TCEQ hosts a public meeting on water quality

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is accepting public comment on two total maximum daily loads addressing indicator bacteria in Cottonwood Branch and Grapevine Creek (Segments 0822A and 0822B) of the Trinity River Basin, in Dallas and Tarrant counties.  Cottonwood Branch lies within the City of Irving, and Grapevine Creek is located largely within Irving and Coppell. 

The state of Texas requires that the water quality in the Cottonwood Branch and Grapevine Creek be suitable for swimming, wading, fishing, and a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Water quality testing has determined that bacteria levels are sometimes higher than the current standard established to assure safe contact recreation.

The public comment meeting will be held on June 30, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., at the Irving Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail, Irving, Texas 75063.
This meeting provides the public an opportunity to comment on each of the nine major components of the draft TMDLs:  problem definition, endpoint identification, source analysis, seasonal variation, linkage between sources and receiving waters, margin of safety, pollutant loading allocation, public participation, and implementation and reasonable assurance.

After the public comment period, TCEQ may revise the TMDLs, if appropriate. The final TMDLs will then be considered by the commission for adoption.  Once the TMDLs are adopted, the final TMDLs and a response to all comments will be made available on the TCEQ Web site.  The TMDLs will then be submitted to EPA Region 6 for approval and certified as an update to the State of Texas Water Quality Management Plan.
More information on the TMDL and how to file a public comment, can be found through the TCEQ web site.