HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 Local Ecology Study Shows Problems ExistTHE DAILY EAGLE
-.,Local
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By JANE HOWELL
Eagle Staff Writer
Bryan-College Station, Texas Monday, May 25, 1970
Ecology Study
Problems Exist
and to stimulate awareness of
ecology, problems.
"T It e Oroposed Millican
Reservoir would be
economically unfeasible, and
would permanently remove.
from production approximately
40,000 acres in Brazos County."
This is one of the findings of
Richard K. LaVal, Wildlife
Se f e n c e Department, who
studied population and land use.
The report states that
Brazos County has no major
natural resources besides its
soil and that the proposed
reservoir would inundate over
one -tenth of the county, all of
it productive river bottom land.
` ` T h e Millican Reservoir
would flood the area which
wildlife experts and the Brazos
Valley Development Council say
"While our local problems are
becoming increasingly
aangerous, there is still time
'o avoid the disastrous con-
sequences of environmental
degradation."
This is the message presented
by Royce E. Ballinger, Wildlife
Science Department, and four
others from the now defunct
Symposium for Environmental
Awareness in their assessment
of pollution and environmental
degradation in Brazos County.
The committee of five studied
Population, litter, air pollution
and water, water- waste. The
committee's purpose was to
learn the, extent of the problems
Continued from Page 1
would attract large numbers of
people to Brazos County
and which would almost cer-
t a i n l y create unnecessary
problems like pollution, water
shortages, overcrowding, ad
rauseum."
LaVal stressed that Brazos
County residents are fortunate,
in that the opportunity to limit
the population growth and avoid,
the terrifying problems;
associated with over- crowding
and pollution is still available.
"If the public could be per=
suaded to cease its heedless'
deposition of trash along our
roads, the eyesore, danger and
maintenance cost caused by
litter could be eliminated.
This was found by Donald E.
Harper Jr., Biology Depart-
ment, in his study of litter
distribution, accumulation and
composition. Harper's study
indicated that over one -half ton
of garbage can be found per
mile in this area.
i
` most common non -
biodegradable litter items were
cans, which averaged ap-
proximately 2600 per mile," the
report states.
Harper found that of the 595
bottles collected in the study
only five were of the returnable
type. "Since the "throw away"
_bottles and cans were the most
prevalent type of offensive
roadside litter, we recommend
that this type of container be
phased out eventually
outlawed" the report says.
Harper's study found that it
would cost the public a
minimum of $74,800.00 if the
State Highway Department
were to have its crew clean up
the roads in Brazos County.
Henry Wigley, Jr., En-
vironmental Engineering
Department studied in
pollution in the Brazos County.
He found that the top ography
is the most proc[uct.ive in the
county, and would drastically
alter the avGilability of game,
especially deer," LaVal as
states.
The report says that if the
dam were built, the deer would
move into adjoining counties,
where they would eventually
starve to death, after inflicting
serious damage on the range
clue to overbrowsing.
In studying the population in
the Brazos area, LaVal found
that projected population in-
c c e a s e s could be highly
detrimental to the welfare of
Q county residents.
"We can choose to have
smaller families, and we can
c.iscrurage new industries and
other new enterprises which
See STUDY Page 2.
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"Due to recent improvements,
the water distribution system
of the Bryan- College Station
for Bryan- College Station is
area is such that it should not
adequate and surveys have
contribute to formation of
shown that the field supply of
severe air pollutiop cases.
water is adequate for the
`The meteorological and
present time," Ronald D. Ar-
climatic conditions of the area
neson. Biology Department,
rre favorable to the dispersion
says in his report.
of atmospheric contarpfnants,
Arneson studied'the water and
however, the potential for an
water -waste in the Brazos
acute air pollution situation
Valley. "One of the most
does exist," Harper states.
deplorable situations concerning
The report recommends
water in Bryan is not the watei
establishment of a county air
supply but the so names
control district to provide the
Finfeather Lake'," the repor+
framework for future air
states.
Pollution control of those
"This body of water can bE
sources that may exist outside
! and observed in the
of corporate municipal
center of the city of Bryan,
jurisdiction.
where the observer is warned
It also calls for an effective
that the water is `not potable'
plan to enforce federal Motor
and that any person using the
Vehele_Em_issions Act.
!water does so at his `own risk'
Ibv signs posted around the
entire lake," it says.
Arneson's report states that
at the projected rate of con -
sumption, the present water
s u p p l y system will be
inadeauate for the needs in the
year 2000. "It is suggested that
future water needs be con -
'Adered now," the report says.
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