Nutrients, Escherichia coli, and microbial source tracking markers in surface-water and known-source samples collected in Salado Creek and its watershed near Salado, Texas, 2018

Concerns exist that the degradation of water quality in Salado Creek near Salado, Texas could adversely affect recreational uses and harm salamander populations that live in and near springs that discharge into the stream. Salado is part of the rapidly growing Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood area; land-use changes in the Salado Creek watershed could adversely affect water quality in Salado Creek. Streamflow in Salado Creek is generally derived from the Salado Springs complex during low-flow conditions (dry weather) and from the springs and surface runoff during high-flow conditions (wet weather). A better understanding of the types of waste (human, animal, or both) that may be entering the stream and springs is needed to properly manage fecal-waste [...]