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Caney Creek Tidal and Linnville Bayou: A Community Project to Protect Recreational Uses

A project to reduce bacteria and protect recreational safety in Caney Creek and Linnville Bayou. The stakeholders and TCEQ have developed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) and are working on an implementation plan (I-Plan), which together will be the road map for improving water quality. The TMDLs are adopted.

Caney Creek Tidal

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Counties: Matagorda, Brazoria, Wharton
Parameter: Bacteria
Basin: Brazos–Colorado Coastal
Segments: 1304, 1304A
Assessment Units (AUs): 1304_01, 1304A_01

On this page:

Background and Goal
Watershed Description
UPDATEGet Involved
Adopted TMDLs
Reports
Contact the TMDL Program

Background and Goals

High concentrations of bacteria, which are found in both human and animal waste, have been observed in certain assessment units of Caney Creek Tidal (Segment 1304, AU 1304_01) and Linnville Bayou (Segment 1304A, AU 1304A_01). The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the creek or bayou—activities referred to as "contact recreation" in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.

The goal of this project is to improve water quality to protect recreational uses. Toward that goal, TCEQ and stakeholders are developing TMDLs and an I-Plan to reduce bacteria in the creek and bayou

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Watershed Description

The Caney Creek watershed lies in southeast Texas near the Houston–Galveston area and includes the cities of Wharton, Boling-Iago, and Van Vleck. The watershed includes portions of Matagorda, Brazoria, and Wharton counties. Caney Creek flows southeastward before emptying into the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW) near the northeast end of East Matagorda Bay.

The source of water in Caney Creek is mostly from rainfall runoff. The creek and its tributaries are generally sluggish due to the gentle sloping relief of the coastal plain. Creekside vegetation is still common along portions of the creek and remnant oxbows, particularly along Linnville Bayou. The tidal portion of the creek broadens slightly as it moves out over the coastal plain before reaching the ICWW.

The TMDL watershed is primarily coastal prairies and marshes, broken up by ribbons of riparian hardwoods and pine forests that are continually influenced by the sea, wind, rain, and hurricanes. Native vegetation includes tallgrass prairies, live oak woodlands, and a variety of salt-tolerant plants. Extensive wetland habitats provide food and shelter for numerous bird species and aquatic organisms. Developed land makes up only about 6% of the watershed.

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Get Involved

Staff from the Houston–Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) have been working with communities, interest groups, and local organizations to distribute information about this project and involve stakeholders in developing the I-Plan for watershed improvement. Meeting information is posted on H-GAC's Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basin webpage Exit the TCEQ . All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested. Watch for meeting announcements here and on H-GAC's project webpage.

UPDATENext Meeting

June 9, 2022
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Caney Creek Municipal Utility District
405 County Road 298
Sargent, 77414
About 1/4 mile down CR 298 southwest of its intersection with Highway 457 in Sargent.

At this meeting, project staff and stakeholders will discuss an addendum to the original TMDL report and the status of the I-Plan.

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Adopted TMDLs

The Commission adopted these TMDL on August 11, 2021. EPA approved them on February 2, 2022, at which time they became an update to the state's Water Quality Management Plan.

Reports

H-GAC staff completed a technical report in 2019 that compiled and analyzed all available bacteria data and considered sources of the bacteria and their relative contributions.