Arroyo Colorado: Coordinating Watershed Protection Plan Implementation

Background

The Arroyo Colorado flows through Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and into the Laguna Madre. Agriculture is the primary land use of the region, which has one of the fastest growing populations in the nation. As a result of low levels of dissolved oxygen, the tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado (2201) does not currently meet state water quality standards and has been on the 303(d) list since 1996. Additionally, this segment does not meet standards for bacteria and there have been concerns about high nutrient levels. In response to low dissolved-oxygen levels, the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership was formed, and a Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) was completed in 2007.

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Project Description

This project was initiated to assist in funding implementation of the Arroyo Colorado WPP by funding the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator position. The watershed coordinator:

• Facilitated the steering committee and work group meetings of the partnership.
• Facilitated implementation of the WPP through education and outreach activities, as well as other activities designed to promote private and public support.
• Identified organizations that have goals similar to the partnership’s in order to coordinate and integrate their efforts with its goals.

Over 30,000 watershed residents were reached through education and outreach activities. This project ended in 2011, however TCEQ awarded the Partnership two more grants from 2014-2020 to support the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator position.

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Documents

• WPP on the Arroyo Partnership website

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For More Information

To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or e-mail us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.

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