Thinking about releasing your unwanted fish into the wild? Think again! These seemingly harmless pets can become invasive nightmares, destroying ecosystems and costing Texans money. We're talking about why that cute goldfish or lush aquarium plant could spell big trouble for Texas waterways.

Plus, hear about the fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) details of "fish taxis" and why some fish are just born to travel.

Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast by the Brazos River Authority. Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas for podcast episodes you’d like to hear about at [email protected].

Host: Charlie L. Shugart, BRA assistant public information officer.

Guests: Tiffany Malzahn, BRA chief environmental officer, and Jeremy Nickolai, BRA field operations manager.

Intro music: Clay Sellers, BRA lab analyst. 

About us: 
 The Brazos River Authority was created by the Texas Legislature in 1929 and was the first state agency in the United States created specifically for the purpose of developing and managing the water resources of an entire river basin. Today, the BRA's staff of 284 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the BRA is entirely self-supporting. The BRA maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves.