Water Resources

2018 Draft Update to the Water Quality Management Plan

2017 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan

Interactive Mapping Tool for the 2017 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan

The quality of water in North Texas water bodies is important to the health, safety, and welfare of residents, ecosystems, and long-term economic growth. Sources of pollution that impact the health of a water body can be either point or non-point sources. Point sources include specific, discernible locations or sources such as pipes, channels, industrial facilities, or wastewater treatment plants. Non-point source pollution comes from many sources such as land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage, or stormwater runoff. Multiple stakeholders are involved in regional initiatives addressing impairments and implementing watershed management strategies to address water quality in North Central Texas.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has prepared the 2016 Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) which provides an overview of efforts underway and future planning needs for water resources in North Central Texas. The goals of the 2016 Water Quality Management plan are:

• Identify water quality programs or projects of significance that contribute to watershed protection and water quality improvements.
• Identify emerging water quality issues that will impact water quality, wastewater treatment strategies, and water supply efforts.
• Review wastewater treatment facility planning to ensure that capacities are sufficient to meet future wastewater needs
• Track and summarize annual wastewater treatment capacity for regional joint system and community plants

  2016 North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan

The 2016 North Central Texas Water Resources Report was developed as a part of the 2016 Water Quality Management Plan for North Central Texas. The report shares the results of a questionnaire administrated by NCTCOG. A total of 56 regional entities, including local governments, water districts, groundwater districts, independent school districts, and the general public, responded to the questionnaire in March 2016. The results indicated three priority themes for water resources in North Central Texas; Increasing Public Awareness of Water Resources, Water Conservation & Ensuring Appropriate Water Supply, and Funding for Aging Water & Wastewater Infrastructure.

  2016 North Central Texas Water Resources Report

NCTCOG supports several regional projects that aim to address water quality of streams, rivers, and lakes in the North Central Texas region including:

• Vision 303(d) Project: Upper Trinity River Basin-Wide Approach to Address Water Quality
• Greater Trinity River Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load and Implementation Plan
• Regional Ecosystem Framework Interactive Mapping Tool
• Green Printing for Water Quality Protection
• Regional Storm Water Management Program
• Greater Trinity River PCB Impairment Project (Project completed December 2014)

Additional Water Quality Resources:

• 2015 North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan
• TCEQ: TMDLs and Implementation Plan - Greater Trinity Region
• TCEQ: TMDLs and Their Implementation
• 2014 Texas 303(d) List: Category 5 Listed Segments in North Central Texas
• 2014 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality
• 2012 Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality
• TCEQ project page on Greater Trinity River PCBs
• EPA Region 6: Total Maximum Daily Load Program
• EPA November 2010 memo to States regarding TMDLs and stormwater permits (PDF)

The North Central Texas region continues to experience high levels of population growth, and forecasts project that this trend will continue through 2040. With increases in population, the North Central Texas region is facing challenges meeting water demand. Local and regional stakeholders are collaborating on best management practices to fulfill water supply shortages for future water needs.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Region C Water Planning Group is tasked with developing a regional water plan and implementing the plan in the region.

According to the 2016 Water Plan, in 2020 about 80% of available water in Region C will be supplied by surface water, coming from major reservoirs in the region and imported from surrounding regions. In planning for future needs, recommendations have been made by the Region C Water Planning group that will shift the reliance from surface water supplies to more heavily utilize reuse and conservation strategies to support the growing population. Reuse and conservation make up nearly 50% of strategy supplies for 2040.

The North Central Texas region has several projects that showcase the reuse of treated wastewater as a potential source of water supplies for the region. Check out the North Texas Municipal Water District East Fork Wetlands Project, operating since 1999, which is helping to extend existing water supplies in the region.

Resources:

• 2017 Texas State Water Plan
• 2017 Texas State Water Plan Region C Data Mapping Tool
• Region C Water Planning Group
• 2016 Region C Water Plan
• Texas Reservoirs: Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs Mapping Tool
• Texas Drought Monitor
• U.S. Drought Monitor
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Dallas

Water Conservation is a crucial part of ensuring future water supply and improving water quality for North Central Texas. According to the current state water plan, Region C will be responsible for 44% of the recommended municipal water conservation in the state by 2060. NCTCOG is looking to engage stakeholders and local governments to place an important emphasis on water conservation and reuse as a means to reach water supply goals for future needs. North Central Texas regional stakeholders and municipalities are actively conducting public education campaigns, developing water conservation plans, implementing green infrastructure, water reuse and other watershed protection strategies in order to obtain water conservation goals for future demands.

NCTCOG works with local governments and regional stakeholders to plan for future needs related to water resources in the North Central Texas Region.

Water Resources Council

The Water Resources Council, established in 1979, advises NCTCOG's Executive Board on both technical and policy issues related to water resources matters. The committee reviews day to day technical issues; oversees the water resources planning process; and performs technical review of water related grant applications. View Meeting Info

TMDL Coordination Committee

The TMDL Coordination Committee and technical subcommittees are made up of TMDL area stakeholders who review the implementation strategies defined in the Implementation Plan for TMDLs for Bacteria in the Greater Trinity River Region. Each committee aims to ensure that strategies outlined in the I-plan are being implemented to improve the water quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. View Meeting Info

Upper Trinity River Basin Coordinating Committee

The Upper Trinity River Basin Coordinating Committee is made up of regional stakeholders who have initiated a seven year effort to address bacteria impairments in the Upper Trinity River. View Meeting Info

Regional Stormwater Management Coordinating Council

The Regional Stormwater Management Coordinating Council (RSWMCC) is composed of 22 representatives from participating entities who provide guidance and oversight to the annual program. Council representatives serve a three year term, and are led by a Chair, Vice-Chair and Past-Chair. View Meeting Info