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Bessie's Creek

This is a project to reduce bacteria and protect recreational safety in Bessie’s Creek. The stakeholders and TCEQ will develop a total maximum daily load and implementation plan, which together will be the road map for improving water quality.

photo of water quality monitor researchers taking samples in Bessie's Creek at Fulshear Lake Way
Bessie's Creek in Pattison
Photo Credit - Sophia Staska
map of Bessie's Creek watershed
map credit: H–GAC

Counties: Waller and Fort Bend
Parameter: bacteria
River Basin: Brazos River
Segment: 1202I
Assessment Units (AUs): 1202I_01

On this page:

Background and Goals

TCEQ identified Bessie’s Creek (assessment unit 1202_01) as impaired due to elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria. The presence of these bacteria, which come from human and animal waste, may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the creek—activities referred to as “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. Learn more about these findings in the 2024 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality.

In 2024, TCEQ approached the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to initiate a total maximum daily load (TMDL) project for Bessie’s Creek. A TMDL determines the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive while still meeting water quality standards.

TCEQ and stakeholders are developing a TMDL and implementation plan (I-Plan) to reduce bacteria in the creek.

Watershed Description

The Bessie’s Creek watershed covers 106 square miles of rural and developing land within Waller and Fort Bend counties. The largest cities in the watershed are Brookshire and Fulshear. Other communities include Simonton, Pattison, and the town of Monaville. The watershed includes two named creeks, Bessie’s Creek (Segment 1202I) and Brookshire Creek (Segment 1202G)—freshwater tributaries to the Brazos River (Segment 1202). 

All the flow in these creeks is perennial (year-round), except for the most upstream extents, the headwaters, which primarily exist as intermittent streams with pools. Treated wastewater supports the flow of these creeks.

The watershed lies in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion and most of it is used for agricultural production, primarily livestock grazing. Landcover includes:

  • hay or pasture (57%)
  • developed (19%)
  • cropland (15%).

Like much of outer Houston, the region is transitioning from rural to suburban, with new roads and subdivisions being developed to serve the growing population. The estimated 2024 population for the Bessie’s Creek watershed is 20,800 and is expected to increase by more than four times the current population by 2050.

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.

Bessie's Creek Watershed Stakeholder Meeting

At this stakeholder meeting, we will discuss water quality within the Bessie’s Creek watershed, including Brookshire Creek. Discussion will cover concerns, impairments, and opportunities to improve.

Feb 19, 2026
2:00 – 4:00 PM 

Simonton Community Church
9703 FM 1489
Simonton, TX 77476
Fort Bend County

All public meetings about this project are open to anyone. Watch for meeting announcements on this page, the TCEQ TMDL news page, and Bessie’s Creek TMDL webpage [Houston-Galveston Area Council] .

H-GAC staff have been working with stakeholders to distribute information about this project and develop the TMDL and 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.

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