Jarbo Bayou TMDL

About the TMDL Project

The goal of the TMDL project is to improve water quality to protect people who recreate in and along the bayou. The TCEQ and stakeholders developed the Jarbo Bayou TMDL and agreed to implement the Houston Region Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) Implementation Plan (I-Plan) in 2015.

Commissioners for the TCEQ adopted the Jarbo Bayou TMDL and approved the stakeholder's decsion to implement the BIG I-Plan on January 24, 2018. The TCEQ began this TMDL project in 2013. Researchers from the University of Houston completed the technical work to support the TMDL study. H–GAC facillited the Jarbo Bayou stakeholder watershed planning process.

Watershed Characteristics

Jarbo Bayou, located in Galveston County, is a tributary of Clear Lake. The bayou arises near Shore Boulevard in League City. It flows generally north-northeast to FM 2094, then west-northwest through Clear Lake Shores to Clear Lake. The bayou, about 2.7 miles long, widens considerably downstream of its crossing with Lawrence Road. The watershed is primarily urban, though it does flow a short distance through an undeveloped area of Galveston County. The watershed includes parts of the towns of League City, Kemah, and Clear Lake Shores.

Since 2002, high concentrations of bacteria, which are found in both human and animal waste, have been observed in the bayou. The presence of these bacteria may indicate a health risk to people who swim or wade in the bayou—activities referred to as “contact recreation” in the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.