Nolan Creek: Implementing a Watershed Protection Plan
The City of Nolanville is taking steps to improve water quality in the Nolan Creek watershed.
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Project Area
River Basin: Brazos
Water Bodies: Nolan Creek and South Nolan Creek (1218), Long Branch (1218D), South Nolan Creek (1218B), and Little Nolan Creek (1218C)
Location: Bell and Coryell counties
Background
The Nolan Creek and South Nolan Creek watershed comprises nearly 73,000 acres, largely within the western portion of Bell County. South Nolan Creek flows through Killeen, Harker Heights, and Nolanville, before merging with North Nolan Creek west of Belton to form Nolan Creek. Nolan Creek then flows through Belton converging with the Leon River east of Belton. The most northern portion of the South Nolan Creek watershed and most of the North Nolan Creek watershed are part of the Fort Hood Military Base (now Fort Cavazos).
Nolan Creek and South Nolan Creek did not meet state water quality standards for primary contact recreation use due to high concentrations of bacteria—according to the 1996 State of Texas Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List. A watershed protection plan (WPP) was developed for Nolan Creek and South Nolan Creek in 2015 and EPA accepted it in 2019.
Back to topProject Description
September 2023– August 2026
The City of Nolanville will implement several measures aimed at improving water quality as described in the WPP, including constructing a retrofitted bioswale or drain swale to increase infiltration and reduce stormwater runoff. The City will also hire a watershed coordinator to facilitate implementing those measures, develop education and outreach workshops, and provide citizen scientists with opportunities to volunteer at the water lab in the SMART Museum.
For More Information
To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or email us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.