Armand Bayou Above Tidal: A Project to Assess and Protect the Recreational Use
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Armand Bayou
Above Tidal |
County: Harris
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: San Jacinto–Brazos Coastal
Segment: 1113A
Background and Goals
Armand Bayou is a tidal tributary of Clear Lake, located in the San Jacinto–Brazos Coastal Basin. High concentrations of bacteria, which are found in both human and animal waste, have sometimes been observed in the bayou. The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the bayou—activities referred to as “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
In response to this condition, the TCEQ initiated a project to assess the extent and severity of indicator bacteria concentrations and determine the appropriate recreational uses of the fresh water portion of the bayou, upstream of tidal influence.
Armand Bayou Above Tidal is an unclassified segment with a presumed standard of primary contact recreation, which is applied to all freshwater streams for which no site-specific standard has been designated.
The TMDL Program and its contractor completed a comprehensive Recreational Use Attainability Analysis (RUAA) in August 2010. The analysis is under review by the Surface Water Quality Standards group at the TCEQ, who will determine which standard to recommend for the segment.
Revisions to the Standards are made triennially, and are subject to adoption by the commission and approval by the EPA before they can be used for water quality management activities.
Learn more about water quality standards and management by reading the TCEQ’s publication Preserving and Improving Water Quality.
Return to topPublic Participation
The TCEQ actively seeks the participation of local stakeholders. Staff members informed the public about this project at a meeting and with notices in print and electronic media. The meeting was open to everyone.
The project was coordinated with the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, the Houston–Galveston Area Council, the University of Houston–Clear Lake, and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
Meeting Records
One public meeting was held at the Environmental Institute of Houston. The records are provided in PDF.
- August 31, 2010
For More Information
Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and reference the Armand Bayou Bacteria project in the subject line. Or call Natalie Bell at 512/239-6941.
