Greater Trinity Region: Implementing a Plan to Protect Recreational Uses

Watershed Counties: Dallas, Tarrant
Parameter: Bacteria
River Basin: Trinity
Segments:  0805, 0806E, 0822A, 0822B, 0841, 0841B, 0841C, 0841E, 0841F, 0841G, 0841H, 0841J, 0841K, 0841L, 0841M, 0841N, 0841R, 0841T, 0841U, 0841V

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Overview

Bacteria concentrations are occasionally elevated in portions of the Trinity River that flow through Dallas and Tarrant counties. High bacteria concentrations might pose a risk to people who swim or wade in natural waters. Swimming and wading are called “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality; the term refers to all recreation in which people are likely to swallow natural waters.

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Watershed Description

The watersheds for the Greater Trinity River I-Plan encompass an area of 406 square miles. The human population is 1.33 million as of 2013, with a population density of approximately 3,232 people per square mile. The I-Plan implements TMDLs for:

• Upper Trinity River (Segment 0805, upper end)
• Elm Fork Trinity River tributaries of Grapevine Creek and Cottonwood Branch (Segments 0822A and 0822B)
• Lower West Fork Trinity River (Segment 0841) and 11 of its tributaries
• Mountain Creek Lake Upstream Watersheds (Segments 0841F, 0841K, 0841N, and 0841V), added in 2015
• Sycamore Creek  (Segment 0806E), added in 2018

Goal

The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations and protect recreational safety by implementing total maximum daily loads. A TMDL is like a budget for pollutants—it estimates the amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive from categories of sources and still support its designated uses.

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Get Involved

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is working with stakeholders to implement bacteria TMDLs throughout their region.

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Status and Activities

Cities in the watershed continue to address bacteria levels in the impaired waterways covered by the Implementation Plan. Highlights from 2019 include:

• Drafted and distributed the annual TMDL Questionnaire to TMDL stakeholders regarding I-Plan efforts.
• Facilitated and coordinated a workshop on Septic System Basic Maintenance for Homeowners on July 25, 2019. A total of 7 attendees participated in the workshop.
• Facilitated and coordinated the Feral Hog Forum on August 13, 2019 with presentations from Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. A total of 23 attendees participated in the workshop.
• Facilitated and coordinated the Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP) webinar on November 12, 2019 with a presentation from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. A total of 33 attendees participated in the webinar.
• Completed the Great Trinity River Region TMDL Annual Program Summary. This summary included major activities completed and information on current projects.
• Facilitated and coordinated two Upper Trinity River Basin Coordinating Committee meetings with the goal of facilitating communication on current activities and efforts of watershed coordinators in the NCTCOG region.
• Created the Avian Feeding Educational Materials, including signage, brochures, fact sheets, and a social media toolkit.
• Supported the Doo the Right Thing Campaign by creating a social media toolkit to encourage residents to take the pledge to eliminate pet waste from yards and other areas, helping to reduce bacteria levels in stormwater runoff. In 2019, 187 individuals took the Doo the Right Thing pledge.
• Created a brochure for homeowners for “Taking Care of Your On-Site Sewage Facility.”
• Completed the update to the Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan to include Sycamore Creek.
• Facilitated meetings with the TMDL Stormwater, Wastewater, and Monitoring Technical Subcommittees to plan and coordinate bacteria reducing projects.
• Facilitated the TMDL Coordination Committee meeting to give program updates, discuss upcoming projects, and gain approval for the updated TMDL I-Plan to incorporate Sycamore Creek.
• Supported the Egret Rookery Workshop held on October 23, 2019 and included presentations from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Wildlife Services, City of The Colony, and City of Allen.
• Estelle Creek, Rush Creek and Village Creek all met water quality standards in the 2018 Texas Integrated Report!

More details about the stakeholders' activities are available on the NCTCOG website and in the Greater Trinity River Region TMDL Annual Program Summary

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Partners

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For More Information

Please e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Greater Trinity River plan in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.

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