The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board will hold a meeting from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm on June 26, 2008 at the Carlos Truan Natural Resources Center, Room 1003 on the Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi campus located at 6300 Ocean Drive (west end of the campus) to update the public on the on-going work to improve water quality in Oso Creek and Oso Bay in Nueces County. The goal of these projects is to restore the water quality for contact recreation.

The TCEQ initiated the project for Oso Bay and Oso Creek in September 2004. In March 2006, the TCEQ separated the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads for the Bay and the creek, with the advice and consent of a stakeholder advisory group. The goal of a TMDL is to determine the amount (concentration or load) of a pollutant that a body of water can receive and still support its beneficial uses. As required by §303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act. The commission adopted the Oso Bay TMDL on August 22, 2007 and EPA approval is pending.

At the present time, additional studies of bacteria sources and quantities are underway in the Oso Creek watershed. TMDL development for the creek will proceed, in coordination with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, as those studies provide sufficient information. The agenda for the meeting includes presentations on the various studies. The public is encouraged to come and participate in this process.

If you have not been able to attend the previous meetings, summaries, presentations, technical reports and a copy of the TMDL document for the Bay can be found at the TCEQs Web site at: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/67-osobaybacteria.html

Your participation is very important and will ensure local perspectives are considered while helping you gain insight to the nature of water quality issues and solutions planned for your area.