Atascosa River: Evaluating the Aquatic Life and Recreational Uses

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Atascosa River

• Project Overview (PDF)
• Background and Goals
• Public Participation
• Project Documents
• For More Information

Background and Goals

In the Atascosa River in south central Texas, water quality testing found elevated levels of bacteria and low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. The TCEQ is working with the Nueces River Authority  and other stakeholders to develop a plan to address these conditions.

High concentrations of bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the rivers—activities referred as “contact recreation” in the state’s Standards for surface water quality. Dissolved oxygen is essential for the survival of aquatic life, and so is used to indicate whether conditions support the “aquatic life use” in the Standards

In 2009, proposed revisions to the state’s recreational use standard prompted the re-evaluation of the Atascosa River TMDL project, which had been underway since fall 2004. Work on the TMDL has been suspended until a survey and analysis of recreational uses of the river can be completed. The agency decided to evaluate the aquatic life use at the same time to gain a fuller understanding of the biological and flow conditions for the entire stream.

Using protocols developed by the TCEQ’s Water Quality Standards Group, the TMDL Team is managing a study to support both an aquatic life use attainability analysis (ALUAA) and a recreational use attainability analysis (RUAA) on the entire length of the Atascosa River. UAAs are comprehensive examinations of the physical, chemical, and biological factors that determine whether a particular use is attainable in a specific area of a water body.

Depending on the results of these UAAs, the recreational and aquatic life use standards may be modified. If the Standards Team finds the current standards to be appropriate, the TCEQ will consider development of TMDLs for Segment 2107.

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Public Participation

The TCEQ is informing stakeholders about this project at public meetings and in print and electronic media. Meetings about the project are open to everyone.

Meeting Summaries

Documents linked from this page are provided in PDF unless otherwise indicated.

Meetings Related to UAA Development

• August 2, 2011
• Meeting Summary
• Meeting Agenda
• Overview of Standards
• Timelines for UAA Development
• Summary of Preliminary RUAA
• Summary of Preliminary ALUAA
• November 5, 2009
  
  • Meeting Summary
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Water Quality Standards Presentation
  • Recreational Use Standards Presentation
  • Atascosa River Recreational Use Presentation
  • Atascosa River Aquatic Life Use Presentation
  • Technical and Financial Assistance Presentation

Meetings Related to TMDL Development

• June 24, 2008
  • Meeting Summary
  • TMDL Implementation Strategy
    —Technical and Financial Assistance for Cattlemen
  • Overview of Impairment
  • Overview of Source Assessment
  • Options Related to Water Quality Standards
• August 21, 2007
  • Meeting Summary
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Introduction to the TMDL Process
  • Verification of Impairment
  • Recommendations of the Bacteria Task Force
  • Impairments of Concern
  • Status Report
• July 12, 2005
  • Meeting Summary
  • TMDL Project Overview
  • Event Sampling Presentation
  • Implementation Strategy Presentation
  • Final Report, Volume 1: Physical and Chemical Components
  • Final Report, Volume 2: Biological and Habitat Components
• January 20, 2005
  • Meeting Summary
  • TMDL Program Presentation
  • Data Review Presentation
  • Monitoring Presentation
  • Fiscal 2005 Monitoring Plan for the Atascosa River TMDL
  • Modeling Presentation
  • Draft Ground Rules for Stakeholder Advisory Group

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Project Documents

Final reports from the 2004 assessment to determine the extent and severity of impairments to the recreational and aquatic life uses of the river.

• Final Report, Volume 1: Physical and Chemical Components
• Final Report, Volume 2: Biological and Habitat Components

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For More Information

Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and reference the Atascosa River in the subject line. Or call Dania Grundmann at 512-239-6682.

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