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Regulatory Effectiveness Study for theArmand Bayou Coastal Preserve
OPrinted on recycled paper
Regulatory Effectiveness Study for theArmand Bayou Coastal Preserve
Gary Mitchell, AICPPrincipal Investigator
Houston-Galveston Area Council
and
Duane Windsor, Ph.D., SubcontractorLynette S. Autry Professor of ManagementJones Graduate School of Administration
Rice University
The Galveston Bay National Estuary Program
Publication GBNEP-13December, 1991
iii
This project has been funded in part by the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement# CE-00655-01 to the Texas Water Commission. The contents ofthis document do not necessarily represent the views of theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency, the TexasWater Commission, nor the Galveston Bay National EstuaryProgram, nor does mention of trade names or commercialproducts constitute an endorsement or recommendation foruse.
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Policy Committee
The Honorable Rodney Ellis, ChairTexas Senate
Mr. John HallChair,
Texas Water Commission
Ms. Linda SheadExecutive Director
Galveston Bay Foundation
Ms. Eileen CrowleyFormer President
Greater Houston PartnershipChamber of Commerce Division
Mr. Buck J. Wynne, III, Vice-ChairRegional Administrator, EPA Region 6
Mr. John Wilson KelseyVice-Chair,Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Mr. Charles W. JennessChair,Texas Water Development Board
The Honorable Jon LindsayCounty Judge, Harris County
Local Governments Advisory Committee
The Honorable Ray Holbrook, Chair
Management Committee
Mr. Myron 0. Knudson, Chair Ms. Barbara Britton, Vice-Chair
Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee
Dr. Frank M. Fisher, Jr., Chair Dr. Robert McFarlane, Vice-Chair
Citizen's Advisory Steering Committee
Ms. Sharron Stewart, Chair Ms. Glenda Callaway, Vice-Chair
Galveston Bay Public Forum
Dr. Martin Arisco, Chair Dr. Don Bass, Vice-Chair
Program Director
Dr. Frank S. Shipley
V
H-GAC Natural Resources Advisoiy Committee
The Honorable Ed Matuszak, ChairCouncilmember, City ofLaPorte
Mr. Dennis Caputo, Vice-ChairProler Corporation
Mr. Jim AdamsSanJacinto River Authority
Ms. Barbara BainLeague of Women Voters
Mr. Steve BrooksMetropolitan Transit Authority
Mr. Robert ChaseClean Houston, Inc.
Mr. Cristopher ClaunchClaunch and Miller, Inc.
Mr. Jim DannenbaumDannenbaum Engineering Corporation
Mr. Leo DavisSam Houston RC&D Area, Inc.
Ms. Betty HartWaller Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Sherrill JenningsPrivate Citizen
Mr. Tom KesslerGalveston County Engineering
Mr. Aubrey A. LaFargueCity of Houston Public Works Dept.
Mr. William S. O'Donnell, Sr.Greater Houston Builders Association
Mr. Allison R. PeirceHarris County Pollution Control
Mr. Enrique QuevedoCity of Houston Health Department
Mr. Reagan RovshachCamp, Dresser McKee
Ms. Cathy SiskHarris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District
Mr. Ed FeithHouston Lighting and Power
Mr. Dan GerkenFort Bend County Engineering
Mr. James GibsonQiambers County Sanitation Department
Mr. James B. GreenHarris County Flood Control District
Mr. Mac HallMalcolm Pirnie, Inc.
Mr. Joe P. TellerGulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
Mr. Stephen G. WavroExxon
Mayor Veta WinnickCity of Dickinson
Commissioner E.R. VacekMatagorda County
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GBNEP Coastal Preserves Task Force
Dr. Larry McKinney, ChairTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
Dr. Neil BishopTurner, Collie & Braden, Inc.
