Clear Creek Above Tidal
Counties: Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris
Parameters: chloride, total dissolved solids (TDS)
River Basin: San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal
Segment: 1102
On this page:
- Summary
- TMDLs (Withdrawn)
- Implementation Plan
- For More Information
Summary
Clear Creek is a suburban freshwater stream located in the southernmost portion of the city of Houston, Texas. Water quality testing in 2002 found that concentrations of chlorides and total dissolved solids in Segment 1102, Clear Creek Above Tidal, were not optimum for supporting aquatic life.
The goal of this project was to reduce chloride and TDS in Clear Creek to levels that support a healthy aquatic community.
The TMDL Program found that the excess salinity was the result of a single discharge associated with dewatering of a sand and gravel quarry. This quarry was on top of the Mykawa Salt Dome and had salty groundwater.
That discharge was remediated via permit enforcement. Since then, the quarry operation has closed. In 2014, the TCEQ withdrew the TMDLs because the TMDL is no longer needed to manage the impairment for which it was written. Permitted dischargers other than the quarry and stormwater run-off have never been sources of the impairment, nor are they expected to be in the future.
TMDLs
The commission first adopted these TMDLs on August 10, 2005. The commission adopted revisions to them on April 12, 2006. The EPA approved them on June 26, 2006, at which time they became part of the state's Water Quality Management Plan. The TCEQ withdrew these TMDLs via the July 2014 update to the Water Quality Management Plan. The EPA approved their withdrawal on 11/25/14.
- Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Total Dissolved Solids and Chloride in Clear Creek Above Tidal (withdrawn)
- Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs
Revisions to TMDLs
From time to time, it is necessary to revise TMDLs to account for changing conditions in the watershed. Revisions to the load allocations in TMDLs are made via the state’s Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), which is updated quarterly.
The WQMP provides projected effluent limits for use in planning and permitting activities under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES). The TCEQ reviews all applications for new and amended permits for conformance with applicable portions of the WQMP, including adopted 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 use the same units of measure as the original TMDL.
Revisions to the TMDL are documented in the approved WQMP update listed below.
- July 2009, Appendix I, pages 6-7
The TCEQ withdrew these TMDLs via the approved WQMP update listed below. The EPA approved their withdrawal on 11/25/14.
- July 2014, Appendix III, pages 10-16
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 the present are available on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website .
For WQMP updates prior to 2014, use the TRAIL Search the TCEQ 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.
- Refine your search to narrow down results. The other search boxes on the left of the page allow for search terms to be included, excluded, or used in an exact phrase search. Date ranges can be used as well.
Implementation Plan
The commission approved this I-Plan on August 23, 2006.
- Implementation Plan for Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Total Dissolved Solids and Chlorides in Clear Creek above Tidal, For Segment 1102
- Response to Public Comment on the Implementation Plan
For More Information
Please email tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and mention the Clear Creek TDS project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
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