Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous: A TMDL Project for Bacteria
Counties: Fort Bend, Harris, Waller
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: San Jacinto River
Segments: 1013, 1014, 1017
- Project Overview
- Background and Goals
- TMDLs
- Implementation Plan
- Public Participation
- For More Information
Background and Goals
Buffalo Bayou meanders from the outlying, less-developed portions of Harris County to join Whiteoak Bayou in the highly urbanized central part of the Houston business district. Both bayous lie within the San Jacinto River Basin and eventually discharge to Galveston Bay.
Water quality testing found that bacteria concentrations are elevated in the bayous, posing a risk to people who swim or wade in them. Swimming and wading are called “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality; the term refers to all recreation in which people come in direct contact with the water.
The TMDL Program is working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council 
to characterize the sources of bacteria and to develop a plan to improve the water quality in the bayous. The goal of the project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for contact recreation. The TMDLs for this project are being coordinated with other projects to reduce bacteria in Houston area streams and the Galveston Bay system (see “Related Links”).
TMDLs
On April 8, 2009, the commission adopted TMDLs for Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous. The EPA approved the TMDLs on June 11, 2009, at which time the TMDLs became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
- Eighteen Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous and Tributaries,
Segments 1013, 1013A, 1013C, 1014, 1014A, 1014B, 1014E, 1014H, 1014K, 1014L, 1014M, 1014N, 1014O, 1017, 1017A, 1017B, 1017D, and 1017E (4 MB) - Response to Public Comment
Updates to TMDLs
From time to time, it is necessary to revise TMDLs to account for changing conditions in the watershed, such as new or amended permits, or urban growth, or to correct oversights in the original TMDL report. Revisions to the load allocations in TMDLs are made via the state’s WQMP, which is updated quarterly.
The WQMP provides projected effluent limits for use in planning and permitting activities under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES). The TCEQ reviews all applications for new and amended permits for conformance with applicable portions of the WQMP, including adopted TMDLs.
Revisions to the TMDL are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below.
- January 2012, Appendix I, page 11
- January 2011, Appendix I, page 11
- April 2010, Apendix I, pages 10-15
Learn more about WQMP updates and about opportunities to comment on revisions to them.
Implementation Plan
On August 16, 2011, the BIG approved its final draft Implementation Plan for submittal to the TCEQ for commission approval. The latest draft of the I-Plan is available on the H-GAC’s BIG website .
Public Participation
In all its projects, the TCEQ seeks to gather opinion and information from people who represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed.The TCEQ solicits advice from the public at meetings and through notices in print and electronic media.
Bacteria Implementation Group
The TCEQ is working with the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) of the H-GAC to develp an implementation plan to reduce bacteria concentrations in 12 watersheds in the Houston area, including the projects for Lake Houston, Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous, the Houston Metropolitan Area, and this project.
TMDL Development Stakeholder Group
A named-member stakeholder committee called the Whiteoak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou Bacteria TMDL Stakeholder Group assisted the TCEQ in developing the TMDLs. The group included volunteer members who represented government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community interests.
Advisory Group Records
- Ground Rules
As proposed for amendment at stakeholder meeting of January 28, 2004. - Reports
- June 2008
- DRAFT TMDL Technical Support Document (5.5 MB)
- Appendixes (4 MB) - BLEST
- First, save both the spreadsheet
and the help file (.chm) to a single folder on your computer.
- To access BLEST Help, right click on any cell and select one of the following options at the bottom of the menu:
BLEST Help for this Cell: Displays information about the active cell.
BLEST Help for this Sheet: Displays information about the active worksheet.
BLEST Help: Displays the 'Using BLEST' help topic.
- Compatibility: BLEST Help is compatible only with Windows. - March 2007
- Progress Report - January 2007
- Progress Report - December 2006
- Response to Technical Comments
- Appendices to Response to Technical Comments
- Response to Nontechnical Comments
- Final Report:
TMDLs for Fecal Pathogens in Buffalo Bayou and Whiteoak Bayou- Bacteria Load Estimation Spreadsheet Tool ("BLEST")
- BLEST Information Sheet- Comments on December 2006 Report
- City of Houston Dept. of Public Works and Engineering
- Harris Co. Public Infrastructure Dept. (7 MB)
- PBS&J
- Linda D. Pechaceck, P.E.
- Texas Department of Transportation - BMP Effectiveness Reports
- August 2006 Final Quarterly Report
- June 2006 Quarterly Report
- March 2006 Report - July 2006
- Progress Report - November 2005
- Final Report: (6 MB)
TMDLs for Fecal Pathogens in Buffalo Bayou and Whiteoak Bayou
- Appendix A: Stakeholder Slides
- Appendix B: Quality Assurance Project Plan (6 MB)
- Appendix C: Quality Control/Quality Assurance Assessment
- Appendix D: Sample BST Printouts and Results
- Appendix E: Time Varying Flow Excel Tool
- Appendix F: HSPF Sediment Parameters
- Appendix G: Self-reported Flows Used For Flow and TSS Load Development - November 2004
- Final Report: (14 MB) Identifying Additional Potential Sources of Bacteria Into the Bayous
- Appendix A: Presentations to Stakeholders - November 2003
- Final Report: (6 MB) Investigation of Bacteria in Sediment, Load Allocation Issues, and Best Management Practices
- Appendix A:(5.5 MB) Presentations to Stakeholders - January 2003
- Final Report (14.4 MB)
- Appendix A: Presentations to Stakeholders - June 2001
- Final Report (7 MB)
- June 2008
For More Information
Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and reference the Buffalo Bayou TMDL Project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
