Copano Bay: A TMDL Project for Bacteria in Oyster-Harvesting Waters

Watershed Counties: Aransas, Refugio, and San Patricio
Parameter: Bacteria in Oyster Waters
River Basin: Bays and Estuaries, San Antonio-Nueces Coastal Basin
Segment: 2472, 2001, 2003d

• Project Overview (PDF. Help with PDF.)
• Background and Goals
• Public Paticipation
• Project Documents
• For More Information

Background and Goals

Data assessed in 2002 showed that Copano Bay was not suitable for harvesting oysters because of elevated bacteria concentrations. The use of waters for oyster harvesting, called the "oyster waters use" in the state's surface water quality standards, is the most commonly impaired use among Texas bay and gulf waters.

In addition, the TCEQ determined in 2004 that the tidal segments of the Mission and Aransas Rivers may not be safe for swimming and other forms of contact recreation because of elevated concentrations of enterococci bacteria.

Bacteria from human and animal waste may indicate the presence of disease-causing microorganisms that pose a threat to public health. Bacteria from the water can contaminate oysters and other shellfish, making them unsafe to eat, especially since some shellfish are often eaten raw. It can also pose a threat to people who swim or engage in other forms of contact recreation in affected water bodies.

The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to levels that make it safe to harvest and eat shellfish from the bay and engage in contact recreation in the tidal segments of the Mission and Aransas Rivers.

See the Texas Water Resources Institute Web site for the Copano Bay Water Quality Education Project, which provides educational programs and demonstrations for land and livestock owners. The programs and demonstrations will increase awareness of water quality issues and best management practices (BMPs) that owners can implement to decrease or prevent bacteria from entering waterways.

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Public Participation

Project staff are informing the public about this project through a series of public meetings. The meetings are open to everyone.

Scheduled Meetings

No meetings are currently scheduled.

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Meeting Summaries and Presentations

Meeting summaries and presentations are in PDF. (Help with PDF.)

• December 2007
• • Meeting Summary
  • Presentation: Recommendations from the Joint Task Force on Bacteria TMDLs
  • Presentation: The Mission and Aransas Rivers and Copano Bay TMDL
• June 2006
• • Meeting Summary (Revised 9/11/06)
  • Presentation: Introduction to Microorganisms
  • Presentation: Nueces River Authority Proposed Copano Bay TMDL Monitoring
  • Presentation: Copano Bay Watershed Historical Data Review
  • Presentation: Copano Bay Watershed Historical Data Review Part 2
  • Presentation: Overview of the Implementation Plan Process for Copano Bay TMDL
• April 2006
• • Meeting Summary
  • Presentation: Bacteria Loadings Watershed Model in Copano/Port/Mission Bay
  • Presentation: Bacteria Source Tracking in Copano Bay Watershed
• February 2006
• • Meeting Summary
  • Presentation: Bacteria Loadings Watershed Model in Copano/Port/Mission Bay (Note: This presentation was updated on 5/19/2006.)
• November 2005
• • Meeting Summary
  • Presentation: Developing and Implementing Total Maximum Daily Loads
  • Presentation: Bacteria Source Tracking in Copano Bay
  • Presentation: Bacteria Loadings Watershed Model in Copano/Port/Mission Bay (Note: This presentation was updated on 5/19/2006.)

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Project Documents

Project documents are in PDF. (Help with PDF.)

• Bacteria Source Tracking in Copano Bay: Phase II Final Report

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For More Information

For additional information regarding this project, please contact Ward Ling at 512/239-6238. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and reference the Copano Bay project in the title.

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