2022 Technical Reports

Authors: Stephanie deVilleneuve, Allen Berthold, Luna Yang, David Cowan, and Galen Roberts

Routine water quality monitoring indicates Bois d’Arc Creek and Honey Grove Creek do not meet water quality standards for recreation because of elevated levels of bacteria. Elevated nutrients (nitrate, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a) are also higher than normal when compared to similar water bodies. With the water quality impairments comes a need to plan and implement actions that restore water quality and ensure safe and healthy water for stakeholders. To meet this need, an assessment and planning project was undertaken to develop the Bois d’Arc Lake Watershed Protection Plan.

Authors: Stephanie deVilleneuve, Luna Yang, Jacqueline Rambo, Michael Schramm, and Allen Berthold

Middle Yegua Creek, Davidson Creek, and Deer Creek have all been identified to be impaired for elevated concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the 2020 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality for the Clean Water Act Sections 305(b) and 303(d). Davidson Creek was also listed in the 2020 Texas Integrated Report as impaired for depressed dissolved oxygen. Elevated levels of E. coli have been identified in the Middle Yegua Creek watershed since as early as 2010. For the Davidson Creek watershed, elevated bacteria levels were first identified in 2002, and depressed dissolved oxygen was first identified in 2010. For the Deer Creek watershed, the bacteria impairment was first identified in 2006. This characterization addresses the E. coli impairments in the Middle Yegua Creek, Davidson Creek, and Deer Creek watersheds with supplementary water quality monitoring and a review of the current demographic, climatic, physical, and hydrological conditions of the watersheds.

Authors: Duncan Kikoyo, Stephanie DeVilleneuve, Michael Schramm, and Lucas Gregory

Texas Water Resources Institute, in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, measured continuous streamflow from March 2020 to March 2021 and collected discrete streamflow and water quality data from January 2020 to March 2022 in the Thompsons Creek watershed. The project’s goal was to collect data and information vital for improving the understanding the hydrology (streamflow and water quality) of Thompsons Creek and its tributaries, and identifying the presence or absence of impairments.
Continuous flow data measurements were made at surface water quality monitoring stations 16396 and 16397 on Thompsons Creek and station 16882 on Still Creek. Measured continuous data was used to develop discharge-stage rating relationships, which were then used to develop long-term daily streamflow data at the three stations. The derived long-term daily streamflow data was then used for estimation of flows at three additional unmonitored stations (17378 on Still Creek and 17597 and 17598 on Cottonwood Branch) using the drainage-area ratio method. Discrete streamflow and water quality parameters (temperature, transparency, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and E. coli loads) were also measured at the above six stations monthly.
This report describes the study area, sample collection, and processing methods for streamflow and water quality data from six sites located in the Thompsons Creek watershed. The data and methods presented in this report support analyses of the relations among water quality impairment status and causes and basin hydrology in the watershed.

Authors: Luna Yang, Anna Gitter, Shubham Jain, and Lucas Gregory

Angelina River above Sam Rayburn Reservoir and its tributaries, including East Fork Angelina River, Mud Creek, and West Mud Creek, are identified as impaired for elevated concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the 2020 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality for the Clean Water Act Sections 305(b) and 303(d). In addition, in the 2018 Texas Integrated Report-Potential Sources of Impairments and Concerns, Angelina River above Sam Rayburn Reservoir is listed with concerns for total phosphorus and West Mud Creek for ammonia and nitrate. Angelina River above Sam Rayburn Reservoir has been listed as impaired for elevated levels of bacteria since as early as 2000. East Fork Angelina River was first listed for bacteria impairment in 2002. For Mud Creek and West Mud Creek, bacteria impairment has been recognized since 2010. This characterization report assesses the physiographic, climatic, demographic, and hydrologic conditions of the entire area drained by the above-mentioned river and creeks.
Activities for the current project include water quality monitoring, trainings, and meeting with soil and water conservation districts in each watershed to discuss the goals and objectives of addressing the bacteria impairments. Educational programs were delivered to stakeholders to inform them of watershed management and to increase their understanding of what factors contribute to bacteria impairments. Existing data for water quality parameters, flow, livestock, wildlife, stormwater permits, and number of on-site sewage facilities have been analyzed to develop a better understanding of potential causes and sources of bacteria pollution.

Authors: Stephanie deVilleneuve

Middle Yegua Creek, Davidson Creek, and Deer Creek are all located in the southern portion of the Brazos River Basin in separate watersheds. Middle Yegua Creek begins at the confluence with East Yegua and Yegua creeks in Lee County and flows approximately 62 miles to the Lee County/Williamson County line. Middle Yegua Creek drains an area of approximately 440 square miles in Lee, Bastrop, Williamson, and Milam counties. Davidson Creek is an intermittent stream with perennial pools that flows approximately 59 miles from the confluence of Yegua Creek to just over 1 mile above CR 322 in Milam County. Davidson Creek drains an area of approximately 218 square miles in Burleson and Milam counties. Deer Creek is a perennial stream that begins at the confluence of the Brazos River upstream and flows approximately 11 miles to the confluence of Dog Branch northwest of Lott. Deer Creek drains an area of approximately 115 square miles in Falls, McLennan, and Bell counties. Each of the watersheds was evaluated separately throughout the project to reflect the individual characteristics and water quality issues of the waterbodies.

Authors: Lucas Gregory, Clare Escamilla, and Ennis Rios

This document presents the strategies developed by the San Fernando and Petronila creeks watersheds stakeholders to restore and protect water quality in the creeks and in Baffin Bay, into which they ultimately flow. Stakeholders dedicated considerable time and effort discussing the watersheds, influences on water quality, and potential methods to address water quality concerns during the process to select appropriate strategies to improve water quality.

Authors: Lucas Gregory, Brian Hux, Terry J. Gentry, Anna Gitter, Carlos Monserrat, and Kristina D. Mena

The 2020 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality identified 338 waterbodies as being impaired due to excessive bacteria in Texas. To identify bacterial sources and help address these impairments, Texas established the Bacterial Source Tracking (BST) Program in 2006. To support the maintenance, expansion, and use of the Texas BST Library and other BST tools, the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health El Paso Campus Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (UTH SPH), and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (SCSC) collaborated with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to: continue personnel support and operation and maintenance of analytical infrastructure at public BST laboratories; continue delivery of information and materials that give an overview of BST activities in Texas to date and describe the use, capabilities, and applicability of BST and the services provided by the State-supported analytical labs to local, state, and national stakeholder audiences; expand the Texas Escherichia coli (E. coli) BST Library through known source sample collection in the Leon River watersheds; support BST efforts in the Leon River watersheds; evaluate and refine the Texas E. coli BST Library by assessing geographic and temporal stability, composition, average rates of correct classification, diversity of source isolates of the updated library, and working to develop/refine source-specific bacteria markers for library independent BST; provide statistical characterization of the Texas E. coli BST Library and integration of BST results and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to evaluate the human health significance; and provide outreach regarding.