Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Texas and the Clean Rivers Program I’m presenting at a Stormwater Conference on a Nonpoint Source track. The work we do relates to stormwater and NPS. But it also relates to point sources. The program I am discussing today is responsible for the monitoring of streams, rivers, bays, estuaries, and other surface waters in Texas. I’ll be emphasizing the Clean Rivers Program, and touching on how it operates in the LRGV. Kyle Girten Texas Commission on Environmental Quality LRGV Water Quality Management and Planning Conference May 17, 2018

Monitoring Statewide routine monitoring Others Data objective: general purpose, WQ assessment, WQS development Coordinated, systematic, comparable Others Compliance monitoring Targeted monitoring Volunteer monitoring -SWQM data and assessment results provide a basis for effective policies that promote the protection, restoration, and wise use of surface water in Texas

Monitoring Program Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program (SWQM) established in 1967 Clean Rivers Program (CRP) established in 1991 Monitoring at ~1800 stations on a quarterly basis

Active monitoring stations This is the statewide network of active surface water quality monitoring stations—meaning that these sites have been monitored within the last several years. Many of these sites are monitored quarterly—or once every three months, which is the most common frequency for our routine monitoring program.

Ways to Get Data and Information https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality Surface Water Quality Monitoring Information System (SWQMIS) Tips: Need to know basin, segment ID, parameter of interest

Water Quality Parameters Field – DO, pH, specific conductance, temperature, transparency, salinity, flow Conventional – Nutrients, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sulfate, chlorophyll a Bacteria – E. coli, enterococcus Biological assemblages (nekton/benthics) Metals in water / sediment Organics in water / sediment A variety of water quality parameters are monitored at these stations. Metals and organics in water or sediment aren’t typical, routine parameters, but can be part of a routine event.

Routine Monitoring TCEQ TCEQ Regional Offices Clean Rivers Program Regional Office SWQM Clean Rivers Program Partner agencies But first, who conducts this morning? Routine surface water quality monitoring that will be utilized by the TCEQ for assessment and policy decisions is overseen by the TCEQ but has two effective branches. The first of which is not only overseen by TCEQ but is also within the organizational structure of TCEQ.

The TCEQ has 16 regional offices The TCEQ has 16 regional offices. These offices have a variety of duties in their areas—but most notable for our discussion is that most regions conduct routine surface water quality monitoring. So we are in the Harlingen Region.

Routine Monitoring Programs in Texas TCEQ TCEQ Regional Offices Regional Office SWQM Clean Rivers Program Partner agencies Next, and also under the oversight of TCEQ, is the Texas Clean Rivers Program. The Clean Rivers Program is coordinated at the statewide level by the TCEQ, and within the river and coastal basins by mostly river authorities.

Each Partner Agency may have one or more basins assigned to it based on jurisdiction and proximity. In Basins 20, 21, and 22, the monitoring is coordinated by a single river authority. In the case of the Rio Grande Basin, the Partner Agency is the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC). But how do we convince all these external organizations to do our statewide monitoring? How do we get everyone on board?

Clean Rivers Program www.texascleanrivers.org A partnership between the TCEQ, regional water authorities, and the public for: Coordination and quality assurance of surface water quality monitoring Water quality assessment Stakeholder participation Program Background: Partnership between the TCEQ and 15 regional water quality authorities (consisting of River Authorities, a Council of Governments, a Municipal Water District, and a federal Water Commission). We consider these regional water quality authorities our partners. They function to serve the needs of their regional area constituents as well as those of the state as a whole by bringing their own resources to support this program. Graphic—really helps to describe the flow of data and information. There are local partners on the ground—collecting water samples, making observations, and communicating with the public. This information is consolidated to the basin level and then provide to the TCEQ through CRP. www.texascleanrivers.org

Enabling Legislation The Clean Rivers Act In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Clean Rivers Act (Texas Water Code 26.0135) The Act outlines: Source of program funding Responsibilities of the TCEQ and the river authorities Timelines for assessment CRP Major Functions -What allows us to conduct this program is The Clean Rivers Act – which amended the Texas Water Code to include Chapter 26, Section 135. Rule = 30 TAC 220 Regional Assessments of Water Quality

CRP Funding Sources of funding: Overall budget Water rights Permitted discharges Overall budget $4.5 million per year TCEQ retains $250,000 per year for program administration -The source of CRP funding is from fees assessed to holders of water rights (or authorizations to divert surface water in Texas) and water treatment facilities that are permitted to discharge treated effluent into rivers in Texas. Program goal—no more than 10% of funds to be used on administration costs at TCEQ or at the partner agencies. And at least 50% of the program funds are to be used on monitoring. The remaining funds go to associated activities, like quality assurance, data management, and stakeholder outreach. ugra.org

CRP Partners River Authorities (12 of 15 partners) Public agencies established by the Texas legislature Tasked with a variety of tasks/duties (i.e. conserve, plan, distribute waters in their region) Other public entities Council of governments Municipal water district Federal agency Who are the CRP partners?

