Halls Bayou and Willow Bayou: A Community Project to Protect Recreational Uses
Photo Courtesy of the
Houston-Galveston Area Council
Counties: Brazoria, Galveston
Parameter: Bacteria
Basins: Bays and Estuaries, San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal
Segments: 2432B, 2432C
Assessment Units (AUs): 2432B_01, 2432C_01
On this page:
Background and Goals
Halls Bayou Tidal (Segment 2432C, AU 2432C_01) is a tributary of Chocolate Bay (Segment 2432), an embayment of West Galveston Bay. A tidal stream, Halls Bayou is 19.6 miles long and begins approximately six miles south-east of Alvin in Brazoria, with intermittent headwaters. The segment flows southeasterly past Halls Bayou Camp, briefly enters Galveston County, and then runs parallel to the Galveston County line into Halls Lake, through the Narrows, and into Chocolate Bay.
Willow Bayou (Segment 2432B) is a major freshwater tributary to Halls Bayou. The intermittent headwaters for Willow Bayou arise three miles southwest of Hitchcock in western Galveston County. The stream flows southwest to its mouth on Halls Bayou at the Brazoria County line.
Since 2012, high concentrations of certain fecal bacteria have been identified in Halls Bayou, and since 2014, in Willow Bayou. Fecal bacteria are found in both human and animal waste. The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the bayou—activities referred to as “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
The goal of this project is to improve water quality in order to protect recreational uses. Toward that goal, TCEQ and stakeholders are developing TMDLs for bacteria in the bayous. Stakeholders will also develop one I-Plan to reduce bacteria in Halls and Willow bayous, Chocolate Bayou, and Mustang Bayou, all of which are in the larger watershed of Chocolate Bay.
Back to topGet Involved
In all its projects, TCEQ gathers opinions and information from people who represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed. Staff from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) have been working with stakeholders to distribute information about this project and involve them in developing the I-Plan for watershed improvement.
All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested. Watch for meeting announcements here. See meeting records in the "Get Involved" section of the H-GAC's webpage San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin Bacteria Reduction Project
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Contact the TMDL Program
Please email tmdl@tceq.texas.gov, and mention the Halls Bayou bacteria project in the subject line. Or call us at 512-239-6682.
