Presentation at the TWCA mid year conference 2012 www.twca.org Tim Osting, RPS-Espey Tiffany Morgan, Brazos River Authority

1. Brazos River Au th ority
Lake Granbury Watershed
Protection Plan
Tim Osting, RPS-Espey
Tiffany Morgan, Brazos River Authority

2. Purpose
Brazos River Au th ority
• Restore and maintain the
environmental integrity of
Lake Granbury and its canals
• Reduce bacterial
concentrations that do not
meet State water quality
standards or stakeholder
goals
– developed by local
stakeholders
– voluntary, non-regulatory
water resource
management
– local regulations and
ordinances

3. Status of WPP
Brazos River Au th ority
• TCEQ approved on August 10, 2010
• EPA accepted WPP on May 3, 2011

4. Nine Elements of a WPP
Brazos River Au th ority
1. Identification of Causes and Sources of Impairment
2. Expected Load Reductions from Management
Measures
3. Proposed Management Measures
4. Technical and Financial Assistance Needs
5. Information, Education and Public Participation
Component
6. Schedule for Implementing Management Measures
7. Interim Milestones for Implementation
8. Criteria for Determining Load Reductions and Water
Quality Improvement
9. Load Reduction and Water Quality Monitoring
Component

5. Water Quality Goal
Brazos River Au th ority
• State E. coli Standard –126 MPN/100mL
– Geometric mean of data for site
– 8 gastroenteritis illnesses per 1000 swimmers
• Stakeholder E. coli Goal - 53 MPN/100mL
– Geometric mean of each canal
– Reduces the acceptable gastroenteritis rate between 4-5
illnesses per 1000 swimmers
– 75th percentile of all E. coli data collected on compliant
Lake Granbury coves from 2002 through 2007
– More protective than the state standards
– Ensure protective conditions in the future

6. Source Identification Methods
Brazos River Au th ority
• Water quality monitoring
• Land-use analysis
– Aerial Photography
– Soil Suitability Rating for
Septic Absorption Fields
– Age of Subdivisions
– Population and Livestock
Counts
• Bacterial Source Tracking
• Waterfowl Counts
• Water Quality Modeling
– Watershed Modeling
– Lake and Cove Modeling

7. Land Use Analysis – Identify
Potential Sources
Brazos River Au th ority

8. SELECT – Watershed-based
approach to identifying most likely
Brazos River Au th ority
sources of bacteria

9. Circulation in constructed canals
Brazos River Au th ority
Port Ridglea East - Dye released on 02/21/2008
3 hours after releasing 22 hours after releasing 30 hours after releasing

10. Source Identification Results by
Area
Brazos River Au th ority
Area Most likely sources
Rolling Hills Shores 62% Septic, 38% Cattle, <1% Pets,<1%Deer
Arrowhead Shores 99% Septic, <1% Pets, <1% Deer
Oak Trail Shores 54% Septic, 46% Pets
Sky Harbor 82% Cattle, 13% Septic, 4% Pets, 2% Feral Hog
Nassau Bay II 98% Septic, 2% Pets
Waters Edge Very low potential; Pets
Ports O’ Call >99% Septic, <1% Pets
Indian Harbor Cove 99% Septic, 1% Pets
Indian Harbor Canal 98% Septic, 2% Pets
Port Ridglea East >99% Septic, <1% Pets
Blue Water Shores Pets
Long Creek - Watershed 98% Cattle, 2% Feral Hog, <1% Pets, <1% Deer
Long Creek - Cove >99% Septic, <1% Pets
Walnut Creek 96% Cattle, 2% Feral Pets, <1% Pets, <1% Deer
McCarthy Branch 94% Cattle, 3.5% Pets, 2% Feral Hog, <1% Septic

11. E. Coli Reductions Needed to
Meet Stakeholder Goal
Brazos River Au th ority
Area % E. coli Reduction
Port Ridglea East 27
Oak Trail Shores 24
Sky Harbour 16
Indian Harbor 24
Walnut Creek 57
Long Creek 66

