News from the Texas TMDL Program
Follow Agency News on Twitter @TCEQNews
The TMDL Program sets targets for improved quality in surface waters. Communities in the watersheds work together to develop implementation plans (I-Plans) to achieve those targets.
See the Calendar for the TMDL Program for scheduled stakeholder meetings.
- Calendar of Meetings
TMDLs and Implementation Plan for Public Comment- Austin Watersheds: TMDLs Adopted and Implementation Plan Approved
- Comment on Update to the Water Quality Management Plan
- Communities Working Together
- Loans and Cost Sharing
- Take Care of Texas Elementary Art Contest
- Upcoming Events
- Contact Us
- Join the TMDL News E-Mail List
TMDLs and Implementation Plan for Public Comment
The commission is requesting public comment on an Implementation Plan for Orange County Watersheds and on TMDLs for Armand Bayou.
Austin Watersheds: TMDLs Adopted and Implementation Plan Approved
At their January 21, 2015 meeting, the commission adopted TMDLs and approved the Implementation Plan for Austin Area Watersheds.
Comment on Draft Update to the Water Quality Management Plan
The public is invited to comment on the January 2015 draft Update to the Water Quality Management Plan. All comments must be received at the TCEQ no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2015. This draft includes updates to TMDLs in the Houston-Galveston Region, Upper Oyster Creek, and the Upper Gulf Coast.
Communities Working Together
Updated Implementation Plans
TMDL Implementation Plans are living documents. Conditions change; successes happen; roadblocks are encountered. So stakeholders adapt their plans over time to make them work.Three stakeholder committees have been busy updating their TMDL Implementation Plans in watersheds where current plans are maturing. See the draft updated plans for Lake O' the Pines, Petronila Creek, and the Colorado River Below E.V. Spence Reservoir.
Progress Report
Also in 2014, the Bacteria Implementation Group for the Houston–Galveston region released its 2014 BIG Annual Report on the progress of their plan to reduce bacteria in Houston–Galveston area waterways. Learn more about the status of the BIG's plan and link to the annual report.
Return to topLoans and Cost Sharing
The TWDB is soliciting applications 
for projects from eligible groundwater conservation districts. Funding is for cost-share of water use monitoring equipment in groundwater conservation districts that have rules requiring metering of groundwater withdrawals. Applications are due by noon on March 11, 2015.
Take Care of Texas Elementary Art Contest
Take Care of Texas, a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Samsung Austin Semiconductor invite K-5 students in Texas to submit their artwork showing how they, their friends and their families help keep the air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste. The contest begins January 5, 2015; artwork must be received by March 6, 2015. For contest details, visit TakeCareOfTexas.org/art-contest or email educate@tceq.texas.gov.
Upcoming Events
Events
February 27, 2015. Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Workshop—Dickinson Bayou. Galveston County Extension Office in La Marque, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The training will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones and the benefits and direct impacts from healthy riparian zones. Continuing Education Credits are available for this course. Register online.
Texas A&M offers several opportunities for Natural Resource Training and Watershed Planning . Topics include:
- Outreach for Natural Resource Professionals
- Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshops
Conferences
February 11-13, 2015, Austin, Texas. Urban Riparian Symposium . Sponsored by the Texas Riparian Association. The conference provides an opportunity for natural resource professionals to share ideas and discuss management and policy issues, lessons learned in urban riparian and stream planning, assessment, design, construction, and evaluation.
May 17-20, 2015. 14th National Watershed Conference and National Watershed Program Partner Summit , Ft. Worth, Texas. The conference will address both current and future water resource issues related to conservation, management, water quality and flood protection on a watershed scale.
Contact Us
Send us an e-mail at tmdl@tceq.texas.gov or call 512-239-6682.
