Gilleland Creek: A TMDL Project for Bacteria

A project to improve water quality by reducing bacteria in Gilleland Creek. The TMDL is adopted and the I-Plan is approved.

Gilleland Creek at FM 969

Photograph courtesy of
the City of Austin

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Watershed County: Travis
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Colorado River
Segment: 1428C

Project Overview
Background and Goals
TMDL
Implementation Plan
Public Participation
Project Documents
For More Information

Background and Goals

Water quality testing found that that bacteria concentrations are elevated in Gilleland Creek, located in northeastern Travis county. High bacteria concentrations might pose a risk to people who swim or wade in the creek. 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 goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for contact recreation.

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TMDL

The commission adopted this TMDL on August 8, 2007.

One TMDL for Bacteria in Gilleland Creek, Segment 1428C (Help with PDF.)
Response to Public Comment on the Gilleland Creek TMDL

The EPA approved the TMDL on April 21, 2009, at which time it became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.

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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 TMDLs are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below.

January 2008, pages 12-13
April 2009, Appendix II, pages 16-17
October 2009, Appendix I, page 13
July 2011, Appendix II, page 13

Learn more about WQMP updates and about opportunities to comment on revisions to them.

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Implementation Plan

The commission approved the implementation plan on February 9, 2011.

Implementation Plan for One TMDL for Bacteria in Gilleland Creek

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Public Participation

The TCEQ worked with a stakeholder group coordinated by the Lower Colorado River Authority to develop the TMDL and I-Plan. A map and summary of the watershed are available on the LCRA website.