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Orange County
BACKGROUND AND GOALS
Adams Bayou and Cow Bayou are located in southeast Texas. Their combined watersheds cover almost 250 square miles in the coastal area of the Sabine River Basin. The water flow in the bayous is intermittent, and periods of no flow are very common.
Water quality testing found that bacteria levels in the bayous and their tributaries may pose a health risk for swimmers. Low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in some areas of the creek indicate that conditions are not optimal for aquatic life.
The goals of the project are to:
- reduce bacteria levels in the bayous to ensure that recreational use is safe, and
- maintain concentrations of dissolved oxygen and pH in the bayous at levels that will sustain aquatic life.
The TCEQ is working with the Sabine River Authority to determine the measures necessary to improve water quality in the project watersheds.
Texas Stream Team staff and volunteers will provide significant resources to implement water quality monitoring, track program accomplishments, and conduct public education and outreach activities. Using the expertise of staff and volunteers, Texas Stream Team will play a substantive role in helping to make this project successful.
TEXAS STREAM TEAM ACTIVITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY
In October 2007, Texas Watch held a water quality monitoring training. The indoor portion of the training was held at the Shangri La Education Center and the afternoon portion was held at
14 Orange environmental studies high school students were trained to monitor for E. coli in November in
In February 2008, Texas Stream Team will host a water quality training at the West Orange Community Center for Lamar University students, local teachers, and concerned community members.
Thanks to Shangri La (http://www.shangrilagardens.org/) and the City of West Orange for sponsoring activities in the watershed including water quality monitoring trainings and the Fall 2007 Regional Meeting. If you or your organization would like to sponsor future Texas Stream Team activities in Orange County, please contact us.
Local community members, students and teachers, and community service and environmental organizations are encouraged to begin water quality monitoring in Orange County. Please email hm1079@txstate.edu if you would like to participate in a Texas Stream Team training in the Orange County area.
PUBLIC 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.TMDLS
The commission adopted these TMDLs on June 13, 2007. The EPA approved the TMDLs on August 28, 2007, at which time they became part of the state's Water Quality Management Plan.
- Seventeen Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH in Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou, and Their Tributaries, Segments 0508, 0508A, 0508B, 0508C, 0511, 0511A, 0511B, 0511C, and 0511E. (Help with PDF.)
- Response to Public Comment on the TMDLs for Adams and Cow Bayous and Tributaries
PROJECT DOCUMENTS
Project documents are available as PDF files. (Help with PDF.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For information about the advisory committee, please call Earlene Lambeth at 512/239-3129. For technical information regarding the project, please call Ward Ling at 512/239-6238. Or e-mail us at tmdl@tceq.state.tx.us, and reference the Orange County project in the subject line.
To read Ward Ling's of TCEQ informative article on Orange County TMDL, click here