Petronila Creek: Implementing a Plan to Improve Water Quality
Counties: Jim Wells, Nueces, Kleberg
Parameters: Chloride, Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Basin: Nueces–Rio Grande Coastal
Segment: 2204
About the Project
Petronila Creek, Segment 2204, is a 44-mile freshwater stream spanning Kleberg and Nueces counties. Located southwest of Corpus Christi, Petronila Creek is part of the Baffin Bay watershed.
In 2000, water quality testing found elevated levels of chloride, sulfate, and TDS in the creek. High concentrations of these salts are indicators of general water quality that are not tied to a specific use, but may affect several uses.
For example, too much chloride can cause a bad taste in drinking water, harm plumbing, and increase the risk of hypertension in humans. Large quantities of sulfate can cause drinking water to smell or taste bad. High concentrations of dissolved solids can be toxic to species that live in fresh water.
The goal of this project is to improve water quality in the creek by implementing total maximum daily loads.
Get Involved
People who live or work in the watershed are invited to attend meetings about this project and to work on activities to improve the creek. Help keep the creek clean and safe for humans and aquatic life forms.
Implementation Phase
In 2014, the stakeholders revised their Implementation Plan to continue their efforts in improving local water quality.
Meeting Records, Implementation
Rocky Freund presenting information to the I-Plan Coordination
Committee, April 2013
Meeting records are provided in PDF.
- February 2014
- December 2013
- October 2013
- July 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
TMDL Development Phase
A named-member stakeholder group advised the TCEQ on development of the TMDLs for Petronila Creek. The group disbanded after completion of the TMDLs.
Meeting Records, TMDL Development
The documents below are provided in PDF.
- July 2005
- December 2004
- April 2004
- December 2003
- September 2002
Partners
Nueces County Drainage District 2
Office of the Secretary of State, Nueces County Colonias Ombudsperson 
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuary Program
TMDLs and I-Plan
The commission adopted three TMDLs for Petronila Creek on January 10, 2007. The EPA approved them on March 14, 2007, at which time they became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
- Three Total Maximum Daily Loads
for Chloride, Sulfate, and Total Dissolved Solids, Petronila Creek Above Tidal, Segment 2204 - Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs
The commission approved the I-Plan on October 10, 2007.
- Implementation Plan for Three Total Maximum Daily Loads for Chloride, Sulfate, and Total Dissolved Solids, Petronila Creek Above Tidal, Segment 2204
- Response to Public Comment on the I-Plan
Revised Implementation Plan
In 2012, the Nueces River Authority (NRA) began working with stakeholders to review the Implementation Plan and its progress. Through a series of public meetings, NRA worked closely with stakeholders to gather information and form work groups to focus on specific aspects of the plan. In 2014, the stakeholders prepared a revised Implementation Plan to continue their efforts in improving local water quality.
- 2014 Update to the Implementation Plan for Petronila Creek
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.
Learn more about WQMP updates and about opportunities to comment on revisions to them.
Revisions to the TMDL are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below.
- January 2009 , pages 10-12
- October 2010 , Appendix 2, page 13
Contact Us
Please e-mail tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and mention the Petronila Creek TMDL project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
