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Chocolate Bay

This is a project to reduce bacteria and protect recreational safety in the Chocolate Bay Watershed. The stakeholders and TCEQ have developed nine total maximum daily loads for waterbodies within the watershed and are developing an implementation plan, which together will be the road map for improving water quality.

map of Chocolate Bay Watershed
Chocolate Bay Map (click to enlarge)

County: Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Bays and Estuaries, San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal
Segments: 1107, 1108, 2432A, 2432B, 2432C, 2432D, and 2432E
Assessment Unit(s): 1107_01, 1108_01, 2432A_01, 2432A_02, 2432A_03, 2432B_01, 2432C_01, 2432D_01, and 2432E_01

On this page:

Background and Goals

Since 2010, high concentrations of bacteria, which are found in both human and animal waste, have been observed in the watershed. The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the water bodies—activities referred to as “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.

The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria so the public can safely enjoy recreational activities in these waters. To achieve this, TCEQ and stakeholders have developed total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for bacteria in these watersheds:

Stakeholders are now developing a regional implementation plan (I-Plan) to reduce bacteria in those watersheds, all of which make up the larger watershed of Chocolate Bay.

Watershed Description

The Chocolate Bay watershed is approximately 313 square miles, mostly in eastern Brazoria County, with a portion in Fort Bend County. Three main tributaries flow southeast through the region: Chocolate Bayou, Mustang Bayou, and Halls Bayou. The main communities include: Algoa, Alvin, Arcola, Fresno, Hillcrest, Iowa Colony, Liverpool, Manvel, Missouri City, and Pearland. Some lie entirely within the watershed while others include only portions of their boundaries.

Get Involved

TCEQ seeks input from anyone who represents government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, or community and private interests in the watershed.

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.

Public Comment Meeting for Draft I-Plan NEW

The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the draft I-Plan for nine assessment units: Chocolate Bayou Tidal (1107_01), Chocolate Bayou Above Tidal (1108_01), Mustang Bayou (2432A_01, 2432A_02 and 2432A_03), Willow Bayou (2432B_01), Halls Bayou Tidal (2432C_01), Persimmon Bayou Tidal (2432D_01), and New Bayou Tidal (2432E_01).

  • Public Comment Meeting for Draft I-Plan
  • 2026-01-22T18:00:00-06:00
  • 2026-01-22T19:00:00-06:00
  • The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the draft I-Plan for nine assessment units: Chocolate Bayou Tidal (1107_01), Chocolate Bayou Above Tidal (1108_01), Mustang Bayou (2432A_01, 2432A_02 and 2432A_03), Willow Bayou (2432B_01), Halls Bayou Tidal (2432C_01), Persimmon Bayou Tidal (2432D_01), and New Bayou Tidal (2432E_01).

Thursday, Jan 22, 2026 from 06:00 PM to 07:00 PM (America/Chicago / UTC-600)

Alvin Public Library
105 S. Gordon St.
Alvin, 77511

OPEN Stakeholders can submit comments on the document through the comment portal.  All written comments must be received at TCEQ by Feb. 3, 2026.

Draft Implementation Plan for Nine TMDLs for Indicator Bacteria in the Chocolate Bay Watershed

All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested. See meeting records in the "Get Involved" section of the H-GAC's webpage San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin Bacteria Reduction Project .

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. See meeting records and find details for public meetings in the "Get Involved" section of the Houston–Galveston Area Council’s webpage for the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin Bacteria Reduction Project . Everyone is welcome to attend these public meetings.

Adopted TMDLs

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved all TMDLs, at which point they became an update to the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.

Reports

H-GAC staff completed technical reports for each watershed that compiled and analyzed all available bacteria data and considered sources of the bacteria and their relative contributions.

Contact Us

Please e-mail tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and reference the Chocolate Bay TMDL in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.

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