12. Management Measure
Alternatives
Brazos River Au th ority
Equivalent
% Reduction Time to
Annual Cost
Bacteria Implement
Area BMP Alternative index
Regional Wastewater Treatment (include neighboring areas) 99% 10-15 yrs 0.54
Regional Wastewater Treatment 99% 10-15 yrs 0.65
Port Ridglea East
Septic System Replacement 75% <1 yr 1.00
236 units
Cove Circulation Systems (Fountains, etc) 30% 1-2 yrs 0.30
Septic Maintenance Pump-out pilot program <1 yr
Septic Maintenance and Education <1 yr
Pet Waste Education <1 yr
Urban Education on Fertilizer Application 1-2 yrs
Waterfowl and Wildlife Feeding Ordinances 1-2 yrs
Area Conservation Plan and Education for
small acreage land owners 2-5 yrs

13. Priority Management Measures
Brazos River Au th ority
1. Watershed Coordinator
2. Regional wastewater collection and treatment
A. Supports regional wastewater treatment options over
on-site sewage facilities (septic systems)
B. Implementation of the Port Ridglea East collection
system is a particular priority
3. Pursue funding for all management measure
alternatives
4. Implementation of Community Education and
Management

14. Priority Management Measures
Brazos River Au th ority
5. Support record keeping
activities to assist Hood
County Health
Department (HCHD)
ensure compliance with
health codes
6. Support development of
HOA rules requiring new
development and
expansion projects to
consult with HCHD

15. Priority Management Measures
Brazos River Au th ority
7. Implement regional wastewater collection and
treatment –priority areas, in order of importance
A. Improvements in Progress - Port Ridglea East
B. Existing Infrastructure Nearby
1. Oak Trail Shores
2. Sky Harbor
3. Areas surrounding Port Ridglea East, including Port Ridglea
West, Nassau Bay II, Sandy Beach, Holiday Estates
C. No Existing Infrastructure Nearby
1. Indian Harbor and surrounding areas
2. Rolling Hills Shores and surrounding areas
D. Existing Infrastructure in need of improvement
1. Blue Water Shores
2. DeCordova Estates near Lusk Branch

16. Priority Management Measures
Brazos River Au th ority
8. Improve cove
circulation
A. Indian Harbor
B. Oak Trail Shores
C. Sky Harbor

17. Hypothetical E. coli Loading and
Reductions Due to Management
Brazos River Au th ority
Measure Implementation

18. Funding
• Successful
Brazos River Au th ority
implementation is
dependent on funding
• Some measures will
require significant
funding
– Implementation
– Sustainability
• Others measures need
minor adjustments to
current activities.
• Traditionally, funding is
available at the
federal, state and local
levels of government

19. Hypothetical Funding Needs and Firm
Stakeholder Commitments for
Brazos River Au th ority
Implementation of Management Measures
*additional stakeholder commitments have been made but are dependent on receipt of grants and/or low-interest loans, on bond
issuance and are not reflected in this chart

20. Education and Outreach Plan
• Public awareness
Brazos River Au th ority
regarding water quality
• Natural resource literacy
• Identify groups
conducting
environmental education
programs.
• Contaminant sources
• Best management
practices
• Pursue sources of
funding for water quality
education and outreach

21. E. coli Concentrations in a
Granbury Canal
Brazos River Au th ority

22. Schedule for Implementation
Brazos River Au th ority
• Implementation
schedule dependent
on securing
appropriate
resources
• 20+ years
• Implementation
began in late 2011

23. E. coli targets at selected intervals
through implementation
Brazos River Au th ority
Oak Trail Sky Port Indian Long Walnut
Year Shores Harbor Ridglea Harbor Creek Creek
East
2011 70 63 73 71 156 124
2015 65 55 65 60 100 100
2020 60 53 60 55 75 75
2025 53 53 53 53 53 53

24. Implementation to Date
Brazos River Au th ority
• Brazos River Authority
– NPS 319 Grant
– Watershed Coordinator – AgriLife Research
– Education and Outreach Program in progress
– Monthly meetings with WPP Executive Committee
• Acton Municipal Utility District
– Extending sewer service in phases to Port Ridglea East
– TWDB CWSRF
• More Information on Implementation
– Clint Wolfe of Texas AgriLife Research and Extension
Center - Dallas
– c-wolfe@tamu.edu

25. Final Report
Brazos River Au th ority
• Available at:
– http://www.brazos.org/gbWPP_Reports.asp