CRP Major Functions Monitor Water Quality Facilitate Coordination of Water Quality Activities Evaluate Water Quality Issues Engage Stakeholders The major functions of the program are formed around the process of investigating, evaluating, understanding, communicating, and acting on water quality issues.

Water Quality Data CRP collects over 60% of data used by TCEQ Rigorous quality assurance process Additional data provided using partner funds Coordinating resources to get more data Water Quality Data: The Clean Rivers Program partners collect over 60% of the water quality data used by the TCEQ to: - identify water quality issues and assess water bodies against water quality standards - set water quality standards - provide baseline data to support TMDL studies & Watershed Protection Plans - enhance science behind wastewater permitting decisions We can use this data for state policy decisions and we know the data is of known and documented quality because we have instituted a rigorous quality assurance process which involves many controls to ensure the quality of the data. And one of the ways we’re able to produce so much data, is that the CRP partners have also found innovative ways to get more water quality data with the same dollar. They have worked with local entities to bring in their water quality data under a TCEQ-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. This data is often provided free-of-charge. Participants that provide free data to the program in addition to that provided by the partner agencies, include: municipalities, counties, water districts, other river authorities, and the national park service.

CRP Major Functions Monitor Water Quality Facilitate Coordination of Water Quality Activities Evaluate Water Quality Issues Engage Stakeholders

Facilitate Coordination of Water Quality Activities Coordinate monitoring activities by basin Annual meeting in each basin of water quality monitoring entities to plan next year’s sampling Maintain and update the web-based monitoring schedule http://cms.lcra.org Address sampling priorities of the TCEQ and stakeholders Provide technical input on TCEQ water quality assessment and standards development In the spring of each year, monitoring entities from around the state attend meetings in their basins to coordinate surface water quality monitoring activities for the upcoming year—in order to reduce duplication of effort and ensure monitoring priorities are being met. This activity is conducted by the CRP basin partners who provide the forum, run the meeting, maps, and other meeting materials. Attendees include… This process maximizes resources by reducing duplication of effort, increasing sampling coverage, and considering priorities when selecting sampling sites and parameters. Examples of priorities that are considered are things like ample data to produce the Texas Integrated Report and particular parameters, like nutrients, for standards development. The CRP has been involved in numerous studies to evaluate laboratory analytical techniques as well as field sampling techniques. Development of new lab techniques, studies on the impact of bacteria holding time, and others

CRP Major Functions Monitor Water Quality Facilitate Coordination of Water Quality Activities Evaluate Water Quality Issues Engage Stakeholders

Evaluate Water Quality Issues Intensive study of water quality issues Explain water quality conditions Track water quality trends Investigate solutions Once we have collected all the data on water quality, we need to make sense of it. What does it mean when certain water quality constituents are not meeting TCEQ’s water quality criteria? Why is this occurring? So, one of the key functions of CRP is to help evaluate water quality issues and attempt to identify the causes. By conducting Intensive Study or by detailed statistical analysis, the Clean Rivers Program partners can better explain a water quality issue and that information can be used by different programs at TCEQ to determine appropriate actions that may be needed in the area. By conducting trend analyses on water quality parameters—the CRP partners can identify issues before water quality is impaired or evaluate impacts of water quality improvement project or land use changes. This information is communicated to stakeholders so that they are more fully informed and they can participate in setting priorities to either better define the problem or work together to find a solution to the problem.

CRP Major Functions Monitor Water Quality Facilitate Coordination of Water Quality Activities Evaluate Water Quality Issues Engage Stakeholders

Engage Stakeholders Periodic basin steering committee meetings Setting water quality priorities Bringing issues to the table Work to resolve water quality issues The glue that holds the Clean Rivers Program together and what has made it as successful as it is today is stakeholder involvement. The stakeholders play a crucial role in deciding where resources will be placed and which priorities are of the most importance. They bring issues to the table that may not have been previously identified as a priority and they play an active role in dealing with the water quality issues that arise in their communities. The Clean Rivers Program is here to bring those stakeholders together, share information, and investigate possible solutions. And these stakeholders can work resolve water quality issues. Where the CRP role of identifying and explaining water quality issues ends, the CRP partners and stakeholder groups can continue with other projects and other funding relating to water quality improvement plans (like TMDL or WPP). The core function of engaging stakeholders in CRP aids a variety of other programs and projects—since you already have a knowledge group in the watershed.

