Water Resources
​Relevant Committees
Water Resources Planning and Management
Managing water resources in North Central Texas is critical to the long-term viability and growth of the region and quality of life for residents.
Several important water resource management challenges exist in North Central Texas including water quality, water supply, wastewater management, and water conservation. NCTCOG coordinates with local governments and special districts, such as water districts, to promote integrated water resource management and watershed strategies to address these challenges.
NCTCOG also invites you to view the Water for North Texas Online Library, which is a compilation of existing resources on water topics. These resources, which include explainer videos, brochures, webinars, and social media toolkits, are intended to be used by member governments to educate residents about the value of water across the growing NCTCOG region.
Water for North Texas Online Library
Open for Public Comment from May 25, 2023, to June 28, 2023
Draft 2023 Update to the North Central Texas 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. Pollution that impacts the health of a water body can be either from a point or non-point source. Point sources include specific, discernible locations or sources such as pipes, channels, industrial facilities, or wastewater treatment plants. Non-point source pollution comes from stormwater runoff from urban, residential, or agricultural lands, erosion, drainage from faulty septic systems, and atmospheric deposition.
The impacts of both point and nonpoint water pollution to water quality impairment in the region are included in the Draft 2023 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), which was prepared by the North Central Texas Council of Governments with input from the Water Resources Council. The Draft 2023 WQMP provides an overview of efforts and future planning needs for improving water quality in the region and is fully created in the format of a Story Map Journal rather than a typical report. The goals of the Draft 2023 WQMP are to:
- Identify water quality programs 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.
- Update all data and sources with the most recent and sound information available.
- Begin mapping the locations of permitted on-site sewage facilities (septic systems) in the NCTCOG region to be used for water quality planning purposes.
- Upper Trinity River Basin Coordinating Committee
- 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:
- TCEQ: TMDLs and Implementation Plan - Greater Trinity Region
- TCEQ: TMDLs and Their Implementation
- 2022 Texas Integrated Report on Surface Water Quality and Texas 303(d) List
- 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
2022 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan
2021 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan
2020 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan
2019 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan
Interactive Mapping Tool for the 2019 Water Quality Management Plan
2018 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan
Interactive Mapping Tool for the 2018 Update to the Water Quality Management Plan
2017 Update to the 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 &
May 22, 2023
LCRR (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions) 102 - Taking Inventory One Year Later
Speakers
Laura Higgins, Team Leader, Lead and Copper Monitoring Team, TCEQ
Stacy Walters, Regulatory Environmental Administrator, City of Fort Worth
Robert Archer, Environmental Compliance Manager, City of Irving
Mary Gugliuzza, Media Relations and Communications Coordinator, City of Fort Worth
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
February 22, 2023
Let It Grow: A Showcase of No Mow Zones in North Central Texas
Speakers
Brett Johnson, Sr. Environmental Coordinator/Urban Biologist, City of Dallas
Kathy Nelson, Parks and Recreation Department Planning Manager, City of Grapevine
Daniel Shafer, Parks Superintendent, City of Burleson
Michelle Villafranca, Park Operations & Natural Resource Planner, City of Fort Worth
JoEtta Dailey, Watershed Protection Manager, City of Denton
John Chapman, Long Range Planner, Town of Flower Mound
Joe Whiteley, Environmental Review Analyst, Town of Flower Mound
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
November 29, 2022
A Discussion of Real-World Data on Trash in Texas through Two Case Studies
Speakers:
Dr. Stephanie Glenn, Vice President Research, Water, Houston Advanced Research Center
Dr. Erin Kinney, Research Scientist, Houston Advanced Research Center
Andrew Clamann, Conservation Program Supervisor, Watershed Protection Department, City of Austin
Mateo Scoggins, Section Manager, Watershed Protection Department, City of Austin
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
August 29, 2022
Understanding WOTUS (Waters of the United States) and Anticipating What's Next
Speakers:
Randall Rush, Senior Policy Advisory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
Chandler Peter, Regulatory Technical Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
Lisa Soronen, Executive Director, (Former) State and Local Legal Center
View the Webinar Video
May 25, 2022
LCRR (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions) 101 and Ideas on How Water Systems Can Start Preparing
Speakers:
Laura Higgins, Team Leader, Lead and Copper Monitoring Team, TCEQ
Stacy Walters, Regulatory Administrator, Fort Worth Water Department
Mary Gugliuzza, Media Relations/Communications Coordinator, Fort Worth Water Department
View the Webinar Video
February 23, 2022
What Water Planners in Texas Need to Know About Climate (And I Wish I Could Tell You)
Speaker: John Nielsen-Gammon, Ph.D., Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas State Climatologist, and Director of the Southern Regional Climate Center.
