The Winter Lecture Series in Port O’Connor will wrap up with a presentation in the Community Center on Thursday, February 26 from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m.
Aaron Adams and Andry Gosnell of TPWD will be presenting “Sharks”.

Farms, Beds, Easements and Inflows

Oyster farms, seagrass beds, conservation easements and freshwater inflows are just a few of the topics discussed at the “Your Area’s Knowledge” Winter Lecture Series in Port O’Connor. Presented by local experts and provided through a collaboration between the POC Chamber, Texas Sea Grant and Calhoun County Extension Service this weekly lecture has covered a plethora of environmental topics. Here’s just a few little tid-bits that we picked up over the last five weeks:

2 one hundred and ten pound sacks is the possession limit for oysters

3 federal conservation easements enhance, restore and protect critical habitat in Calhoun County

5 types of seagrasses live along the Texas Gulf Coast are all protected by law

7 years for a seagrass prop scar to heal

Spat Baby oysters are called “spat” and need a balance of fresh and saltwater to thrive

Peas can serve as a cover crop to help soil structure, compaction and health by putting nitrogen into the soil and maintaining natural microbes as well as supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies

Eutrophication the presence of excessive amounts of nutrients (nitrate, phosphate) from fertilizer run off and municipal waste water resulting in low oxygen level and over growth of algae & phytoplankton often at the expense of marine plants and animals

Thought-provoking, instructive and entertaining, the Winter Lecture series will continue each Thursday through February at 1:00 pm in the Port O’Connor Community Center. Join us and share in Your Area’s Knowledge.

Article provided by Mid-Coast Chapter Texas Master Naturalists. For more information about becoming a master naturalist visit our website MidCoast-TMN.org or contact: Outreach@MidCoast-TMN.org