Understanding the TMDL and I-Plan process Austin’s water quality & possible solutions...

Improving Austin Streams 

• Understanding the TMDL and I-Plan process

• Austin’s water quality & possible solutions

• Improving Austin Streams process and your involvement

Welcome!

Working Together for Clean Water

Stakeholders and the TCEQ Total Maximum Daily Load Program

Some of our water is not as good as we would like

The Law requires us to ask…

▪ What are the problems?

▪ How bad are they?

▪ How can the be corrected?

TMDL: Total Maximum Daily Load

▪ How much is too much?

Detective Work

▪ How bad is the problem?

▪ Where is it coming from?

We Work Together on the Fix

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Implementation Plan

▪ Developed by YOU, the stakeholders

The I-Plan outlines a solution

▪ What we found out from the TMDL

▪ What we can do about it

The Community decides

▪ We believe in the wisdom and strength of the community to address its own problems

We work the plan out together

▪ Many solutions are voluntary

▪ Implemented over time

▪ Progress is measured

We’re with you TCEQ TMDL Team tmdl@tceq.texas.gov 512-239-6682

E. coli as a fecal indicator

• Contact Recreation Standard set by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

• Measure potential for fecal contamination, not actual presence of pathogens

• Long-term measure of conditions, not an assessment of human risk

Sources of Fecal Contamination

• Domestic animals (dogs, cats, chickens)• Leaking wastewater infrastructure• Wildlife (deer, bird, racoon, etc.)• Humans defecating in creeks• Failing homeowner septic tanks

Taylor Slough South

Spicewood Trib to Shoal

Waller Creek (upstream of 15th)

Walnut Creek

Management Measures

• Riparian Zone Restoration• Wastewater Infrastructure Maintenance• Domestic Pet Waste Education• Resident Outreach• Stormwater Treatment

Improving Austin Streams Coordination Committee

▪13 members representing interests identified by citizens at meetings this past winter

▪Formed four workgroups, which brought back five sets of management measures

▪Developed the draft I-Plan

▪Wants your comments and input now

▪Wants your help in implementing the plan

For tonight:

√ Please sign in and get background information

√ At the watershed map, put a dot where you live

 √ Visit tables to learn more, get answers to your questions, provide comments and volunteer to help

Strategy tables Talk with Coordination Committee & City Staff

• Wastewater Infrastructure

• Stormwater Treatment

• Public Land Management

• Resident Activities

• TMDL/Water Quality

Central Table

• Submit questions and comments • Volunteer to improve Austin-

area water quality

What’s next?

▪Coordination Committee reviews your comments and makes changes to the I-Plan (responses to comments will be online)

▪Draft I-Plan  goes to TCEQ

▪Formal comment period on I-Plan and TMDL

▪Coordination Committee makes additional changes

▪ Implementation

▪Yearly reviews of progress, and adjustment

Comment Cards We want to hear from you!

Please leave a comment today, or send to: Improving Austin Streams by October 16th By email: ImprovingAustinStreams@law.utexas.edu By fax: 512-232-1191 By mail: CPPDR, UT Law School 727 E. Dean Keeton St., TNH 4.124 Austin, TX 78705