An Integrated Stream Classification System for the State of Texas Eric S. Hersh Term Project, CE394K.2 May 1, 2007

Environmental Flows Information System: Data Model Thematic Layers NHDPlus Water Quality Climatology Hydrology & Hydraulics Geomorphology & Physical Processes Biology

NRC “Physical Settings for Instream Flows” National Research Council Committee (2005). The Science of Instream Flows: A Review of the Texas Instream Flow Program. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.

NRC Qualitative Variables Water Quality Climatology Hydrology & Hydraulics Geomorphology & Physical Processes Biology Water temperature Mean annual precipitation Flow variability Slope Community stress Turbidity Flow pulses Soil texture Salinity Baseflow index Land use Longitudinal connectivity Channel substrate Channel mesohabitat (large woody debris)

CRWR Quantitative Variables Water Quality Climatology Hydrology & Hydraulics Geomorphology & Physical Processes Biology Water temperature Mean annual precipitation Mean annual streamflow Channel bed slope Georeferenced fish database Dissolved oxygen Mean annual temperature Mean annual velocity Geologic rock unit TCEQ TRACS SWQM pH Mean annual potential evapotranspiration Baseflow index (BFI) Soil texture (percent sand, silt, clay) USGS NAWQA Specific conductance Percent of zero flow days Individual researcher data Total suspended solids Flow variability

TCEQ Regulatory Activities and Compliance System: Surface Water Quality Monitoring 7.6 million values 733,000 sampling events 7,138 stations 1,072 parameters 1968 - 2006

SWQM: Top 15 Parameters by Result Prepared by Tyler Jantzen, CRWR

Charismatic Megafauna Carcharhinus leucas (Bull shark) Carcharhinus limbatus (Blacktip shark) Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator)

918 gages 730 > 1 year 558 > 10 yrs 427 > 20 yrs

USGS WaterWatch 22,380 gages Updated annually 30+ yrs of data

Future Work Testing of NRC regionalization Geologic integration Additional correlation and redundancy testing (geostatistics?) PET Flowline versus subbasin representation

Acknowledgements Tyler Jantzen, Ernest To, Clark Siler, and David Maidment, CRWR Adam Czekanski, EWRE Wendy Gordon, TCEQ

Questions?

References Kolbe, C.M. (2005). A Guide to Freshwater Ecology. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, Texas. National Research Council Committee (2005). The Science of Instream Flows: A Review of the Texas Instream Flow Program. Committee on Review of Methods for Establishing Instream Flows for Texas Rivers, National Research Council. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. Saraeva, E. (2006). Development of an Instream Flow-Based Extrapolation Procedure for the Nooksack Watershed. Dissertation, Utah State University. Advisor: T.B. Hardy.