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H-GAC’s Water Resources programs and initiatives range from identifying and resolving water quality issues to providing data and technical assistance and public outreach materials.
Publications include Watershed Protection Plans, Bacteria Reports and Brochures, Snapshots of Water Quality, Special Studies and Reports, and Water Quality Management Plans.
Bacteria Implementation Group
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The Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) is a 31-member committee that has developed and is overseeing implementation of a plan, or I-Plan, to remedy high levels of bacteria in waterways identified inTotal Maximum Daily Load projects in the Houston Region.
Published in 2011, this printable document highlights the basics of the BIG I-Plan, including bacteria-reduction activities.
Boating and Fishing
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Printable postcards with recipes to replace toxic chemical cleaners with earth-friendly household cleaners, including cleaners for fiberglass, metal and decks.
Clean Rivers Program
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This overview highlights the Clean Rivers Program in the Houston-Galveston region, working with local partners and the TCEQ to ensure waterbodies continue to be a viable resource for the region.
This video highlights the Texas Clean Rivers Program. It discusses the aim of the program which is to ensure safe, clean water supplies for the future of Texas - for drinking water needs, for industry, for irrigation, for recreation, and for healthy ecosystems
Clean Rivers Program Basin Highlights/Summary Reports
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These yearly publications outline the current state of water quality in the region. The Basin Highlights Reports includes the status and trends of water quality as well as a brief overview of the previous year's activities. The Basin Summary Reports provide a more detailed analysis of the region’s water quality.
Clean Rivers Program Special Studies and Reports
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Special studies address specific, previously-identified issues and local stakeholder concerns. Studies include dissolved oxygen monitoring projects, baseline assessment projects, flow studies, total suspended solids studies, and habitat surveys.
Contact Recreation
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A fun, educational video about water pollution and tips for safely swimming in area waterbodies.
This survey of 700 interviewees helped determine water-related activities Houston-Galveston residents engage in with reference to local bayous and determine usage patterns of local streams/bayous for recreational activities.
Published in 2007, this survey produced a census of recreation uses in urban bayous in the Houston metropolitan area to determine if future studies should be conducted based on primary and secondary contact recreational activities
Published in 2008, this report examines the designated uses for Buffalo and White Oak bayous and looks at physical, chemical, geographic, and infrastructure factors that influence recreational use of these waterbodies.
Published in 2007, this pilot study looks at contact recreation use attainability methods to determine what is needed to launch a state-wide plan for conducting Use Attainability Analysis.
Flood Management
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Published in 2009, this handbook provides an overview of best flood management practices for local governments with sections on planning and mitigation, regulatory tools, and funding resources.
Geospatial Management Plans
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Geospatial mapping analysis is governed by the Geospatial Data Management Plan.
Low Impact Development
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Published in 2016, this guide explains LID functions, benefits, best management practices, and ways to overcome obstacles to implementation.
Quality Assurance/Data Management
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Septic Systems/On-Site Sewage Facilities
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Published in 2007, this report assesses localized human health and environmental water quality issues associated with bacterial contamination in an urban watershed, Westfield Estates.
Updated in 2005, this document covers research to identify incidence of and associated risk from illness related to on-site sewer facilities (OSSF) malfunctioning, outreach materials for educational purposes, possible solutions used in the region, and a regulatory framework, including location of OSSF violations by selected county.
Shoreline Management
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Published in 2001, this project identifies shoreline management issues, evaluates the existing management structure, and develops tools and resources to help improve shoreline management.
This model ordinance is an excerpt from the Shoreline Management Demonstration Project for Galveston Bay that was funded through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under a contract between the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the Houston Galveston Area Council.
Total Maximum Daily Load
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This report documents the public participation activities for the dioxin and bacteria Total Maximum Daily Loads studies in the San Jacinto River Basin from 2000 to 2001.
Published in 2001, this document is a summary of tasks performed to determine why Dickinson Bayou does not meet its aquatic life use and contact recreation standards.
This presentation describes a comprehensive, multi-year study of the fate and transport of E. coli and Enterococuccus in White Oak Bayou
A presentation by the University of Houston Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering that discusses analysis on a varety of Best Management Practices that have been put in place in an effort to reduce pathogens.
Water Pollution
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Published in 2002, this guidance manual is used for identifying and eliminating illicit connections to municipal storm sewer systems.
Waterbodies and Watersheds
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H-GAC provides water quality information about a variety of watersheds and waterbodies in the Houston-Galveston Region.
Information in some brochures is presented for historic, reference purposes only. Details about water quality, land use and other issues may have changed.
Water Quality Management Plans
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H-GAC conducts water quality management planning as part of a Clean Water Act grant program. Each year water quality management planning activities are summarized in a cumulative report summarizing work completed during that year.
Watershed Protection Plans
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Watershed protection plans are a means to resolve and prevent water quality problems that result from both point source and nonpoint source issues.