Counties: Cass,
Harrison, Marion, Morris, Upshur
Parameter: Dissolved oxygen
Basin: Cypress Creek
Segment: 0403
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Lake O’ the Pines
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Background and Goals
Lake O’ the Pines and Big Cypress Creek (its primary
tributary) are located in the Cypress Creek Basin. Lake O’ the
Pines provides water for eight cities and towns, numerous rural
water districts, and several steel manufacturers and electricity
generators. The lake is an important resource to the timber
industry and to agricultural enterprises such as the poultry
industry, dairies, and cattle operations, and for irrigation.
Boating and fishing for trophy bass, catfish, and crappie lure
large numbers of recreational users to the watershed each year.
In 1998, water quality testing showed that dissolved oxygen
concentrations in the Lake O’ the Pines are not optimal for
the support of fish and other aquatic life. Oxygen, which dissolves
in water, is essential for the survival of aquatic life. While the
amount of dissolved oxygen in water fluctuates naturally, various
human activities can cause unusually or chronically low
dissolved-oxygen levels which may harm fish and other aquatic
organisms.
The TMDL project will evaluate the effects of low dissolved
oxygen on aquatic life and determine the actions necessary to
improve water quality in the lake.
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TMDL and I-Plan for Lake O’
the Pines
Adopted TMDL for Dissolved Oxygen
The TMDL for Lake O’ the Pines was adopted by the
commission on April 12, 2006, and approved by the Texas State Soil
and Water Conservation Board on March 23, 2006. The EPA approved
the TMDL on June 7, 2006, at which time the TMDL became part of the
state's Water Quality Management Plan.
Approved I-Plan
On July 9, 2008, the commission approved the I-Plan for Lake
O’ the Pines.
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Public
Participation
The TMDL Program is working with an existing stakeholder forum
to involve area stakeholders in the TMDL project for the Lake
O’ the Pines. The steering committee of the local Clean Rivers
Program partner, the Northeast
Texas Municipal Water District,
meets
regularly to discuss water issues in the Cypress Creek Basin,
including TMDL progress. The steering committee is made up of
representatives from state and federal agencies, cities,
industries, citizen groups, local governments, universities, water
districts, agriculture groups, and other water user groups.
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For More Information
For additional information regarding this project, please
contact Arthur Talley at 512/239-4546. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and
reference the Lake O’ the Pines project in the subject
line.
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