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

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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 918 gages
730 > 1 year
558 > 10 yrs
427 > 20 yrs

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

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

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

19. Questions?

20. 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.