1. Recreational Uses & Criteria Chapter 307.7

2. 2000 TSWQS Changed the indicator bacteria from fecal coliform to E. coli in freshwater and Enterococci in saltwater.Changed the indicator bacteria from fecal coliform to E. coli in freshwater and Enterococci in saltwater. Fecal coliformFecal coliform Alternative instream indicatorAlternative instream indicator Oyster watersOyster waters Uses & criteriaUses & criteria Swimming advisory programsSwimming advisory programs

3. Contact Recreation (2000 TSWQS) Recreational activities involving a significant risk of ingestion of waterRecreational activities involving a significant risk of ingestion of water wading by childrenwading by children swimmingswimming water skiingwater skiing divingdiving surfingsurfing Risk levelsRisk levels Freshwater: 8 illnesses per 1000 swimmersFreshwater: 8 illnesses per 1000 swimmers Saltwater: 19 illnesses per 1000 swimmersSaltwater: 19 illnesses per 1000 swimmers Geometric meansGeometric means Freshwater (E. coli): 126 per 100 mlFreshwater (E. coli): 126 per 100 ml Saltwater (Enterococci): 35 per 100 mlSaltwater (Enterococci): 35 per 100 ml Single sample numberSingle sample number Freshwater: 394 per 100 ml (moderate use)Freshwater: 394 per 100 ml (moderate use) Saltwater: 89 per 100 ml (designated bathing beach)Saltwater: 89 per 100 ml (designated bathing beach)

4. Noncontact Recreation (2000 TSWQS) Aquatic recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestionAquatic recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestion fishingfishing commercial and recreational boatingcommercial and recreational boating limited body contact incidental to shoreline activity.limited body contact incidental to shoreline activity. Risk levelsRisk levels Freshwater: 14 illnesses per 1000 swimmersFreshwater: 14 illnesses per 1000 swimmers Saltwater: 27 illnesses per 1000 swimmersSaltwater: 27 illnesses per 1000 swimmers Geometric meansGeometric means Freshwater (E. coli): 605 per 100 mlFreshwater (E. coli): 605 per 100 ml Saltwater (Enterococci): 168 per 100 mlSaltwater (Enterococci): 168 per 100 ml

5. 2000 TSWQS Uses & Criteria Unclassified water bodiesUnclassified water bodies Presumed contact recreation usePresumed contact recreation use Shift in EPA regulation to require UAAs for uses less than primary contact recreationShift in EPA regulation to require UAAs for uses less than primary contact recreation Public concern to protect for primary contact recreationPublic concern to protect for primary contact recreation 1986 lawsuit against EPA on 1984 TSWQS1986 lawsuit against EPA on 1984 TSWQS Complaint: Some of the water bodies with relatively low standards for recreational use were not addressed by an appropriate UAA.Complaint: Some of the water bodies with relatively low standards for recreational use were not addressed by an appropriate UAA. 1988 TSWQS revisions1988 TSWQS revisions Applied fecal coliform criteria for contact recreation to unclassified waters.Applied fecal coliform criteria for contact recreation to unclassified waters. Classified water bodies (Appendix A)Classified water bodies (Appendix A) 8 segments – noncontact recreation use8 segments – noncontact recreation use 7 of the 8 segments – contact recreation criteria7 of the 8 segments – contact recreation criteria 2 segments (1006 & 1007)2 segments (1006 & 1007) No designated recreation useNo designated recreation use Noncontact recreation criteriaNoncontact recreation criteria

6. Topics Discussed during 2000 revisions Subcategories of usesSubcategories of uses General recreationGeneral recreation streams & riversstreams & rivers Assess when conditions are suitableAssess when conditions are suitable High-use recreationHigh-use recreation Freshwater lakes, reservoirs, saltwater bays, Gulf of Mexico & other kinds of water bodies may be individually designated in Appendix AFreshwater lakes, reservoirs, saltwater bays, Gulf of Mexico & other kinds of water bodies may be individually designated in Appendix A Assess at all conditionsAssess at all conditions Numerous comments and concerns receivedNumerous comments and concerns received Deleted subcategories of contact recreation & the proposal to assess contact recreation only when conditions are suitableDeleted subcategories of contact recreation & the proposal to assess contact recreation only when conditions are suitable

7. Background Information Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986 Draft Implementation Guidance-Nov. 2003Draft Implementation Guidance-Nov. 2003 Beach ActBeach Act Final Rule: WQS for Coastal & Great Lakes Recreational WatersFinal Rule: WQS for Coastal & Great Lakes Recreational Waters EPA Coastal Recreation Waters Fact SheetsEPA Coastal Recreation Waters Fact Sheets Draft Frequently Asked Questions - inland watersDraft Frequently Asked Questions - inland waters

8. EPA Region 6 Options for Establishing Bacteria Criteria Revise single sample (SS) criteria for saltwaterRevise single sample (SS) criteria for saltwater Update the standard deviation used in deriving SS criteriaUpdate the standard deviation used in deriving SS criteria Consider the adoption of SS criteria based on the level of useConsider the adoption of SS criteria based on the level of use Consider other risk levels for the criteria to protect recreation usesConsider other risk levels for the criteria to protect recreation uses Conduct use attainability analysesConduct use attainability analyses Use of the SS criteria for specific purposes rather than use attainment decisionsUse of the SS criteria for specific purposes rather than use attainment decisions Limit application of bacteriological criteria in waters affected solely by non-human sourcesLimit application of bacteriological criteria in waters affected solely by non-human sources

9. Options under Evaluation for TCEQ WQS Revisions

10. Options to Consider for Recreational Uses and Criteria Enterococci freshwater criteria: elevated non-tidal salinity in West Texas streams.Enterococci freshwater criteria: elevated non-tidal salinity in West Texas streams. Revise saltwater single sample criteria for enterococciRevise saltwater single sample criteria for enterococci Leave fecal coliform as alternative indicator in effluent limitsLeave fecal coliform as alternative indicator in effluent limits Single sample numbers: remove “should not exceed” and replace with “is”Single sample numbers: remove “should not exceed” and replace with “is” Clarification- enterococci in oyster waters is the recreational indicatorClarification- enterococci in oyster waters is the recreational indicator Recreational UAA guidance in Implementation ProceduresRecreational UAA guidance in Implementation Procedures

11. Options under Evaluation Broader range of recreational usesBroader range of recreational uses Freshwater and saltwater risk levelsFreshwater and saltwater risk levels Non-human sources of bacteriaNon-human sources of bacteria Options for Presumptions (Freshwater)Options for Presumptions (Freshwater) Update the freshwater single sample numberUpdate the freshwater single sample number