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

Current Water Quality Management Plan

2025 DRAFT Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan

On July 9, 2025, NCTCOG’s Water Resources Council voted to locally adopt the Draft 2025 WQMP Update. It will be presented to NCTCOG’s Executive Board on July 24, 2025, before being submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for final approval.

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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 WQMP are to:

  • Identify water quality programs that contribute to watershed protection and water quality improvements.
  • Evaluate regional growth's impact on water supply and water quality subjects
  • 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. 
  • Continue mapping the locations of permitted on-site sewage facilities (septic systems) in the NCTCOG region to be used for water quality planning purposes. 
 

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


Additional Water Quality Resources:

 

Past Water Quality Management Plans

2024 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan

2023 Update to the North Central Texas Water Quality Management Plan

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 Infrastructure.

2016 North Central Texas Water Resources Report

Webinars

July 14, 2025

Community Drought Planning

Speakers:
Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist, Texas A&M University
Dr. Deborah Bathke, Nebraska State Climatologist, University of Nebraska

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording
Supplemental Slides on the THIRA Process from Deborah Bathke

May 15, 2025

AI: Challenges and Opportunities for Water Resources

Speakers:
Shela Chowdhury, Assistant Director of Strategic Operations - City of Fort Worth
Gage Muckleroy, Principal Management Consultant - GHD

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


April 10, 2025

Targeting Water Affordability Challenges with Customer Assistance Programs

Speakers:
Erica DePalma, Program Manager at US Water Alliance
Cory Burns, Manager - Water Utilities at City of Dallas
Medria Browhow, MAFM, CGFO, Assistant Director of Water Utilities – Business Services at City of Arlington
Dean VanHorne, District Operator at Texas Water Utilities

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording

February 12, 2025

From the Ground Up: The Whys and Hows of Groundwater Protection

Speakers:
Jill Nicole Garcia, PG, Assistant General Manager, Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Corey Jones, General Manager, Northern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Kaylin Garcia, Public Relations & Education Director, Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording

November 6, 2024

Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)- Strategies to Strengthen Drinking Water

Speakers:
Kira Smith, Environmental Engineer, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Kara Goodwin, Senior Technical Assistance Expert, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Shannon Evanchec, MBA, Director of Lead in Drinking Water Programs, TruePani & Khalilah Durand, Project Manager, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


August 15, 2024

Fighting PFAS Through Regulations and Remedies

Speakers:
J. Michael Trapp, Ph.D., National Water Resources Market Lead at Atkins Global
Samir Mathur, PE, BCEE, Senior Vice President and Water Reclamation Practice Leader at CDM Smith
Ned Calonge, M.D. M.PH., Associate Dean of Public Health Practice at the Colorado School of Public Health

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


July 16, 2024 

Utilizing Water Reuse to Create Resilient Water Systems

Speakers:
David Sloan, PE, BCEE, Senior Process Engineer, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Jennifer Walker, Senior Director of Texas Coast and Water Program, National Wildlife Federation
Usman Mahmood, Policy Analyst, Bayou City Waterkeeper
Sharlene Leurig, Founding CEO and Strategic Advisor, Texas Water Trade

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


May 22, 2024 

Digging into Soil Health- Principles to Protect our Water

Speakers:
Brian Koch, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Dennis Brezina, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording

 

February 20, 2024

Proposition 6 Possibilities: Funding Water Projects through New and Existing Resources

Speaker:
Scott Galaway, Outreach Specialist, Texas Water Development Board

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


November 30, 2023

Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Unfiltered Advice From Those in the Know

Speakers:
Michelle Wood-Ramirez, Urban Watershed Programs Coordinator, Tarrant Regional Water District
Charriss York, Program Director, Green Infrastructure for Texas (GIFT), a program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


October 25, 2023

Germinating Equitable Outcomes Through Urban Forestry

Speakers:
Emily Plauché, Urban Forestry Coordinator, Texas Trees Foundation
Lindsay Hoot, Cool Schools Education Coordinator, Texas Trees Foundation

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording


August 22, 2023

How the U.S. Supreme Court Shaped the Definition of WOTUS (Waters of the United States) and What It Means Going Forward


Speakers:
Andre Monette, Best Best & Krieger, LLP
Rebecca Andrews, Best Best & Krieger, LLP
Lowry Crook, Best Best & Krieger, LLP

Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording

August 15, 2023

Building Water Resilient Communities in North Texas


Speakers
Glenn Clingenpeel, Executive Manager of Technical Services and Basin Planning, Trinity River Authority,
Dr. Katherine Jack, Texas Climate Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Fouad Jaber, Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Kevin Smith, Planner, Texas Water Development Board

Presentation Slides
View the Webinar Video 
*Please note that at timestamp 49:24, the recording cuts out briefly and returns without the slides. You may follow along with the presentation slides for better context. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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

Presentation Slides

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

Presentation Slides

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. 

View Webinar Video

Presentation Slides

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

Presentation Slides

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 

Speakers:

Mac Martin, Water Resources Forester, Texas A&M Forest Service in Houston; 
Susan Alvarez, Assistant Director, Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability, City of Dallas;
Matt Grubisich, Director of Operations & Urban Forestry, Texas Trees Foundation.

They discussed the benefits of forests and trees to water quality and stormwater reduction, the co-benefits of increasing an urban canopy, Dallas' Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan, and specific case studies.

View the Webinar Video


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

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.

View the Webinar Video










 

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

Presentation Slides

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

Water Supply

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:

Wastewater

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:

 

On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) Authorized Agent Roundtable- October 29, 2024
NCTCOG hosted on the OSSF Authorized Agent Roundtable to share updates on regional OSSF identification and remediation projects and to encourage peer-to-peer sharing regarding OSSF management needs. 

Presentation Slides
Roundtable Recording

Water Conservation

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:

Committees

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

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

Urban Forestry Resources

Past Events:

Urban Forestry Stakeholders Meeting: Urban Forestry Master Plans 101
May 14, 2024.

Rachel McGregor, Lead Forester with Texas Trees Foundation, shared the best practices used in master planning. Information included tips on laying the groundwork in your community, getting the right stakeholders at the table, and a timeline for planning and implementation.

Presentation Slides
Meeting Recording
 

Urban Forestry Stakeholders Meeting: Forestry Opportunities Within Your Community
June 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., via Microsoft Teams

Courtney Blevins, Regional Urban Forester from Texas A&M Forest Service, shared the possibilities that exist through consultant services, Tree City USA, and other tools. 

Presentation Slides
Meeting Recording