Online Resources
Overview
TCEQ Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program
A TMDL is a water resource management plan that targets the worst pollutants in a particular stream or body of water. The TMDL Program works to improve water quality in impaired or threatened water bodies in Texas. The program is authorized by and created to fulfill the requirements of Section 303 (d) of the federal Clean Water Act.
The goal of the a TMDL is to restore the full use of a water body that has limited quality in relation to one or more of its uses. The TMDL defines and environmental target and, based on that target, the state develops an implenentation plan to mitigate anthropogenic (human-caused) sources of pollution within the watershed and restore full use of the water body.
How Does the Public Participate?
Texas Stream Team volunteers and partners and the general public are encouraged to attend TMDL meetings and make local stakeholders aware of the resources that Texas Stream Team can bring to the table. To find out more about TMDL project meetings in your area, check the TCEQ website at
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/water/tmdl/tmdlcalendar.html
Priorities For Texas Stream Team Support of TMDLs:
Texas Stream Team has responded to TCEQ's request to support the outreach and education activities in four TMDL project areas:
Watershed Protection Plans
What is a Watershed Protection Plan?
A Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) is a coordinated framework for implementing prioritized and integrated water quality protection and restoration strategies driven by environmental objectives. Through the WPP process, stakeholders holistically address all of the sources and causes of impairments and threats to both surface and ground water resources within a watershed. Developed and implemented through diverse, well integrated partnerships, a WPP assures the long-term health of the watershed with strategies for protecting unimpaired waters and restoring impaired waters.
Watershed Protection Plans have a variety of ingredients and can take many forms. WPPs are consistent with guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2003.
For more information about Watershed Protection Plans visit the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board at http://www.tsswcb.state.tx.us/en/wpp.
B.) Estimate of the load reductions expected for the management measures
C.) Description of management measures that will need to be implemented to achieve the load reductions
D.) Estimate of technical and financial assistance needed to implement this plan
E.) Information/education component that will be used to enhance public understanding of the plan
F.) Schedule for implementing management measures
G.) Description of interim, measurable milestones for determining whether management measures are being implemented
H.) Set of criteria that can be used to determine whether load reductions are being achieved
I.) Monitoring component to evaluate effectiveness of implementation measured against the criteria established
EPA's Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters:
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