Upper Oyster Creek

This is a project to reduce bacteria and increase dissolved oxygen to protect recreational and aquatic life uses in Upper Oyster Creek. The total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) were adopted and the implementation plan (I-Plan) has been approved. Together, they provide the road map to improved water quality.

Upper Oyster Creek

Triangle right blue transparent TMDL Projects

Triangle right blue transparent TMDL News

Counties: Fort Bend
Parameters: Bacteria, dissolved oxygen
River Basin: Brazos River
Segment: 1245

On this page:

Background and Goals
Get Involved
Approved I-Plan
Adopted TMDLs
Reports and Other Documents
Contact the TMDL Program

Background and Goals

Upper Oyster Creek is located within the Brazos River Basin, immediately southwest of Houston in northern Fort Bend County. Segment 1245, though named Upper Oyster Creek, also includes parts of Jones Creek, Oyster Creek, Flat Bank Creek, a diversion canal, and Steep Bank Creek. Upper Oyster Creek has been highly modified and serves as a portion of a water conveyance system for the Gulf Coast Water Authority.

Water quality testing found that bacteria levels in Upper Oyster Creek might pose a health risk for swimmers. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations in some areas of the creek indicate that conditions are not optimal for aquatic life.

The TMDL Program worked with area stakeholders to develop a plan to improve water quality in the creek. The goal of the project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for swimmers, and improve conditions to support a healthy aquatic community.

Get Involved

In all its projects, TCEQ gathers opinions and information from people who represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed. Staff from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) have been working with stakeholders to distribute information about this project and involve them in developing the I-Plan for watershed improvement.

All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested. Watch for meeting announcements here.

Approved I-Plan

The commission approved this stakeholder-developed plan on January 15, 2014.

Implementation Plan for Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dissolved Oxygen and One Total Maximum Daily Load for Bacteria in Upper Oyster Creek
Response to Public Comment on the I-Plan

Adopted TMDLs

Dissolved Oxygen TMDLs

On July 28, 2010, the commission adopted the TMDLs for dissolved oxygen. The EPA approved the TMDL on Sept. 21, 2010, at which time it became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.

Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dissolved Oxygen in Upper Oyster Creek
Segment: 1245; Assessment Units: 1245_02 and 1245_03
Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs

Updates

Updates are made to account for changing conditions in the watershed, such as new or revised wasteload allocations, permits that have been canceled or have expired, or changed facility names. Updates are made via the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.

October 2021, Appendix VI, pages 25-26
July 2021, Appendixes IV, pages 18-23
October 2020, Appendix IV, pages 23-24
October 2018, Appendix V, pages 18-19
April 2016, Appendix VII, pages 22-23
April 2015, Appendix VII, pages 35-36
October 2013, Appendix V, p. 50
January 2012, Appendix VIII, pages 36-37
WQMP updates may be viewed in person at the TCEQ Library, Building A, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas. Electronic versions of updates published from 2014 through 2020 are available on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website .

Bacteria TMDL

The commission adopted this TMDL for bacteria on Aug. 8, 2007. The EPA approved the TMDL on Sept. 28, 2007, at which time the TMDLs became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.

Updates

Updates are made to account for changing conditions in the watershed, such as new or revised wasteload allocations, permits that have been canceled or have expired, or changed facility names.

October 2021, Appendix V, pages 27-29
October 2020, Appendix III, page 22
October 2018, Appendix IV, pages 16-17
April 2016, Appendix VI, pages 19-21
April 2015, Appendix VI, pages 33-34
October 2013, Appendix IV, p. 48
January 2012, Appendix VII, pages 34-35
July 2011, pages 10 & 30
April 2010, pages 9 & 18
January 2009, pages 10-12
July 2008, pages 7-9
April 2008, pages 12-14

WQMP updates may be viewed in person at the TCEQ Library, Building A, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Texas. Electronic versions of updates published from 2014 through 2020 are available on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website .

For WQMP updates prior to 2014, use the TRAIL Search engine as outlined below. The main search box on the page will only conduct a simple search with no exclusionary parameters and should not be used.

First, limit your search to TCEQ only. Do this via the advanced search feature on the left of the page. To limit a search to TCEQ content, enter www.tceq.texas.gov or www.tceq.state.tx.us into the “From the Host” search box.
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