Guadalupe River Above Canyon Lake: Implementing a Plan to Protect Recreational Uses
with Town Creek
County: Kerr
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Guadalupe
Segments: 1806, 1806D, 1806E
On this page:
- Background and Goal
- Get Involved
- Status
- Approved I-Plan
- Adopted TMDLs
- Reports
- Contact the TMDL Program
Background and Goal
The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to protect the safety of recreational uses. High concentrations of fecal bacteria, which are naturally found in both human and animal waste, may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the creek—activities called “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
Water quality testing conducted prior to 2006 indicated that concentrations of bacteria were sometimes too high in Segment 1806 of the Guadalupe River, the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake. The areas of concern were confined to two small assessment areas within the city of Kerrville: (1) one mile upstream of Flat Rock Dam to a confluence with Camp Meeting Creek, and (2) from RR 394 to one mile downstream.
Assessment in 2014 indicated that the impaired portions of Segment 1806 are now fully supporting the contact recreation use. However, the tributaries Quinlan Creek (Segment 1806D) and Town Creek (Segment 1806E) were added for nonsupport of contact recreation in 2014. Since the adopted TMDL was for the entire watershed, the TMDLs for these two tributaries were added through an addendum in the state's Water Quality Management Plan.
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Get Involved
The TCEQ is working with the Upper Guadalupe River Authority
(UGRA) to keep the public informed of project status. Find out more about what it means to participate in TMDL projects.
Partners
The organizations listed below are partners in improving water quality in the Guadalupe River Above Canyon Lake. All of the links in this section exit the TCEQ website
Status
Bird deterrent net under a bridge over the Guadalupe River
Assessment in 2014 indicated that the impaired portions of Segment 1806 are now fully supporting the contact recreation use. However, the tributaries Quinlan Creek (Segment 1806D) and Town Creek (Segment 1806E) were added for nonsupport of contact recreation in 2014. Since the adopted TMDL was for the entire watershed, the TMDLs for these two tributaries were added through an addendum in the state's Water Quality Management Plan. In 2018, the stakeholders and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority prepared a revised I-Plan to continue their efforts in improving local water quality.
Status Reports
Tracking of implementation allows stakeholders to evaluate actions taken, identify actions that may not be working, and make changes as necessary.
- August 2021 Status Meeting
Agenda- Presentation: Bacteria Reduction Plan
- Presentation: Tracking Bacteria Reduction
- Presentation: Status of Camp Meeting Creek Addendum TMDL
- 2018 Clean Rivers Program Basin Highlights Report.See the article "Guadalupe River Above Flat Rock Dam," starting on page 17.
- 2016 Clean Rivers Program Basin Highlights Report
See the article "Upper Guadalupe River Bacteria Reduction Plan," starting on page 14. - 2014 Clean Rivers Program Basin Highlights Report
See the article "Bacteria Reduction Plan for the Upper Guadalupe River," starting on page 12. - 2014 Guadalupe River Above Canyon Lake Success Story published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- March 2014 Status Meeting
- December 2012 Status Meeting
Approved I-Plan
On August 31, 2011, the commission approved the plan to implement the TMDL for bacteria.
Implementation Plan for One TMDL for Bacteria in the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, Segment 1806- Response to Public Comment on the I-Plan
Revised Implementation Plan
In 2018, the stakeholders and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority prepared a revised I-Plan to continue their efforts in improving local water quality.
- 2018 Revised Implementation Plan for One TMDL for Bacteria in the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, Segment 1806
Adopted TMDLs
On July 25, 2007, the commission adopted the TMDL.
- One Total Maximum Daily Load for Bacteria in the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake
Segment 1806 - Response to Public Comment on the TMDL
The EPA approved it on September 25, 2007, at which time it became part of the state’s Water Quality Management Plan.
Revisions to the 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. Revisions are made to TMDLs in one of two ways:
- 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.
- Addenda are created to add load allocations for assessment units that are impaired by the same pollutant or condition, within the same watershed as in the original TMDL report.
Addendum
Additional TMDLs have been added for the watershed by addendum.
- Addendum One: Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in Quinlan Creek and Town Creek
Segments 1806D and 1806E. January 2018 WQMP Update. Approved by EPA May 8, 2018
Updates
- July 2015, Appendix III, page 14
- January 2008, pages 12-13
Reports
- Technical Support Document for a TMDLs for Camp Meeting Creek, AS-225, May 2022
- Technical Support Document for TMDLs for Quinlan Creek and Town Creek, 2017
Contact the TMDL Program
Please email tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Guadalupe River bacteria project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