CRP in the Lower Rio Grande Valley The TCEQ partners with two different entities for CRP activities in the Rio Grande Basin and the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin. The International Boundary and Water Commission administers the program in the Rio Grande Basin and the Nueces River Authority administers the program in the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin. TCEQ has partnered with IBWC since 1998 to implement CRP. Subparticipants include: El Paso Community College, UT El Paso, Sul Ross State University, Midland College, UT Rio Grande Valley, Big Bend National Park, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, City of Laredo Health Department, City of Laredo Environmental Services. TCEQ has partnered with NRA since the Clean Rivers Program was established in 1991. Subparticipants include: Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District.

CRP in the Lower Rio Grande Valley The four county region of Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy spans two basins: the Rio Grande Basin and the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin. As you can see on this map, the peach color is the Rio Grande Basin and as you move towards the coast, the areal expanse of the Rio Grande Basin diminishes. Starr is mostly in the Rio Grande Basin. Hidalgo and Cameron are mostly and Willacy County is entirely in the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin and associated bays.

Monitoring in the Lower Rio Grande Valley These are the active stations in SWQMIS.

Monitoring in the Lower Rio Grande Valley On this map, each red dot represents a monitoring location. This includes monitoring conducted by the TCEQ Regional Offices, IBWC and partner organizations, and NRA. Two new stations– Hidalgo Main and Raymondville drain. These are two new stations being monitored as a result of discussions brought to the coordinated monitoring meeting in 2017.

CRP Assessments For assessments—IBWC and NRA CRP produces Basin Highlights Reports annually. These reports detail current water quality conditions, special projects, stakeholder outreach, and various updates throughout the basin. The Basin Summary Report covers much of the same information, but in addition, there’s significant data review and trend analysis conducted. Both NRA and IBWC are due to complete a Basin Summary Report this year and these should be published shortly.

Stakeholder Engagement IBWC: Basin Advisory Council IBWC Citizen’s Forum NRA: Steering Committee Stakeholder Newsletter Education and outreach IBWC and NRA provide opportunities for stakeholder input. The IBWC has a Citizen’s Forum which typically meetings concurrently with their Basin Advisory Council. NRA welcomes public involvement in their Steering Committee. NRA also provides quarterly newsletters on water quality activities to interested committee members. In addition to these forums both IBWC and NRA participate in a variety of education and outreach activities to informabout water quality and water quality management.

That’s how the Clean Rivers Program works in the Lower Rio Grande Valley—but each color on this map is a different CRP partner and each one has its own way of implementing the program.

Challenges and Successes Coordinating monitoring statewide Maintaining data comparability Ongoing partnership And with so many different partners and ways of implementing the program—it brings about unique challenges to administering this program statewide.

Coordinated Monitoring Schedule The first challenge, is coordinating monitoring statewide and also communicating those monitoring plans. The way CRP has addressed this challenge is with the Coordinated Monitoring Schedule. This site displays an interactive database that contains more than 1,800 sites monitored in Texas—searchable by basin, water body, or fiscal year and able to be edited at coordinated monitoring meetings—the CMS (as we call it) is crucial to successful coordination. Searchable by basin, segment, monitoring entity, and fiscal year (2003-2016)

Coordinated Monitoring Schedule Calendar of meetings Station Description Parameters Monitored Monitoring Entity On the inside of the CMS, there are numerous features—first, I’d like to point out our calendar of meetings. The calendar of meetings contains the details for Stakeholder meetings and coordinated monitoring meetings. Site Map Sampling Frequency

Maintaining Data Comparability Surface Water Quality Monitoring Procedures Volumes 1 and 2 Biennial Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Risk based and scheduled audits Annual Surface Water Quality Monitoring Workshop The second major challenge, is with the variety of partners and the importance of the data—how can we manage the data and ensure that they are comparable with one another?

Ongoing Partnership Partners as stakeholders in TCEQ processes: CRP Guidance updates Water Quality Standards Workgroup Assessment Guidance Workgroup Finally, even though we’ve developed solutions to so many logistical challenges in statewide water quality monitoring—our successes are not fruitful unless we are able to maintain the ongoing partnership between the TCEQ and the CRP partners. By participating in CRP, partner agencies take a seat at the table as stakeholders in TCEQ processes.

Ongoing Partnership TCEQ as partners in the basins: Coordinating and supporting special projects Quality assurance research and development TCEQ updates and outreach Equipment loan and repair In turn, the TCEQ acts as a partner in the respective basins by…

Ongoing Partnership The major successes of this program include: doubling the available water quality data for TCEQ water quality decision-making serving as a conduit for partners and participants to get involved in TCEQ water quality program development coordinating monitoring activities statewide developing a process for stakeholders and partners to get involved in water quality issues locally and at the state level This process provides the basis for many other programs to initiate projects and develop priorities with which to bring forward water quality improvements throughout the state. The Clean Rivers Program provides that foundation of information on which much of the decisions are made for water quality at the TCEQ.

Questions? Kyle Girten TCEQ—Monitoring and Assessment Section 512-239-0425 Kyle.girten@tceq.texas.gov