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Results and Effectiveness of Watershed Protection Plans - Statewide

Anju Chalise

TCEQ Nonpoint Source Program

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• TCEQ Nonpoint Source (NPS) Team jointly administer the NPS Management Program with TSSWCB and administer half of the 319(h) grant program

• 319 provides funding to develop and implement NPS projects

Introduction

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319 Program Guidelines

• 2004 EPA revised 319 program guidance

• Includes concept of a Watershed Approach and nine key elements to be included in Watershed Protection Plans

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EPA Guidance On WPPs

EPA suggests there are two key steps to solve NPS problems:

• Development of a watershed based plan

• Actual Implementation of the plan

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Watershed Protection Plan

• Careful analysis of the sources of water problems

• Identify relative contributions to the problems, and alternatives to solve those problems

• Provide the best basis for sound decision-making and implementation that will actually solve those water problems

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Watershed Planning Steps

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• Need enough information to understand the problem and measures necessary to achieve goals

• Balanced approach between gathering information and beginning implementation

• Preliminary information and estimates may need to be modified over time

• Often will require a number of years of effective implementation for a project to achieve goals

Striking a Balance

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TCEQ Funded WPPs • Arroyo Colorado • Bastrop Bayou• Brady Creek• Caddo Lake• Cypress Creek• Dickinson Bayou• Halls Bayou-Westfield Estates• Hickory Creek• Lake Granbury• San Bernard River• Upper Cibolo Creek• Upper San Antonio River

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TCEQ WPPs

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TSSWCB Funded WPPs • Attoyac Bayou• Buck Creek• Cedar Bayou• Concho River• Geronimo Creek • Granger Lake• Lampasas River• Leon River• Pecos River• Plum Creek

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TSSCWB WPPs

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Progress in Improving Water Quality

Attain or maintain applicable water quality standards

Two primary ways of measuring improvement in water quality are:

• Reductions in pollutants loadings resulting from management measures implemented, estimated with the help of models or other calculations

• Water quality improvements measured by changes in pollutant concentrations before and after implementation of management measures

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Progress in Improving Water Quality

Other indicators of progress toward water quality improvements include land use or behavioral changes that are associated with reductions in loadings or pollutant concentrations in waterbodies.

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Anju ChaliseTCEQ Nonpoint Source Program

(512) 239-1529

achalise@tceq.state.tx.us

Questions