VOICE OF THE
SAN BERNARD
July 2016
OUR WATER
QUALITY
An overview of the challenges
facing the San Bernard
PROGRESS
OF THE
PLAN
Progress and resources for
implementing the Watershed
Protection Plan
GETTING
INVOLVED
A resident's guide toresources
and upcoming events
A newsletter of the San Bernard River Watershed Protection Plan
C O N T E N T S
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- Introduction
- How's the Water?
- A Plan for the River
- Resources
- Upcoming Events
Funding for the development and facilitation of this
watershed protection plan project is made available
through a Clean Water Act 604(b) grant from the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Introduction
start from meager beginnings. Rain falls,
puddles accumulate, trickles join, and water flows. Watersheds drain
immense landscapes into major water bodies, but in the end they are
really just a collection of individual rain drops and time.
Mighty rivers
Community projects are much the same. There are large visible efforts
and smaller unseen contributions, but a successful project is made
through the collection of individual efforts and time. The end result, like a
river, is greater than the sum of its parts. This newsletter is an update on the efforts made by local and regional
partners to improve the water quality in the San Bernard River as part of
the San Bernard River Watershed Protection Plan. Over the past several
years, local residents, governments, businesses, agricultural producers,
and community groups have collaborated on a voluntary approach to
improve their community's water resources. Effort by effort, drop by drop,
we're making progress. Photo courtesy of Bert Smith
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How's the Water?
is the measure of water's suitability for
specific uses, such as safe recreation and supporting aquatic life.
Pollutants negatively impact water quality, and the State of Texas sets
water quality standards for these pollutants based on their impact on the
water body's uses.
Water Quality
Fecal Bacteria
E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria indicate the
presence of fecal waste in the water. People who
swim in contaminated waters can become ill. The
San Bernard River does not meet state water
quality standards for fecal bacteria. Dissolved Oxygen
When dissolved oxygen levels in a waterway dip
too low, fish and other organisms cannot survive.
This impacts the ecosystem and our recreation
economy. Depressed levels of dissolved
oxygen are an issue for the river.
In the case of the San Bernard, high levels of some pollutants have
impaired the recreation and aquatic life uses of the river. The primary
purpose of the watershed protection efforts for the San Bernard is to
improve and maintain the river's ability to support these uses.
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How's the Water?
Causes and Sources
Bacteria from fecal waste enters the San Bernard River from many sources,
including wastewater from failing septic systems and sanitary sewer lines, animal
waste from pets and livestock, and contributions from wildlife. Low Dissolved Oxygen can be caused by a mix of factors, including natural (high
temperatures, low flows, natural decomposition) and related to human activity
(excess fertilizer and wastes leading to algal blooms). The watershed protection plan
does not specifically target low dissolved oxygen, but many of the solutions for
bacteria sources also benefit this issue. Current Status
Every year, the Clean Rivers Program assesses the water quality progress in the
river. The results are summarized below. The numbers reflect the percent of the
watershed impacted by a pollutant. Red indicates a water quality issue that is
increasing, while blue indicates improvement. In general, the river continues to
have ongoing water quality challenges that may be impacted by new development. More detail is available for the upper watershed here, and the lower portion here.
More information on specific sites can be found at:
www.h­gac.com /go/WRIM
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A Plan for the River
The Challenge
The water quality issues facing the San Bernard
River led to the development of a watershed
protection plan by local stakeholders. Watershed protection plans are collaborative
efforts that identify causes and sources of
pollution for a waterway, and seek to address
them with voluntary solutions identified by local
stakeholders. They serve as a road map to help
local partners navigate toward coordinated
success. The Plan
The San Bernard Watershed Protection Plan
recommends both structural solutions and
education and outreach. Because the sources
of bacteria and other pollutants are diverse, the
recommended solutions are equally
comprehensive in scope. Examples of
recommended efforts include voluntary land
management projects with agricultural
producers, pet waste management, promoting
low impact development, and protecting river
corridors. For more information on the Plan,
visit www.h­gac.com/go/sanbernard. ­ 4 ­
A Plan for the River
Moving Forward
Local partners have been active in implementing solutions in the
watershed. Community groups like the Friends of the River San Bernard
have provided outreach to residents. Counties have continued to enforce
environmental regulations and permit septic and aerobic systems.
Landowners have worked with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to improve agricultural
lands and address shared problems like feral hogs. Cities have continued
to address wastewater operations to reduce sewer overflows. Residents
have attended educational events and taken responsibility for their pets'
waste. H­GAC continues to seek additional funding and resources to help
local partners' efforts.
Staying Current
The watershed plan is not intended to be set in stone, but to be a living
document that improves over time. Stakeholders are currently seeking
TCEQ approval on a revised version that takes into account several
rounds of stakeholder feedback. For more info, visit the website at www.h­
gac.com/go/sanbernard.
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Resources for Residents
Acting Locally
Projects like the San Bernard Watershed Protection Plan only succeed
when everyone is involved and engaged. While some of the solutions
identified by the plan are large­scale projects, there are many opportunities
for individual residents to make a difference. There are many financial and
technical resources available to assist in meeting these goals. AgriLife Feral Hog Resources
Feral hogs can be potent adversaries for
landowners and can impact water
quality. AgriLife Extension has a "Coping with
Feral Hogs" website that provides information,
technical resources, and links to services to help
combat this invasive pest. (feralhogs.tamu.edu)
Riparian Buffer Planning Tool
H­GAC's new online tool helps landowners
identify areas where conservation easements or
other land management techniques may be
useful in protecting areas adjacent to waterways.
Landowners can design buffer projects, calculate
costs and benefits, and get more information
about incentives and contacts
(www.h­gac.com/go/riparian). ­ 6 ­
Resources for Residents
Landowner/Producer Assistance
A variety of programs are available through the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
(www.tsswcb.texas.gov), the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service
(www.nrcs.usda.gov/), and your local Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service
(http://counties.agrilife.org/) that provide financial
incentives and technical assistance to help
improve agricultural operations and protect water
quality. Some of the areas covered include:
Water Quality Management Plans (www.tsswcb.texas.gov/en/wqmp)
Online educational materials and training courses
(agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/browse/featured­solutions/#courses)
Financial incentive programs for agricultural lands and habitat
(www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/)
Conservation technical assistance programs
(www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/)
We can put you in touch with the right person to speak to at these agencies
and others. Contact us at 713­499­6653 or justin.bower@h­gac.com.
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Upcoming Events
There are many opportunities to take part in activities and events
that benefit the watershed. Here are just a few going on this summer
in the area:
July 16 ­ Septic System/OSSF Visual Inspection for Homeowners ­
Faiilng OSSFs can pollute water and need costly repairs. This free
program will teach homeowners and real estate inspectors the basics
of OSSF/septic system inspection and proper operation. 9AM­4PM at
AgriLife Extension Offices, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton. Contact
paniz.miesen@h­gac.com with questions. July 23 ­ Growing Green­Financial Resources for Agricultural
Producers ­ This free program will allow agricultural producers and
landowners to meet face to face with representatives from agricultural
agencies that have financial incentives and technical resources to help
improve operations and protect water quality. 9AM­12PM at AgriLife
Extension Offices, 21017 County Road 171, Angleton.
TBD ­ Annual River Clean Up ­ Watch the Friends of the River Web
Page for more details on this event, coming this fall.
www.sanbernardriver.com/ ­ 8 ­