Task Force reviews 'quality' options

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Larry Hauck discusses studying dissolved oxygen in Gibbons Creek, at the Watershed Task Force meeting. Photo by Mindy Poehl

May 27, 2004 -- The 15-member Watershed Task Force (WTF) that represents agricultural operations, municipalities, industries and public interests in the middle and lower Brazos and Navasota watersheds was busy last week when it met in Bryan to discuss current conditions. The group is leading the Quality Water for the Brazos Community Project, a multi-year effort funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and managed by the Brazos River Authority to ensure good water quality for communities in the watersheds.

The Quality Water for the Brazos Community Project addresses conditions in a 7,000-square-mile area that stretches from Waco through Bryan-College Station to Freeport and Sugar Land, and the numerous smaller towns along the way.

Meeting at the Brazos Center on May 19, Dr. Peggy Glass, with Alan Plummer Associates, Inc., addressed the group about a draft nutrient study plan and quality assurance project plan. Two sampling events will be conducted from June through August of 2004 and will measure the ammonia, nitrogen, nitrite and nitrate in the water at Thompsons Creek and Carters Creek, located around Brazos County. These creeks receive urban runoff and the records will collect data on the nutrients in the creeks.

Larry Hauck, with the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, focused on the dissolved oxygen in Gibbons Creek located in Grimes County. Gibbons Creek is not supporting uses due to bacteria and depressed dissolved oxygen.

The purpose of monitoring the dissolved oxygen is to provide the data necessary to assess the hydrologic, water quality and biological conditions of Gibbons Creek. The study will determine the flow regime, allow assessment with detailed 24-hour dissolved oxygen data of actual stream conditions and provide assessment of existing aquatic life uses for fish and benthics.

"We want to know what the aquatic life use is," Hauck said.

The WTF is also addressing a letter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The Texas Legislature wants to adopt model standards that cities can implement to help prevent sewer overflows due to blockages from grease. Small communities in the central and lower Brazos River basin have identified grease trap blockages at the top of their list of water quality issues.