Overview of watersheds, impairments, and planning efforts

WQS are the water quality criteria to protect designated uses of a water segment

Designated Uses◦ Recreation

◦ Aquatic Life Use

◦ Public Water Supply

◦ General

Impaired◦ Doesn’t meet criteria for designated uses according

to water quality standards by TCEQ

◦ Placed on 303(d) list and action must be taken within 13 years from listing (TMDL, WPP)

Regulatory

Focuses only on pollutant(s) causing impairment

Water body always on 303(d) list

Voluntary, community-driven

Holistic – focuses on all potential pollutant sources in watershed

Water body usually (not always) on 303(d) list

Watershed Protection Strategies

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more info

YesNo

Need more

info

71%

25%

4%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Not sure

YesNo

Not sure

72%

24%

4%

1. Yes

2. No

YesNo

2%

98%

BMPS

Pesticides

Pasture

wildlife

Are there additional natural resource concerns for this watershed?

Hogs

Illegal dumping

Do you perceive land and/or water resource problems in your watershed?

of BLH

Lignite

Loss of blh

Pasture

Brush management

Invasives (hogs, etc.)

Easements

1. Yes

2. No

YesNo

12%

88%

“Aquatic Life Use” category

Critical for fish and other aquatic organisms

Measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L)

Influences:◦ Temperature

◦ Season/Time of Day

◦ Stream Flow

◦ Plant Photosynthesis and Shading

Causes:◦ Organic matter decomposition (natural)

◦ Excess nutrients in runoff

◦ Wastewater effluent

DO 24 hour average criteria = 5 mg/L

DO 24 hour minimum criteria = 3 mg/L

Credit: Univ. of Florida

Method to set standards appropriate for each waterbody

Structured scientific assessment of the factors affecting the attainment of uses which may include physical, chemical, biological and economic factors

May result in change in water quality standards for that waterbody

Involves more intensive water quality sampling and habitat assessment

Potential reasons for lowering a use or criteria:◦ Naturally-occurring substances

◦ Natural flow conditions

◦ Human-caused conditions that cannot be remedied

◦ Hydrologic modifications (dams, intakes, etc.)

◦ Physical conditions of the water body

◦ Substantial economic and social impacts

“Contact Recreation” use category

High levels can cause sickness if ingested

Measured in colonies/100 mL

Sources:◦ Wastewater effluent

◦ Failing septic systems

◦ Feral hogs

◦ Livestock

◦ Wildlife

◦ Natural in the system

126

605

126

630

1030

2060

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Primary

Contact Rec

Noncontact

Rec

Primary

Contact Rec

Secondary

Contact 1

Secondary

Contact 2

Noncontact

Rec

Geom

etr

ic M

ean

2000 Standards 2010 Standards

UAA to determine correct standards for recreation category

Consists of◦ Field survey to determine usability (adequate depth,

flow, access)

◦ Evidence of recreation use

◦ Survey of landowners and others of past recreation use

May change standards and raise allowable bacteria levels

Cropland (< 1%)

Forest (20%)

Developed: High (<1%)

Developed: Low (5%)

Grassland (8%)

Wetlands (21%)

Open Water (2%)

Pasture/Hay (42%)

Catfish Creek Watershed Land Use

1. Enacts regulation

2. Determines correct water quality standards

3. Nothing

4. Bring more recreation to creek

Enacts r

egulatio

n

Determ

ines c

orrect

wat

..

Nothin

g

Bring m

ore re

creat

ion to

...

11%3%

11%

76%

1. Very frequent

2. Frequent

3. Not frequent

4. None or very little

Very fr

equent

Frequent

Not fre

quent

None or v

ery li

ttle

4%

48%

33%

15%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more info

YesNo

Need more

info

65%

24%

12%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Not sure

Yes No

Not sure

73%

24%

3%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more information

Yes No

Need more

info

rmatio

n

67%

19%14%

1. Very frequent

2. Frequent

3. Not frequent

4. None or very little

Very fr

equent

Frequent

Not fre

quent

None or v

ery li

ttle

0%

42%

58%

0%

1. Yes

2. No

YesNo

13%

88%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more info

YesNo

Need more

info

52%

41%

7%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Not sure

YesNo

Not sure

66%

24%

10%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more information

Yes No

Need more

info

rmatio

n

15%

62%

23%

1. Very frequent

2. Frequent

3. Not frequent

4. None or very little

Very fr

equent

Frequent

Not fre

quent

None or v

ery li

ttle

14%21%

64%

0%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more info

YesNo

Need more

info

74%

26%

0%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Not sure

Yes No

Not sure

70%

26%

4%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Need more information

Yes No

Need more

info

rmatio

n

53%

40%

7%

1. Yes

2. No

YesNo

3%

97%

What are the major natural resource concerns for this watershed beyond WQ impairment?

1. Yes

2. No

YesNo

6%

94%

1. Yes

2. No

3. Already adopted

YesNo

Already a

dopted

85%

15%

0%

1. Very Likely

2. Likely

3. Neutral

4. Not Very Likely

5. Not Likely

Very Li

kely

Likely

Neutral

Not Very

Likely

Not Lik

ely

74%

19%

3%0%

3%