BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — More than 1.3 million private ponds across Texas support agriculture, livestock, recreation, and aquaculture, but declining water quality and fish health issues can put these resources at risk. Enter the Texas A&M AgriLife Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, the state’s only public lab dedicated to private pond and aquaculture diagnostics.
Supported by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the laboratory provides a one-stop solution for water quality analysis, nutrient assessment, fish parasite and disease diagnostics, and specialized tests not widely available elsewhere.
“In a way, we fill the role of doctor and pharmacist,” said Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and lab director. “Following diagnosis, we give the prescription for how to fix the issue — we explain everything in the report, then calculate and recommend several different options for remediating the problem.”
The lab completed 149 diagnostic cases in 2025 across Texas and 14 other states, supporting nearly 10,000 acres of private waters with an estimated resource value exceeding $26 million.
The facility currently offers 13 testing packages with over 80 test options, including water quality, parasitology, bacterial histopathology, and the rare capability to test for cyanotoxins, harmful algal toxins that threaten fish, animals, and humans.
Clients benefit not just from raw lab results but detailed, actionable guidance. Pond owner Terrell McCombs of DeWitt County praised the lab’s personalized approach: “From guidance on fish stocking and management to vegetation identification and control, the laboratory staff has been unbelievably helpful.”
The lab also partners with pond management companies and leverages broader AgriLife AquaExtension programming, including webinars and fact sheets, to educate and empower landowners.
To meet the evolving demands of Texas’ aquaculture sector, the lab expanded its team with Haitham Mohammed, Ph.D., an expert in virology, veterinary bacteriology, and aquatic microbiology. Brittany Chesser, aquatic vegetation program specialist, also supports water quality analysis and nutrient management for ponds.
Sink emphasized the lab’s mission: “We built this program by listening to landowners and industry. As new risks emerge, our responsibility is to ensure Texans have access to reliable, science-based solutions for private waters.”
The Texas A&M AgriLife Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory continues to play a critical role in keeping Texas’ private waters healthy, productive, and sustainable.
