Orange County Watersheds: Implementing TMDLs to Protect Aquatic Life and Recreational Uses

A project to improve water quality for support of recreational and aquatic life uses. TMDLs were developed for bacteria, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The TMDLs are adopted. The I-Plan is in development.

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Adams Bayou

Counties: Orange, Jasper, Newton
Parameters: Bacteria, dissolved oxygen, pH
River Basin: Sabine River
Segment: 0508, 0508A, 0508B, 0508C, 0511, 0511A, 0511B, 0511C, 0511E

Project Overview (PDF)
Background and Goals
Adopted TMDLs
Get Involved
Documents
For More Information

Background and Goals

Adams Bayou and Cow Bayou are located in southeast Texas. Their combined watersheds cover almost 250 square miles in the coastal area of the Sabine River Basin. The water flow in the bayous is intermittent, and periods of no flow are very common.

Water quality testing found that bacteria levels in the bayous and their tributaries may pose a health risk for swimmers. Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in some areas of the creek indicate that conditions are not optimal for aquatic life.

The goals of the project are to:

reduce bacteria levels in the bayous to ensure that recreational use is safe, and
maintain concentrations of dissolved oxygen and pH in the bayous at levels that will sustain aquatic life.

The TCEQ is working with the Sabine River Authority and other stakeholders to develop a plan for improving water quality in the project watersheds.

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Adopted TMDLs

The commission adopted these TMDLs on June 13, 2007. The EPA approved the TMDLs on August 28, 2007, at which time they became part of the state's Water Quality Management Plan.

Seventeen Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH in Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou, and Their Tributaries, Segments 0508, 0508A, 0508B, 0508C, 0511, 0511A, 0511B, 0511C, and 0511E.
Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs for Adams and Cow Bayous and Tributaries

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 TMDLa are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below.

July 2008, pages 7-9

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

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Get Involved

The Sabine River Authority, in partnership with the TCEQ, is coordinating public involvement in development of the TMDL implementation plan. Public meetings about the plan are open to everyone. The Sabine River Authority will inform the public about the project and opportunities for involvement at meetings and with notices in print and electronic media.

Meeting Records

Records of the public meetings are available below in PDF.

I-Plan Meeting Summaries

August 23, 2012
December 2010

TMDL Advisory Group

A named-member stakeholder group called the Orange County TMDL Stakeholder Advisory Group advised the TCEQ on development of the TMDLs for this project. Records of the group membership and meetings are available below in PDF.