Houston-Galveston Regional Plan: I-Plan and TMDLs
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Watershed Counties: Brazoria, Harris, Fort Bend, Grimes, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, and Waller
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: San Jacinto
Segments: 1004E, 1006D, 1006I, 1006F, 1006H, 1006J, 1007B, 1007C, 1007D, 1007E, 1007F, 1007G, 1007H, 1007I, 1007K, 1007L, 1007M, 1007N, 1007O, 1007R, 1008, 1008H, 1009, 1009C, 1009D, 1009E, 1010, 1011, 1013, 1013A, 1013C, 1014, 1014A, 1014B, 1014E, 1014H, 1014K, 1014L, 1014M, 1014N, 1014O, 1016, 1016A, 1016B, 1016C, 1016D, 1017, 1017A, 1017B, 1017D, 1017E, 1101, 1101B, 1101D, 1102, 1102A, 1102B, 1102C, 1102D, and 1102E
Updates and Addenda for Public Comment
The draft April 2013 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan is available for public comment through June 10, 2013, 5:00 p.m.
Updates are made to account for changing conditions in the watershed, such as new or revised wasteload allocations, permits that have been canceled or have expired, or changed facility names.
Addenda are created to add load allocations for assessment units that are impaired by the same pollutant or condition, within the same watershed, as in the original TMDL report.
The draft April 2013 WQMP includes updates and addenda to the following bacteria TMDLs for the Houston-Galveston region.
Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous and Tributaries 
Update in Appendix I, page 11
Addendum One in Appendix IV, pages 34-49
Update to Lake Houston Watersheds (upstream)
in Appendix II, pages 12-13
Addendum One to Brays Bayou and Tributaries
in Appendix III, pages 14-33
Addendum One to Eastern Houston Watersheds
in Appendix V, pages 34-63
Addendum One to Sims Bayou and Tributary
in Appendix VI, pages 64-86
See the original TMDL reports below.
How to Submit Comments
Comments must be submitted in writing. The TCEQ must receive your comments no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 10, 2013.
Mail comments to:
Nancy Vignali
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Water Quality Division, MC 150
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087
Fax Comments:
You may submit comments by fax to 512-239-4420, but must follow up the fax with the written comments. The TCEQ must receive the written comments within three working days of when they were faxed.
I-Plan
The commission approved the implementation plan on January 30, 2013. This I-Plan was developed by stakeholders in the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG).
This plan implements 72 TMDLs for 60 waterway segments in 10 counties.
TMDLs
On the date of their approval by EPA, all these TMDLs became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
- On April 8, 2009, the commission adopted TMDLs for Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous. The EPA approved the TMDLs on June 11, 2009.
- On September 10, 2008, the commission adopted TMDLs for Clear Creek. The EPA approved the TMDLs on March 6, 2009.
- On June 2, 2010, the commission adopted TMDLs for Greens Bayou. The EPA approved the TMDLs on August 12, 2010.
- On September 15, 2010, the commission adopted TMDLs for Brays Bayou, Eastern Houston, Halls Bayou, and Sims Bayou watersheds. The EPA approved the TMDLs on September 27, 2010.
- On April 6, 2011, the commission adopted TMDLs for the Lake Houston watersheds. The EPA approved the TMDLs on June 29, 2011.
Updates to TMDLs
From time to time, it is necessary to revise TMDLs to account for changing conditions in the watershed. 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 TMDL are documented in the approved WQMP updates listed below each approved TMDL report.
Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous TMDLs
- Eighteen Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous and Tributaries
- Response to Public Comment
Revisions to the Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous TMDLs
- January 2013, Appendix I, pages 9-10
- July 2012, Appendix I, pages 10-11
- January 2012, Appendix I, pages 11-13
- January 2011, Appendix I, page 11
- April 2010, Apendix I, pages 10-15
Clear Creek TMDLs
- Nine Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in Clear Creek and Tributaries
- Response to Public Comment
Additional TMDLs for Clear Creek were added by addendum, submitted as an update to the state’s October 2012 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan.
Revisions to the Clear Creek TMDLs
- October 2012, Appendix I, pages 10-33 (TMDL Addendum)
- July 2011, Appendix I, pages 11-12
- April 2009, Appendix I, pages 13-15
Brays Bayou TMDLs
- Five Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in Brays Bayou Above Tidal and Tributaries
- No comments were received
Revisions to the Brays Bayou TMDLs
- January 2013, Appendix II, page 11
- January 2011, Appendix II, pages 12-13
Greens Bayou TMDLs
- Eight Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in Greens Bayou Above Tidal and Tributaries
- Response to Public Comment on the Greens Bayou TMDLs
Revisions to the Greens Bayou TMDLs
- October 2012, Appendix II, pages 34-35
- January 2012, Appendix II, page 14
- January 2011, Appendix I, page 11
Eastern Houston Watersheds TMDLs
- Thirteen Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in Eastern Houston Watersheds
- No comments were received
Revisions to the Eastern Houston Watersheds TMDLs
- January 2011, Appendix III, pages 14-15
Halls Bayou and Tributaries TMDLs
- Four Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in Halls Bayou and Tributaries
- No comments were received
Revisions to the Halls Bayou TMDLs
- July 2011, Appendix III, pages 14-15
- January 2011, Appendix IV, pages 16-17
Lake Houston Watersheds
- Fifteen TMDLs for Indicator Bacteria in Watersheds of the Lake Houston Area
- Response to Public Comments
Revisions to the Lake Houston Watersheds TMDLs
- January 2013, Appendix III, pages 12-13
- October 2012, Appendix III, pages 36-38
- July 2012, Appendix II, pages 12-13
- January 2012, Appendix III, page 15
- October 2011, Appendix III, pages 20-21
- July 2011, Appendix IV, page 16-27
Sims Bayous and Tributary TMDLs
- Four Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in Sims Bayou Above Tidal and Tributary
- No comments were received
Revisions to the Sims Bayou TMDLs
- July 2011, Appendix V, pages 28-29
- January 2011, Appendix V, pages 18-19
Contact Us
For information regarding this project, please contact Todd Running at the H-GAC by phone at 713-993-4549 or by e-mail at todd.running@h-gac.com. Or e-mail the TCEQ’s TMDL Program at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Houston-Galveston bacteria project in the subject line. Reach the TMDL Program by phone at 512-239-6682.
