Since 2002, water quality testing has found that concentrations of bacteria are sometimes elevated in Oso Creek (Segment 2485A). Bacteria from human and animal waste may indicate the presence of disease-causing microorganisms that pose a threat to people who swim or wade in the creek and bay activities called “contact recreation” in the state’s standards for water quality.
In response to these conditions, the TCEQ will develop a total maximum daily load for Oso Creek. The goal of a TMDL is to determine the amount (or load) of a pollutant that a body of water can receive and still support its beneficial uses. The allowable load is then allocated among categories of sources within the watershed.
Stakeholders then develop a plan to implement the TMDL (I-Plan) with measures that reduce pollution. People who represent the various interests that have a stake in changes to the watershed develop the I-Plan with advice and support from the TCEQ. The TMDL and I-Plan together are a road map for reducing bacteria loads and the risk to public health, and helping to maintain water in the future.
Learn more about water quality standards, monitoring, and TMDLs by reading Preserving and Improving Water Quality, available on the TCEQ website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/tmdl/
Oso Creek Watershed
The Oso Creek watershed is wholly contained within Nueces County in the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin. The creek is about 28 miles long. It flows southeasterly from near the western edge of Corpus Christi over flat to rolling terrain, emptying into Oso Bay. Oso Creek’s flow is dominated by permitted discharges.
Corpus Christi is the only major metropolitan area within the watershed’s boundaries. Robstown is about 3 miles northeast of the creek’s origin. Economic activities in the area include oil and gas refining and production, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.
Project Development
The TCEQ began work on the Oso Creek Bacteria TMDL in 2013. From 2004 to 2006, the TCEQ collected a great deal of data and information in conjunction with its TMDL Bacteria project for Oso Bay. The TCEQ decided to develop a TMDL for the bay first, separately from the TMDL for the creek, with advice and consent from stakeholders in the area.
Since 2006, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and other agencies have completed several studies of bacteria sources and loading in the watershed. The results of these studies will be considered in developing the TMDLs. The TSSWCB is already working to decrease bacteria loads from agriculture by assisting landowners in developing and implementing water quality management plans for their operations.
The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) at Tarleton State University will complete several tasks in support of TMDL development. Their staff will conduct a comprehensive review of historical data along with other pertinent data and information, and identify any data gaps. They will also submit a final technical report to support TMDL development.
Get Involved!
In all its TMDL projects, the TCEQ gathers opinion and information from people who represent government, permitted facilities, agriculture, business, environmental, and community and private interests in the watershed. The Oso Creek watershed includes the cities of Corpus Christi and Robstown in Nueces County. All public meetings about this project are open to anyone interested.
Staff from the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi are directly involved with working with stakeholders to develop an I-Plan for watershed improvement.
The Project Work Plan is to support public outreach and inform and solicit input from the stakeholders in the watershed on the development of the Oso Creek TMDL and the Oso Creek/Oso Bay I-Plan.
The Center for Coastal Studies project objectives are to address the following:
- Facilitate interactions with local interested parties and the public to inform and educate them about the upcoming TMDL I-Plan.
- Plan and coordinate public meetings related to the upcoming TMDL I-Plan; and
- Develop an active and engaged Coordination Committee that will collaborate with TCEQ to develop the TMDL I-Plan for the areas affected by the upcoming TMDL project.
If you would like to get involved please contact:
Teresa Carrillo
Research Specialist III
361.825.5888
teresa.carrillo@tamucc.edu
Erin M. Hill
Research Specialist III
361.825.5791
erin.hill@tamucc.edu
Brien A. Nicolau
Assistant Director
361.825.5807
brien.nicolau@tamucc.edu
Oso Creek Watershed Partnership
Upcoming Meeting Schedule
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING ON ONE DRAFT TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD FOR INDICATOR BACTERIA IN OSO CREEK
February 26, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Natural Resources Center, Room 1003, Texas A&M University, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ, commission, or agency) has made available for public comment the draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for indicator bacteria in Oso Creek in Nueces County.
The purpose of the public meeting is to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the draft TMDL for indicator bacteria in one assessment unit in Segment 2485A in Nueces County.
A TMDL is a detailed water quality assessment that provides the scientific foundation to allocate pollutant loads in a certain body of water in order to restore and maintain designated uses. The commission requests comments on each of the major components of the TMDL: problem definition, endpoint identification, source analysis, seasonal variation, linkage between sources and receiving waters, margin of safety, pollutant loading allocation, public participation, and implementation and reasonable assurances.
After the public comment period, the TCEQ may revise the draft TMDL if appropriate. The final TMDL will then be considered by the commission for adoption. Upon adoption of the TMDL by the commission, the final TMDL and a response to all comments received will be made available on the TCEQ’s website. The TMDL will then be submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6 office for final action by the EPA. Upon approval by the EPA, the TMDL will be certified as an update to the State of Texas Water Quality Management Plan.
The public comment meeting for the draft TMDL will be held on February 26, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Natural Resources Center, Room 1003, Texas A&M University, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi.
At this meeting, individuals will have the opportunity to present oral statements when called upon in order of registration. An agency staff member will give a brief presentation at the start of the meeting and will be available to answer questions before and after all public comments have been received.
Written comments on the draft TMDL should be submitted to Gerrad Hofmans, Water Quality Planning Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, MC 203, P. O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas, 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-1414. Comments may also be submitted electronically to https://www6.tceq.texas.gov/rules/ecomments/. All comments must be received at TCEQ by midnight on March 19, 2019 and should reference One Total Maximum Daily Load for Indicator Bacteria in Oso Creek.
For further information regarding the draft TMDL, please contact Gerrad Hofmans at (512) 239-3604 or Gerrad.Hofmans@tceq.texas.gov. Copies of the draft TMDL will be available and can be obtained via the commission’s website at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/tmdl/tmdlnews.html or by calling (512) 239-6682.
Persons with disabilities who have special communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the meeting should contact the commission at (512) 239-6682. Requests should be made as far in advance as possible.