Cottonwood Branch and Grapevine Creek: A TMDL Project to Protect Recreational Uses

A project to reduce bacteria levels and protect recreational safety in the waters of Armand Bayou. The TCEQ adopted total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and stakeholders are developing their implementation plan (I-Plan), which together will provide the road map to improving water quality.

Grapevine Creek

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County: Dallas and Tarrant
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Trinity
Segment: 0822A, 0822B

Project Overview
Background and Goals
Adopted TMDLs
Implementation Plan for Commission Consideration
Public Participation
Project Documents
For More Information

Background and Goals

High concentrations of bacteria have been observed in Grapevine Creek (Segment 0822B) and Cottonwood Branch (Segment 0822A). High concentrations of bacteria may pose a health risk to people who swim or wade in them—activities called “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality.

Grapevine Creek and Cottonwood Branch are tributaries to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River (Segment 0822). To varying degrees, these segments are affected by storm water runoff from agricultural, industrial, and urban areas.

The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for contact recreation, through development of total maximum daily loads. 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 TMDL Program has two closely related projects under way for segments of the upper Trinity River watershed. The Lower West Fork Trinity River and the Upper Trinity River projects are being coordinated with this one to ensure the most effective use of the state's funds in developing TMDLs and determining how to implement them.

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Adopted TMDLs

On September 21, 2011, the commission adopted the TMDLs for Cottonwood Branch and Grapevine Creek. The EPA approved them on May 30, 2012.

On approval by the EPA, the TMDLs became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan. Learn more about the Water Quality Management Plan.

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Implementation Plan for Commission Consideration

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has worked with stakeholders to develop a plan that implements the TMDLs and improves surface water quality throughout their region.

At their June 5 Agenda meeting, the commission is scheduled to consider whether to publish and solicit comments on the draft Implementation Plan for the Greater Trinity River Region.

I-Plan Agenda Package
(Docket request, executive summary, and draft Implementation Plan)

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Public Participation

Project personnel are informing people about these TMDLs through public meetings and notices in print and electronic media. The meetings are open to everyone.