This webinar provided an overview of the future expected climate trends in Texas and the possible impact of those trends on water resource planning related to water supply, water quality, and urban flooding, among others.
November 29, 2021
Ecosystem Management Topics at the Urban/Rural Interface
Speakers:
Daniel Price, Natural Resource Manager, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
Rachel Richter, Urban Wildlife Biologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - DFW Area
Adam Henry, Wildlife Damage Management Biologist - Urban, USDA-Texas Wildlife Services Program
This webinar provided information on prescribed burning at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and management of urban wildlife, specifically egrets, bobcats, coyotes, and beavers.
Presentation Slides
August 31, 2021
U.S. EPA Actions to Address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Speaker:
Michael G. Morton, Ph.D.
Science Liaison to the Office of Research & Development
U.S. EPA, Region 6
Dallas, Texas
This webinar provided background information on the health and environmental effects of PFAS and U.S. EPA's current and upcoming efforts and rulemakings to address them in the areas of cleanup, water, drinking water, and wastewater.
View the Webinar Video
May 11, 2021
Municipal BMP "Show and Tell"
Representatives from five North Central Texas cities discussed their experiences with various BMPs, including litter capture devices, post-construction measures, and household hazardous waste collection to name a few. The speakers are listed below.
Speakers:
Perry Harts, P.E., CPMSM, Stormwater Manager, City of Frisco
Echo Rexroad, REM, Environmental Quality Manager, City of Plano
Cody Cash, Drainage Programs Specialist, City of Irving
Howard Redfearn, Environmental Manager, City of Mansfield
Amesha Morris, Stormwater Administrator, City of McKinney
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
February 23, 2021
Problematic Invasive Species and Their Impact on Water Quality in North Texas
Speakers:
Rachel Richter, Urban Wildlife Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
John Tibbs, Inland Fisheries District Supervisor, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
This webinar provided an overview of problematic plant and animal invasive species in North Texas as well as information on how local governments can manage them. There was also a discussion about zebra mussels and the effort to eradicate them from Lake Waco.
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
November 30, 2020
Watershed Protection Plans in North Central Texas: A Virtual Roundtable
The following project managers for watershed protection plans in the NCTCOG region provided the latest updates on their projects and watershed planning efforts:
David Cowan, Watershed Manager - North Texas Municipal Water District;
JoEtta Dailey, Watershed Protection Manager - City of Denton;
Heather Firn, Watershed Scientist III - Trinity River Authority;
Joe Gildersleeve, Water Resource Services Manager - City of Arlington;
Aaron Hoff, Watershed Program Manager - Tarrant Regional Water District; and
Fouad H. Jaber, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
View the Webinar Video
Presentation Slides
June 11, 2020
Trees are the Answer: The Role of a Healthy Urban Canopy in an Urban Watershed
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Speakers: |
April 15, 2020
Texas Water Development Board's New Flood Science, Planning, and Financial Assistance Programs
The presentation was provided by Kathleen Ligon, Special Assistant to the Texas Water Development Board's Executive Administrator. She provided a general overview of implementation of legislation passed by the 86th Texas Legislature, including the Flood Infrastructure Fund, regional flood planning program, and expanded flood science and mapping efforts.
View the Webinar Video
March 19, 2020
Watershed Stakeholder Meeting
Topics covered in this webinar include:
The Permittee Responsible Mitigation (PRM) Database
Kate Zielke, Principal Transportation Planner, North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), will discuss the development of the PRM Database and its uses.
Clean Water Act, Section 319 Non-point Source Funding
Jessica Johnstone, Project Manager, Non-point Source Program, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will present information about Clean Water Act, Section 319 funding for non-point source projects.
Water Quality Threats to Federally Listed Species
Erik Orsak, Pre-Listing and Restoration Branch Chief, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington Ecological Services Field Office, will present information on water quality threats to federally listed species in North Texas and ways to support the conservation and recovery of listed species.
View the Webinar Video
March 3, 2020
Overview of the Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
The presentation was provided by Erik Helm, Ph.D., Senior Economist for the U.S. EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, and Team Lead for the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. His presentation covered the following topics: background on the current Lead and Copper Rule; the regulatory development process; and key areas of change in the proposed rule - including identifying areas most impacted, strengthening treatment requirements, replacing lead service lines, increasing sampling reliability, improving risk communication, and protecting children in schools.
