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Counties: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy
Parameter: Bacteria
Basin: Nueces–Rio Grande Coastal
Segments: 2202

• Project Overview (PDF)
• Background and Goals
• Evaluating Appropriate Recreational Uses
• Public Participation
• For More Information

Background and Goals

Texas protects the quality of most of the state’s surface waters to make them safe for recreational uses. Activities during which a person might ingest natural waters—such as wading or swimming—are referred to as the “contact recreation” use in the state’s standards for water quality. The state uses criteria that are also defined in the standards to evaluate the suitability and safety of streams, lakes, and estuaries for contact recreation.

The Arroyo Colorado, a distributary channel of the Rio Grande, extends about 90 miles from Mission, Texas, to the Laguna Madre in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The Arroyo Colorado is the major source of fresh water to the lower Laguna Madre, an economically and ecologically important resource to the region. The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and several county and city parks are located within the Arroyo Colorado watershed. One third of the stream also is used for shipping from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the Port of Harlingen.

The fertile farmland, long growing season, and irrigation water from the Rio Grande make this region one of the most productive agricultural areas in the U.S. The mild climate, semitropical plants and animals, and many recreational opportunities draw large numbers of people to the Arroyo Colorado watershed.

For an overview of water quality standards and management, read the TCEQ’s publication Preserving and Improving Water Quality.

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Evaluating Appropriate Recreational Uses

Recreational use-attainability analyses (RUAAs) are conducted to determine which of the state's four recreational use categories is appropriate for a particular water body. During an RUAA project, the staff collects:

• Information about the presence or absence of water recreation activities, stream flow, and stream depth.
• Data on other physical conditions that are necessary for safe recreational use.

The procedures for conducting RUAAs are available on Handouts and Documents, the Web page that records the activities of the Advisory Group on Surface Water Quality Standards.

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Public Participation

Local participation is crucial to identifying the locations most used for contact recreation. The TCEQ is informing the public about this project through the local Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership Steering Committee, at other public meetings, and with notices in print and electronic media. All meetings about the project are open to everyone.

Residents will be given the opportunity to review and change the sampling plan based on their local knowledge and expertise. Strong participation should ensure that the project staff collect and assess samples from the most appropriate sites.

Meeting Summaries

• July 22, 2010
• Meeting Summary
• Nueces River Authority Presentation
• April 22, 2010
  • Meeting Summary
  • TCEQ Presentation

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For More Information

Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and reference the Arroyo Colorado RUAA in the subject line. Or call Roger Miranda at 512-239-6278.

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County: Galveston

Parameter: Low dissolved oxygen

Basin: San Jacinto–Brazos Coastal

Segment: 1103

• Project Overview
• Background and Goals
• Public Participation
• Reports
• For More Information

Background and Goals

In Dickinson Bayou Tidal (Segment 1103), concentrations of dissolved oxygen are less than optimum compared to standards defined for the support of aquatic life.

Oxygen, which dissolves in water, is essential for the survival of aquatic life. The amount of dissolved oxygen in water fluctuates naturally, and low dissolved oxygen is a common natural occurrence in some coastal waters like Dickinson Bayou. Various human activities can also cause unusually or chronically low dissolved-oxygen levels, which may harm fish and other aquatic organisms.

This project will evaluate the effects of low dissolved oxygen on aquatic life and determine the best strategy for managing water quality in the tidal portion of Dickinson Bayou.

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Public Participation

Stakeholders in the watershed formed the Dickinson Bayou Watershed Partnership to implement activities that improve water quality in Dickinson Bayou. Information about the Partnership’s meetings is available on their Web site. The TCEQ is working with this existing forum to participate with the public in developing and implementing the TMDL project.

TCEQ-Hosted Public Meetings

In addition to meeting with the Dickinson Bayou Watershed Partnership, the TMDL Program has hosted meetings to provide information about the project to the public at large. Summaries of those meetings are available below in PDF.

• Summary of Public Meeting, February 2005
• Summary of Public Meeting, August 2004

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Reports

The TCEQ proposed draft TMDLs in 2008. Based on comments received, the proposed TMDLs were not adopted.

• Draft Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dissolved Oxygen in Dickinson Bayou, Segments 1103 and 1104

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For More Information

Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Dickinson Bayou TMDL in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-66682.

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County: Gregg, Harrison
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Sabine
Segment: 0505_04, 0505B

• Project Overview 
• Background and Goals
• Participate
• For More Information
  

Background and Goals

In Grace Creek and a portion of the Sabine River, TCEQ staff have observed high concentrations of bacteria in the streams since 2000. These bacteria, which are found in both human and animal waste, may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the streams. These activities are referred as “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for surface water quality.

The goal of the project is to protect the safety of people who swim or wade in the creeks. To do that we will first collect and study additional water quality data to determine how bad the contamination is. The TCEQ will use these data to determine the most appropriate management strategy. The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) began working on the project under contract in September 2012.

The project watershed covers about 116 square miles in and around the city of Longview. There is a popular hike and bike trail and nature area along a stretch of the creek. To varying degrees, stormwater runoff from agricultural, industrial, and urban areas affects water quality in the segments. 

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Participate

In all its projects, the TCEQ seeks opinions and information from people who represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed.

TIAER is coordinating public involvement in this project. Throughout the project, we will engage stakeholders in developing a strategy to improve water quality.

Meetings

• September 2012
  The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the project to stakeholders and get their feedback.
  • Meeting Summary

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For More Information

Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Grace Creek project in the subject. Or call Dania Grundmann, Project Manager, at 512-239-6682.

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