Upper Trinity River: A TMDL Project to Protect Recreational Uses
Watershed County: Dallas
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Trinity
Segments: 0805
- Project Overview
- Background and Goals
- Adopted TMDLs
Implementation Plan for Commission Consideration- Public Participation
- Project Reports
- For More Information
Background and Goals
Bacteria concentrations are occasionally elevated in portions of the Upper Trinity River that flow through Dallas. High concentrations of bacteria may pose a risk to people who swim or wade in them—activities called “contact recreation” in the state's standards for water quality. The Lower West Fork of the Trinity River (Segment 0841) is affected. The affected segment is the Upper Trinity River (Segment 0805). This segment flows 100 miles through five counties. Its watershed covers approximately 1,000 square miles.
The impairment of the contact recreation use in Segment 0805 applies to only two assessment units at the upper end of the segment. The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for contact recreation by developing total maximum daily loads. A TMDL is like a budget for pollutants—it estimates the amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still support its designated uses.
The TMDL Program has two closely related projects under way for segments of the upper Trinity River watershed. The Lower West Fork Trinity River and the Cottonwood Branch and Grapevine Creek projects are being coordinated with this one to ensure the most effective use of the state's funds in developing TMDLs and determining how to implement them.
Return to topAdopted TMDLs
On May 11, 2011, the commission adopted these TMDLs for the Upper Trinity River.
- Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in the Upper Trinity River, Segment 0805
- Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs
The EPA approved the TMDLs on August 3, 2011, at which time they became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
Implementation Plan for Commission Consideration
The North Central Texas Council of Governments 
has worked with stakeholders to develop a plan that implements the TMDLs and improves surface water quality throughout their region.
At their June 5 Agenda meeting, the commission is scheduled to consider whether to publish and solicit comments on the draft Implementation Plan for the Greater Trinity River Region.
- I-Plan Agenda Package
(Docket request, executive summary, and draft Implementation Plan)
Public Participation
Project personnel are involving the public through public meetings and notices in print and electronic media. Meetings about TMDL projects are open to everyone.
Meeting Records: TMDL Development
The documents below are provided in PDF.
Project Reports
The documents below are provided in PDF.
- Summary of Bacteria Data (December 2001 - November 2008)
- Allocation Support Documentation, for Segment 0805 (Assessment Units 0805_03 and 0805_04)
- Final Draft: Technical Support for Segments 0806, 0841, 0822, 0805
- Bacterial Source Tracking
For More Information
Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and reference the Upper Trinity River Bacteria project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682 and ask for Dania Grundmann.
