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

2021 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 WQMP are:

  • 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. 


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:

           

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 Mangement 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

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 1999, which is helping to extend existing water supplies in the region.

Resources:

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:


 

Water Conservation is a crucial part of ensuring future water supply and improving water quality for North Central Texas. According to the current 2017 State Water Plan, Region C faces the largest rate of increase in water needs of all the 16 regions in Texas with about a 10-fold increase in water needs between 2020 and 2070. 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.

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 last 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" on this page.
Meeting Info

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.

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