Description of DCI Role: Program Development, Operations, Monitoring
Project Team Leader(s): Jerry Cole, Ron Duckworth
Project Cost: Confidential
Time Period of Project Work: 2000 – 2005
Client: Invista Victoria Texas Plant

Project Description
The Invista (formerly DuPont) Victoria, Texas, facility uses a 55-acre wetland to polish treated effluent water from an industrial biological wastewater treatment plant prior to its ultimate discharge to the Guadalupe River. The Wetland provides valuable habitat for migratory and resident wildlife. Unfortunately, the Wetland was invaded by nutria (Myocastor coypus), a non-native aquatic rodent, and suffered significant loss of vegetation.

An innovative program was developed to monitor Wet and vegetation and determine appropriate steps necessary to control the nutria population. The monitoring program includes using color infrared aerial photographs, interpolation with GIS software, and calculating open water area.

DCI developed hunting and trapping methods provided effective population control without using firearms. Records of control efforts are maintained and analyzed to facilitate cost-effective program management.

Re-vegetation efforts were implemented despite continued nutria activity. Numerous measures including
replanting, nutria exclosures, and water level adjustment were undertaken.

The Wetland successfully reestablished vegetation in most impacted areas. While some remaining areas were still in the re-growth process at the project’s end, the Wetland was restored to a lush habitat for wildlife.