Effects of Wastewater Discharge on Sabine Macroinvertebrates

The Sabine is an East Texas river that is home to substantive biodiversity, including populations of the Texas Pigtoe, an endangered mussel. A chicken processing plant near the Sabine has a permit from the state of Texas to discharge treated wastewater into the main stem of the river. Even after treatment, chicken processing plant wastewater contains pollutants like nitrogen, ammonia, and phosphorus, which typically reduce the quality of aquatic habitat. In an attempt to determine if the discharge is affecting the macroinvertebrate communities in the Sabine, macroinvertebrate surveys were carried out at four different sampling sites, both upstream and downstream from the plant's discharge. The biodiversity of the above stream and below stream sites and the population of species especially sensitive to water quality was measured. The results of the analysis will be compiled into a report and submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.