TR-515 Mission and Aransas Rivers TMDL I-Plan Implementation Final Report
Authors: Stephanie deVilleneuve
The Mission and Aransas rivers are coastal Texas water bodies that are influenced by seawater from Mission and Copano Bays. In 2004, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) classified the tidal segments of the Mission and Aransas Rivers as impaired due to elevated bacteria levels. In 2013, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and TMDL Implementation Plan (I-Plan) were developed to address bacteria sources within the watersheds and in 2016, the documents were accepted by the TCEQ commissioners. With the completion of the I-plan, maintaining stakeholder connections and drawing in new participants is crucial to ensuring the I-Plan successful implementation. The Texas Water Resources Institute secured the Coastal Management Program Cycle 22 funds to facilitate implementation of the management measures outlined in the I-Plan, engage local stakeholders, expand educational programs, and assess water quality progress with the goal of improving water quality in the Mission and Aransas Rivers to meet established water quality standards.