Upper Oyster Creek: A TMDL Project for Bacteria and Dissolved Oxygen

Related Links:

TMDLs: Improving Water Quality

Upper Oyster Creek TMDL Watershed Steering Committee

Counties: Fort Bend, Chambers
Parameters: Bacteria, dissolved oxygen
River Basin: Brazos River
Segment: 1245

Upper Oyster Creek

• Project Overview
  (PDF. Help with PDF)
• Background and Goals
• Proposed and Adopted TMDLs
• Public Participation
• Project Documents
• For More Information

Background and Goals

Upper Oyster Creek is located within the Brazos River Basin, immediately southwest of Houston in northern Fort Bend County. Segment 1245, though named Upper Oyster Creek, also includes parts of Jones Creek, Oyster Creek, Flat Bank Creek, a diversion canal, and Steep Bank Creek. Upper Oyster Creek has been highly modified, and serves as a portion of a water conveyance system for the Gulf Coast Water Authority.

Water quality testing found that bacteria levels in Upper Oyster Creek may pose a health risk for swimmers. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations in some areas of the creek indicate that conditions are not optimal for aquatic life.

The TMDL Program is working with the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research and area stakeholders to develop a plan to improve the water quality in the creek. The goal of the project is to reduce bacteria concentrations to within acceptable risk levels for swimmers, and improve conditions necessary to support a healthy aquatic community.

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Proposed TMDL for Dissolved Oxygen

The TMDL for dissolved oxygen proposed for adoption in the spring of 2008 is undergoing additional modeling and will focus on a more limited portion of the segment. When completed, a new draft will be posted here and public comments will be solicited.

Adopted TMDL for Bacteria

The commission adopted a TMDL for bacteria on August 8, 2007. The EPA approved it on September 28, 2007, at which time it became part of the state's Water Quality Management Plan.

• One TMDL for Bacteria in Upper Oyster Creek, Segment 1245
  (PDF. Help with PDF.)
• Response to Public Comment (PDF. Help with PDF.)

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Public Meetings and Participation

An advisory group has been established advise the TCEQ on this project. Advisory group meetings are open to all. Find out more about meetings and membership of the advisory group.

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Project Documents

The following documents are available as PDF files. (Help with PDF.)

Dissolved Oxygen

• Addendum to Upper Oyster Creek Dissolved Oxygen TMDL Technical Support Document (Posted October 14, 2008)
• Upper Oyster Creek Dissolved Oxygen TMDL Technical Support Document
• Upper Oyster Creek Dissolved Oxygen Assessment (Updated version posted April 6, 2007)

Bacteria

• Technical Support Document: Upper Oyster Creek Bacteria TMDL
  • Report
  • Appendix A: Fecal Coliform and E. coli Data
  • Appendix B: Photographs of Upper Oyster Creek BST Stations
  • Appendix C: Ribotyping Protocol
  • Appendix D: Fecal Sampling Collection Summary Table
  • Appendix E: BST E. coli Quantification Data
  • Appendix F: Ribotyping Results for E. coli
  • Appendix G: Detailed E. coli Source Characterization by Station
  • Appendix H: Model Predicted Streamflow and Measured E. coli Data Used in Developing Load Duration Curves
• Final Monitoring Report for Bacterial Source Tracking
• • Report
  • Figures 1 and 2
  • Figures 2-1 and 3-2
  • Appendix A: Historical E. coli
  • Appendix B: Ribotyping Protocol
  • Appendix C: Fecal Sampling
  • Appendix D: E. coli Quantification Data
  • Appendix E: Ribotyping Results for E. coli

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For More Information

For additional information regarding this project, please contact Jason Leifester at 512/239-6457. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and reference the Oyster Creek project in the title.

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