| Counties: |
Fort Bend, Harris, Waller |
| Parameter: |
Bacteria |
| Basins: |
San Jacinto River |
| Segments: |
1016, 1006E, 1007C, 1007B, 1007R, 1007D, 1006D, 1016B, 1007E,
1016A, 1007K, 1016D, 1007I, 1016C, 1007Q, 1006J, 1006H, 1007G,
1007P, 1007F, 1006F, 1007O, 1007N, 1007L, 1007M, 1007H, 1006I |
Background and
Goals
Water quality testing found that bacteria levels are sometimes
elevated in five bayous in the Houston area — Brays Bayou,
Greens Bayou, Halls Bayou, Hunting Bayou, and Sims Bayou. The
bayous are subdivided into 27 segments in order to manage water
quality in the subwatersheds.
Bacteria from human and animal waste often indicate the presence
of disease-causing microorganisms that pose a threat to public
health. People who swim or wade in the bayous may be at risk.
Swimming and wading is called contact recreation in the state's
standards for water quality, referring to all recreation in which
people come in direct contact with the water.
The goal of this project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to
within acceptable risk levels for contact recreation by developing
total maximum daily loads. The TMDLs for this project are being
coordinated with other projects to reduce bacteria in Houston area
streams and the Galveston Bay system (see “Related
Links”).
 |
|
Watersheds
in Harris County
Map courtesy of
the Harris County Flood Control District
|
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Public
Participation
Project personnel are involving the public in project
development through public meetings and notices in print and
electronic media. The Houston-Galveston
Area Council (H-GAC) 
is coordinating public participation
activities for the project.
Meetings about TMDL projects are open to everyone.
Summaries of public meetings regarding this project are available on
H-GAC’s TMDL Meetings Web page.
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Bacteria
Implementation Group
The TCEQ is working with the Bacteria
Implementation Group (BIG) of the H-GAC to develop a plan to reduce
bacteria concentrations in 12 watersheds in the Houston area,
including the projects for Clear Creek, Lake Houston, Buffalo and
Whiteoak Bayous, and the this project.
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Project Documents
The following documents are available in PDF. Help with PDF.
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For More Information
For additional information regarding public participation
opportunities, contact Earlene Lambeth at 512/239-3129. For
technical information about this project, contact Ron Stein at
512/239-4507. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and
reference the Houston Metro TMDL Project in the subject line.
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