Carters Creek Watershed: A TMDL Project for Bacteria
 |
|
Carters Creek
|
County: Brazos
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Brazos
Segment: 1209C, 1209D, 1209L
Background and Goals
High concentrations of bacteria such as E. coli and fecal coliform, which are naturally found in both human and animal waste, may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the creek—activities called “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. Water quality testing has indicated that concentrations of bacteria in Carters and Burton creeks are sometimes higher than the criteria in the Standards.
The watershed of Carters and Burton creeks is in Brazos County, and covers about 57 square miles. Land use in the watershed is heavily urbanized in the upper reach where Carters Creek originates in Bryan/College Station, and becomes more rural in the lower reach. Burton Creek is a tributary to Carters Creek; all of its watershed is urbanized.
The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable levels for contact recreation through development of a TMDL. A TMDL is like a budget for pollutants. It determines the amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still support its designated uses. The load is then allocated among the sources of pollution within the watershed, and measures to reduce pollutant loads are developed as necessary.
A TMDL becomes part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan after it is adopted by the commission and approved by the EPA. Following completion of the TMDL, stakeholders and the TCEQ will work together to develop an implementation plan to reduce bacteria loadings to the creeks.
Return to topPublic Participation
The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) is coordinating public involvement in development of both the TMDL and implementation plan. Stakeholders are meeting as the Carters Creek Coordination Committee. Meeting notices, summaries, and presentations are posted on the TWRI website on the Carters and Burton Creeks Water Quality 
project page.
Reports
Reports are provided in PDF.
- Technical Support Document for Bacteria TMDLs for the Carters Creek Watershed
For More Information
Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and reference the Carters Creek Watersheds TMDLs in the subject line. Or call Jason Leifester at 512-239-6457.
