Background

The North Bosque River (Segments 1226 and 1255) originates near the Stephenville and flows southeast over a primarily rural landscape, eventually flowing into Lake Waco (Segment 1225). Nutrient and algal concentrations in excess of screening levels established by the TCEQ have been found since 1996. Excessive algal growth can lead to taste and odor problems for drinking water and can cause low levels of dissolved oxygen within a stream, which could kill fish.

In response to water quality concerns, the TCEQ completed two total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for phosphorus, the limiting nutrient of the watershed, in 2001. A subsequent TMDL Implementation Plan (I-Plan) was adopted in 2003. Dairy-waste application fields and municipal wastewater-treatment plants were shown to be the major controllable sources of phosphorus in the watershed.

Since approval of the I-Plan, many projects and activities have been put in place to control and remove sources of nutrient loadings in the watershed. To assess the effectiveness of these activities in improving water quality, the TCEQ installed many monitoring stations  in the watershed. It is important to continue this monitoring to assess progress.

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Project Description

For this project, the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Sciences will continue operation of two existing stations of the continuous water quality monitoring network near Clifton and SH 6. The data from these stations will help the staff of the TCEQ Stephenville field office to:

• target field investigations to likely sources when pollutant concentrations exceed trigger levels
• supply quality-assured water quality data to support evaluation of implementation

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Documents

• Project Fact Sheet (updated semi-annually)
• Annual Report for FY 2011
• Quality Assurance Project Plan
• North Bosque River: A TMDL Project for Phosphorus

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For More Information

To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or e-mail us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.

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Background

The Guadalupe River Basin Monitoring Network was formed in response to water quality impairments and concerns within the Guadalupe River Basin. The goal of the network is to create continuous-water-quality-monitoring (CWQM) stations throughout the basin to determine existing water quality conditions and monitor for changes. The data from these stations will allow problems to be addressed early on, thus minimizing the effects of pollution on the environment and people.

The Network is a collaborative effort among the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, the United States Geological Survey, and the TCEQ.

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Project Description

For this project, new CWQM stations will be added to the Network at three locations: on Cypress Creek (near the confluence with the Blanco River); Geronimo Creek (at SH 123 in Guadalupe County); and Sandies Creek (near Cuero). These sites were chosen because each water body has water quality impairments in need of monitoring.

In addition, watershed protection plans are being developed for the Cypress Creek and Geronimo Creek watersheds. To support watershed planning efforts, the CWQM data will be used to identify pollutant sources and evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices after they are installed.

The GBRA will inform the public about water quality conditions through electronic notifications, educational computer kiosks placed at strategic locations within each watershed, and updates to the GBRA website.

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Documents

• Fact Sheet (updated quarterly)

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For More Information

To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or e-mail us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.

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