Brady Creek Watershed: Hydrodynamic Separator and Public Outreach
Upper Colorado River Authority is implementing best management practices to remove debris, sediment, and oil and grease from storm water in the City of Brady, and promote the restoration of Brady Creek.
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Background
Brady Creek (Segment 1416A), an unclassified water body and a tributary of the San Saba River, has not met state water quality standards for dissolved oxygen (D.O.) since 2004. The Upper Colorado River Authority (UCRA) and watershed stakeholders developed the Brady Creek Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) which was accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2016. The WPP identifies best management practices (BMPs) to increase flow, reduce the amount pollutants entering Brady Creek and raise dissolved oxygen to a level that supports the segment’s assigned aquatic life use criteria.
Back to topProject Description
The Upper Colorado River Authority will implement several recommendations in the Brady Creek WPP including a vortex hydrodynamic separator and an education and outreach program.
Vortex hydrodynamic separators are flow-through structures used to remove sediment and other pollutants in stormwater. UCRA will install a separator in Sub basin I, the largest contributor of urban runoff in the watershed. Based on modelling conducted during WPP development, installation of one separator in this sub basin will reduce total suspended sediment and biological oxygen demand loadings by 44%. Experience gained from this project will be valuable in the planning and design process for sub basins that require multiple vortex separators. UCRA will then conduct stormwater monitoring to determine the hydrodynamic separator's effectiveness in reducing pollutants released into the creek.
For More Information
UCRA's Brady Creek WPP Implementation website
To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or e-mail us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.