The I-PLAN includes the areas highlighted below. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference. Look through Volunteer in Your Community for ideas.

I-PLAN Projects

CARP (Cole and Ropes Parks Beaches)

Several public beach parks along Corpus Christi Bay are sampled as part by the Texas Beach Watch Program. High concentrations of bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in a water body—activities called “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality. The approved I-Plan contains many suggestions to reduce the bacteria concentrations.

Texas Beach Watch

In 2011, the Texas Beach Watch sampling program indicated bacteria concentrations were higher than the criteria for protecting the contact recreation use at both Cole and Ropes Parks, The methodology used is outlined here.

CARP I-Plan Measures

Promoting these recommended measures: Community Education and Outreach, Monitoring, Research, Wastewater Collection System Enhancements, Stormwater Drainage System, Ordinances and Regulation Improvements, will help to decrease the indicator bacteria.
See CARP Presentation.

TCEQ Publications

These two beaches were listed as impaired for being under an advisory when bacteria levels in the water exceed 104 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters (mL) of the indicator bacteria (Enterococci). Read more about approved TMDLs for CARP.

Poenisch Park Beach

Several public beach parks, including Poenisch Park Beach, along Corpus Christi Bay are monitored as part by the Texas Beach Watch Program as part of the approved I-Plan.

Texas Beach Watch

The Texas Beach Watch program sampling results indicated bacteria were higher than the criteria for protecting the contact recreation use at Poenisch Park beach, assessment unit 2481CB_06 of the Texas Bays and Estuaries Basin. The methodology used is outlined here.

Poenisch Park Project

For more information on the Poenisch Park Project, be sure to check out Philippe Tissot’s presentation to the Coastal Bend Regional Implementation Plan Coordination Committee Meeting – Joint CARP, OSO, Poenisch.

TCEQ Publications

Within the Poenisch Park watershed, probable sources of bacteria include regulated stormwater runoff, sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), illicit discharges, and domesticated animals. One TMDL approved August 6, 2025. Read the detailed TMDL.

Oso Bay and Oso Creek

Oso Creek Watershed is 28 miles long and dominated by permitted discharges. Corpus Christi is the only major metropolitan area within the watershed’s boundaries. Economic activities in the area include oil and gas refining and production, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Recreational uses can found in this study. The ultimate goal of the Implementation Plan is to reduce bacteria levels in impaired waterways, making them meet water quality standards and become suitable for their current, designated uses. We can do this together.

Texas Beach Watch

In 2014, the Texas Beach Watch program indicated bacteria concentrations were higher than the criteria for protecting the contact recreation use at Oso Creek and Oso Bay. The methodology used is outlined here.

Oso Bay/Oso Creek

Past studies on the land use coverage indicates a mostly rural, agricultural watershed with areas of intense urbanization. Potential sources of indicator bacteria pollution can be divided into two primary categories: regulated and unregulated. Here are two studies on Oso Bay and Oso Creek.

TCEQ Publications

Two TMDLs for Oso Bay and Oso Creek watershed have been approved, The Oso Bay TMDL was adopted on August 22, 2007, by TCEQ, and approved by EPA on June 6, 2008. The Oso Creek TMDL was adopted on July 31, 2019, by TCEQ, and approved by EPA on October 25, 2019.