Counties: Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery,
San Jacinto, Walker, Waller
Parameter: Bacteria
Basin: San Jacinto River
Segment: 1002, 1003, 1004, 1004D, 1004E, 1008,
1008B, 1008H, 1009, 1009C, 1009D, 1009E, 1010, 1011
Background and
Goals
Bacteria levels are sometimes elevated in 14 segments in the
Houston area around Lake Houston in the Houston metropolitan area.
High concentrations of bacteria may pose a health risk to people
who swim or wade in them—activities called “contact
recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality;
the term refers to all recreation in which people come in direct
contact with the water.
The affected segments are Lake Houston (Segment 1002), East Fork
San Jacinto River (Segment 1003), West Fork San Jacinto River
(Segment 1004), Crystal Creek (Segment 1004D), Stewarts Creek
(Segment 1004E), Spring Creek (Segment 1008), Upper Panther Branch
(Segment 1008B), Willow Creek (Segment 1008H), Cypress Creek
(Segment 1009), Faulkey Gully (Segment 1009C), Spring Gully
(Segment 1009D), and Little Cypress Creek (Segment 1009E).
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”). The Houston-Galveston
Area Council 
is a
partner in the project.
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Public
Participation
Stakeholders are being informed about the Lake Houston TMDL
project through public meetings and through 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.
Meetings Summaries and Documents
The following documents are available in PDF. Help with PDF.
June 2008 Meetings
October/November 2007 Meetings
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Implementation
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 Buffalo and Whiteoak Bayous, Clear
Creek, the Houston Metropolitan Area, and this project.
Implementation Activities in the Lake Houston Area To Date
The following documents, unless otherwise noted, are available
in PDF. Help with PDF.
- Converting from Septic Systems
to Wastewater Collection Systems (July 2008)
$500,000 in Grant Funding to reduce anthropogenic sources of
bacteria in the Lake Houston watershed.
- IDDE Outfall Database - Database tool
available for IDDE (Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination).
- Developed by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)
and made available to stakeholders for use in mapping outfalls and
tracking illicit discharges. This program has been used by
communities in multiple states across the country. Posted with
permission from NEORSD.
- Find instructions at the following links:
-
Storm Water Workshop held in Conroe, TX - coordinated by Texas
State University (April 2008)
- A one-day event focused on storm water issues for communities
in TMDL watersheds, with or without a MS4 storm water permit.
-
Nature Fest at Jesse Jones Park - Precinct 4 Houston (March
2008)
- Over 1,200 members of the community attended Nature Fest, an
annual event held by Jesse Jones Park. Watershed models and water
quality literature were used to educate the public on the
importance of preventing bacteria from entering Spring Creek.
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Project Documents
The following documents are available in PDF. Help with PDF.
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For More Information
For information regarding the project, please contact Kerry
Niemann at 512-239-0483. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and
reference the Lake Houston TMDL in the subject line.
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