Martin Creek Reservoir: Assessing the Safety of Fish Consumption
Counties: Panola, Rusk
Parameter: Selenium
Basin: Sabine River
Segment: 0505F
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Project Description and Goal
Martin Creek Reservoir is an impoundment of Martin Creek, located five miles southwest of Tatum (population 1,310). It was constructed in 1974 to serve as a cooling reservoir for a steam-electric power plant. The western shore of the reservoir forms a portion of the county line between Rusk and Panola counties.
In 1992, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued an advisory restricting the consumption of fish from the reservoir because selenium concentrations found in fish tissue posed a risk to consumers. The goal of this project was to determine whether the consumption of fish from the reservoir still posed a threat to human health. TCEQ worked with DSHS to collect fish samples, conduct laboratory analyses, and characterize the risks to consumers from all contaminants found in fish tissue samples.
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After assessing all the data collected and characterizing the risks, DSHS concluded that consumption of fish from Martin Creek Reservoir no longer poses a threat to human health. DSHS rescinded the fish consumption advisory on October 14, 2004.
Contact the TMDL Program
Please email tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and mention Martin Creek Reservoir in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
