Arroyo Colorado: A TMDL Project for Legacy Pollutants and Organics

Counties: Cameron and Hidalgo
Parameters: Legacy pollutants and organics in fish tissue
River Basin: Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal
Segments: 2202, 2202A
On this page:
Background and Goals
The Arroyo Colorado, an ancient distributary channel of the Rio Grande, extends 90 miles from Mission, Texas to the Laguna Madre in the Rio Grande Valley. Water quality and fish tissue analyses show that legacy pollutants occur in fish tissues in such concentrations to warrant a fish consumption advisory upstream of the Port of Harlingen. Legacy pollutants are chemicals whose use has been banned or severely restricted, but which still remain in the environment.
TMDLs and Implementation Plan
The commission adopted these TMDLs on July 25, 2003. The EPA approved the TMDLs on May 13, 2004, at which time they became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
- Twelve TMDLs for Legacy Pollutants in the Arroyo Colorado and Donna Reservoir and Canal
Segments 2202 and 2202A
The commission adopted these TMDLs on January 17, 2001. The EPA approved the TMDLs on June 14, 2001, at which time they became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
- Four Total Maximum Daily Loads for Legacy Pollutants in the Arroyo Colorado Above Tidal and the Donna Reservoir and Canal System
Segment 2202 - Response to public comment on the Arroyo Colorado TMDLs
The Commission approved this Implementation plan on September 14, 2001.
- Implementation Plan for Arroyo Colorado and Donna Reservoir and Canal Legacy Pollutant TMDLs
- Response to public comment on the Arroyo Colorado Implementation Plan
For More Information
Send us an e-mail at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and mention the Arroyo Colorado in the subject line, or call us at 512-239-6278.
