Galveston Bay Foundation

Advocacy

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) | Galveston Bay Bacteria Reduction

Upper Gulf Coast Oyster Waters Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan

Oyster fisheries in Galveston Bay produce more oysters than any single water body in the United States, in fact, more than the combined production of both Louisiana and Washington, making them important commercially to the area. In addition, oysters serve an important ecological role as filter feeders in the estuary influencing conditions such as water clarity and phytoplankton abundance. Oysters create reef habitats utilized by many other species and serve as an important indicator of the overall health of a bay ecosystem.

To ensure the continued health of these important ecosystems, the state of Texas requires that bay and gulf waters that have the proper conditions be suitable for producing and harvesting edible species of clams, oysters, or mussels, and for various other uses. However, data assessed in 2002 showed that localized sections of six bay segments in the Upper Texas Coast are not suitable for harvesting shellfish because of elevated bacteria concentrations. The use of waters for oyster harvesting, also called the oyster waters use, is the most commonly impaired use among Texas bay and gulf waters.

Bacteria from human and animal waste may indicate the presence of disease-causing microorganisms that pose a threat to public health. Bacteria from the water can accumulate in oysters and other shellfish, making them unsafe to eat, especially since some shellfish are often eaten raw.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has developed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for fecal coliform, the pollutant that contributes to the impairment of the six segments. A TMDL is like a budget for pollutants. It estimates the amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still support its designated uses. The affected segments are Upper Galveston Bay (Segment 2421), Trinity Bay (Segment 2422), East Bay (Segment 2423), West Bay (Segment 2424), Chocolate Bay (Segment 2432), Lower Galveston Bay (Segment 2439).

The Galveston Bay Foundation is currently assisting TCEQ with the development of an Implementation Plan for the TMDL in these sensitive areas. Implementation plans describe the actions that local, regional, and state organizations must take to reduce pollutants to levels established in TMDLs. GBF will be inviting stakeholders to get involved in developing reduction measures and a monitoring plan to lower the bacteria concentrations in the oyster waters of the Upper Gulf Coast.

Workgroup Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
9:30-11:00am OSSF, GBF Office

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
2:00-3:30pm Science and Monitoring, GBF Office

Thursday, March 25, 2010
10:00-11:30am Policy and Outreach, GBF Office
4:30 -6:00pm Marinas/Boater Waste, GBF Office

Friday, March 26, 2010
9:30-11:00am WWTF, GBF Office

February 24, 2010 Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting for anyone interested in getting involved with the TMDL was held on Wednesday, February 24th at the Clear Lake Park Meeting Room. TCEQ presented TMDL background and the Implementation Plan process. Five workgroups were set up, based in part, on possible sources of the contaminant: Waste Water Treatment Facilities (WWTF), On-Site Septic Facilities (OSSF), Marinas/Boater Waste, Policy and Outreach, and Science and Monitoring.

Upper Gulf Coast Oyster Waters TMDL Implementation Plan Stakeholder Meeting Presentations available:

Upper Coast Oyster Water TMDL for Bacteria (.pdf)
Building Implementation Plans to Restore Water Quality (.pdf)