
weekend was like resetting nature's clock ... 

04 -- When it comes to our thirsty ecosystems across the state.

Cindy Loeffler is water resources branch chief at TPW.

08 -- The bays and estuaries, with their characteristic salinity 
levels, having a flush of fresh water -- especially at this time of the 
year -- is ideal.

That flush of fresh water will, in time, help improve the 
productivity of the bays, which serve as nurseries for 
many of our sport fish species. Yet, Loeffler says 
productivity could decrease before it rebounds.

10 -- We may see some setbacks, in terms of impacts to oysters -- 
if the water is too fresh for too long. But long term, we're very 
excited about what it means for our coastal estuaries.

Conditions across the landscape have improved, too.

20 -- One just needs to look out the window, or go outside, and 
just see how green everything is. All of the vegetation is just very 
healthy and thriving. Importantly, our pollen producing plants, 
nectar producing plants, important food sources for insects -- 
butterflies, bees, birds ... lots of critters we depend on in Texas.

What are the short and long term effects of this new 
water windfall? 

02 -- That's a really great question.

And we try to answer it tomorrow.

The WSFR program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.


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Maximum Script time:			0:41.0	 	 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25