View the Webinar Video
January 28, 2020
Managing Overabundant Urban Wildlife to Protect Water Quality of the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River, New Braunfels, Texas
The presentation was provided by Mark Enders, the Watershed Program Manager for the City of New Braunfels. He is a Registered Environmental Manager and a Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control, who began working with the City of New Braunfels in July of 2014. His presentation covered the following topics: How the city came to the decision to develop an ordinance banning the feeding of all wildlife; The water quality benefits expected; Outreach and education efforts; and Lessons learned so far.
View the Webinar Video
November 19, 2019
Lessons Learned from Green Stormwater Infrastructure Design and Construction
There was a presentation by Jake Aalfs, a landscape architect at the San Antonio River Authority. He has five years of experience in managing incentive programs to promote design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure. His presentation included: An introduction to the most common landscape designs for managing urban stormwater runoff, an overview of the practices used to help manage stormwater quantity and quality in relation to development in San Antonio, Texas, and a discussion of lessons learned over the last five years.
View the Webinar Video
July 23, 2019
Texas Water Development Board Financing for Wastewater Infrastructure Updates
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Tom Entsminger, Manager of Program Administration at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), is the presenter. He provided: an overview of TWDB's financial assistance programs, examples of how communities are using these programs to fund projects, and a brief discussion of other TWDB activities. |
June 18, 2019
Water Reuse in Texas
Erika Mancha, who currently manages the Innovative Water Technologies group at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), presented the following topics: The main functions and of the TWDB and its water reuse program, reuse terminology, water reuse in the 2017 State Water Plan, historical use of reclaimed water, existing direct and indirect potable reuse projects, and research projects funded in past years.
View the Webinar Video
June 27, 2018
Water Loss Audits Webinar
Speaker: Daniel Rice, Water Loss Program Specialist with the Municipal Conservation Section of the Texas Water Development Board.
View the Webinar Video
August 22, 2017
Water Reuse Webinar
Learn about the different Learn about the different types of reuse, and the impacts of reuse in and on the Trinity River, with an emphasis on environmental flows. This webinar features Glenn Clingenpeel and Webster Mangham, from the Trinity River Authority.
View the Webinar Recording
Presentation Slides
February 23, 2017
On-Site Sewage Facilities Webinar
Hear about regional and statewide initiatives underway aimed to reduce the impact of OSSFs on public health and the environment.
View the Webinar Recording
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 2021 Region C Water Plan, in 2021 about 90% of available water in Region C is 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. Conservation and reuse are projected to comprise approximately 31% of available water in Region C as of 2070.
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 2009, which is helping to extend existing water supplies in the region.
Resources:
- 2022 Texas State Water Plan
- 2017 Texas State Water Plan Region C Data Mapping Tool
- Region C Water Planning Group
- 2021 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
Wastewater service is a critical infrastructure component in North Central Texas as the region continues to grow. Communities now on the perimeter of the urbanized area and beyond may become more dependent on each other to partner and provide cost efficient wastewater services. For such a densely populated and growing area, the provision of adequate treatment services is important as well as protecting water quality. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are regulated by TCEQ and are required to acquire permits for their discharges to receiving waterbodies. The permit limits are set by the state to avoid pollutant overloads to surface waters.
Resources:
- Wastewater And Treatment Education Roundtable
- Cease the Grease
- TCEQ Sanitary Sewer Overflow Initiative
- TCEQ Domestic Wastewater Permits: TPDES Permits and TLAP Permits
- TCEQ Wastewater Pretreatment: Requirements and Options
- On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) by County Mapping Tool
- NTMWD Raw Water Supply Project: John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
Water Conservation is a crucial part of ensuring future water supply and improving water quality for North Central Texas. 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.
Resources:
NCTCOG works with local governments and regional stakeholders to plan for future needs related to water resources in the North Central Texas Region.
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
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
North Central Texas Watershed Stakeholders
The North Central Texas Watershed Stakeholders group meets annually to discuss water quality planning in the region and to exchange information about watershed management. The meeting on March 19, 2020, was hosted as an online webinar due to public health concerns resulting from COVID-19. A recording of the meeting can be found under the green banner called "Webinars."
Meeting Info
- March 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at NCTCOG, William Pitstick Conference Room, First Floor. Add this meeting to your calendar here.
- March 23, 2022
- March 24, 2021
- March 19, 2020
- March 5, 2019
- June 25, 2019