Tarkington Bayou and Luce Bayou
This is a project to reduce bacteria and protect recreational safety in the Luce Bayou Watershed made up of Tarkington Bayou and Luce Bayou. Stakeholders and TCEQ are developing a total maximum daily load and implementation plan, which together will be the road map for improving water quality.
County: Harris, Liberty, and San Jacinto counties
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: San Jacinto River Basin
Segments: 1002B (Luce Bayou); 1002A (Tarkington Bayou)
Assessment Unit: 1002A_01
On this page:
Background and Goals
Since 2022, high concentrations of bacteria from human and animal waste have been observed in the Luce Bayou Watershed. The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the waterbodies—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 a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for bacteria, and an implementation plan (I-Plan) to reduce bacteria in the watershed. A TMDL determines the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive while still meeting water quality standards.
Watershed Description
The Luce Bayou Watershed, including Tarkington Bayou and Luce Bayou, is approximately 206 square miles within Harris, Liberty, and San Jacinto counties. Tarkington Bayou is a stream that flows southeastward for 25-miles until its confluence with Luce Bayou which flows southwestwardly. Tarkington Bayou joins Luce Bayou about midway along its 13-mile length. Luce Bayou empties into Lake Houston shortly after it enters Harris County.
The watershed extends into the most southern extent of the Pineywoods Ecoregion which includes a portion of the Sam Houston National Forest. Much of the land cover is managed timberlands, though the western edges of the watershed are seeing increased suburban development to support new subdivisions. By 2050, the watershed is expected to triple its population from the 2022 count of 27,284 residents.
Get Involved
TCEQ seeks your opinions and information if you represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed.
Tarkington and Luce Stakeholder Meeting NEW
Join us for the inaugural stakeholder meeting for the Tarkington Bayou and Luce Bayou Projects.- https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/tmdl/nav/tarkington-bayou-and-luce-bayou/tarkington-and-luce-stakeholder-meeting
- Tarkington and Luce Stakeholder Meeting
- 2026-02-11T14:00:00-06:00
- 2026-02-11T16:00:00-06:00
- Join us for the inaugural stakeholder meeting for the Tarkington Bayou and Luce Bayou Projects.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 2–4 p.m.
Civic Center
210 Peach Street
Cleveland, TX 77327
All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested. Stay informed with upcoming meetings and meeting records on H-GAC’s webpage: Tarkington and Luce Bayous TMDL . Meetings and other updates will also be posted on this webpage.
Staff from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) have been working with stakeholders to distribute information about this project and develop the TMDL and subsequent I-Plan for watershed improvement.
Contact Us
Please e-mail tmdl@tceq.texas.gov and reference the Bessie's Creek TMDL in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.