Mr. James BlackburnGalveston Bay Foundation
Ms. Glenda CallawayEKISTICS Corporation
Ms. Sally DavenportTexas General Land Office
Dr. Frank M. Fisher, Jr.Rice University
Dr. Hal IrbyTexas General Land Office (formerly)
Mr. Fred LeblancTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
Mr. Rollin MacRaeTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
Mr. Don MooreNational Marine Fisheries Service
Mr. David NeleighEnvironmental Protection Agency
Mr. Ken TeagueEnvironmental Protection Agency
Dr. Jerry WermundUniversity of Texas at Austin
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H-GAC Project StaffJeff Taebel, AICP, Manager of Community and Environmental Planning
Carl Masterson, Senior Environmental PlannerGary Mitchell, AICP, Environmental Planner (Principal Investigator)
Ed Polasek, Environmental PlannerAnn Weinle, Administrative Assistant
SubcontractorDuane Windsor, Ph.D.
Lynette S. Autrey Professor of ManagementJones Graduate School of Administration
Rice University
Houston-Galveston Area CouncilCommunity and Environmental Planning Department
P.O. Box 22777, 3555 TimmonsHouston, Texas 77227
713/627-3200
Fax: 713/621-8129
xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1Overview of Armand Bayou Management Concerns 2
READER'S GUIDE 5
INTRODUCTION ,. 7Purpose 7Scope 7Study Area Description 8Methodology 8
CHAPTER ONE: MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW 13General Recommendations for Preserve Management 15
CHAPTER TWO: POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 17Summary of Findings 17Action Recommendations 18Management Framework 22Management Concern: Point Source Discharges 27
Background 27Nature of the Problem at Armand Bayou 27
Key Management Agencies 27U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 27Texas Water Commission 31Railroad Commission of Texas 37Harris County Pollution Control Department 40
Management Evaluation Findings 41
CHAPTER THREE: STORM WATER RUNOFF 55Summary of Findings 55Action Recommendations 56Management Framework 60Management Concern: Storm Water Runoff 62
Background 62Nature of the Problem at Armand Bayou 62
Key Management Agencies 63U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 63Texas Water Commission 69
Management Evaluation Findings 71
CHAPTER FOUR: WETLANDS PROTECTION 79Summary of Findings 79Action Recommendations 80Management Framework 83Management Concern: Wetlands Protection 89
Background 89
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Nature of the Problem at Armand Bayou 91Key Management Agencies 91
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 91U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 98U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 101National Marine Fisheries Service 103Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 104Texas General Land Office 107
Management Evaluation Findings 109
CHAPTER FIVE: HABITAT PROTECTION 117Summary of Findings 117Action Recommendations 118Management Framework 119Management Concern: Habitat Protection 122
Background 122Nature of the Problem at Armand Bayou 122
Key Management Agencies 123U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 123Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 125National Marine Fisheries Service 127
Management Evaluation Findings 129
CHAPTER SIX: ILLICIT WASTE DISPOSAL 133Summary of Findings 133Action Recommendations 133Management Framework 135Management Concern: Illicit Waste Disposal 136
Background 136Nature of the Problem at Armand Bayou 137
Key Management Agencies 137Harris County Pollution Control Department 137Other Involved Agencies 138
Management Evaluation Findings 139
APPENDIX A: Legislation and Regulations 143APPENDIX B: List of Agencies Contacted 145APPENDIX C: Survey Form Example 147APPENDIX D: Agency Directory 153
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 157
LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1: Agency Acronyms 11Figure 2: EPA Program Areas Involved in Point Source Regulation 29
LIST OF MAPSArmand Bayou Study Area 9
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PREFACE
The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established by the Water Quality Act (WQA)of 1987. The Act authorizes the Administrator of the United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) to convene Management Conferences to developComprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) for estuaries of nationalsignificance that are threatened by pollution, development or overuse.
Galveston Bay was named for priority consideration for inclusion in the NEP in theWater Quality Act. The Governor of Texas submitted a Supplemental Nomination forGalveston Bay in May 1987. EPA accepted the nomination and initiated theManagement Conference for Galveston Bay in July 1988. A cooperative agreementbetween Texas and the U.S. EPA was signed in October 1988, enabling developmentalwork to begin on the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program (GBNEP). (AManagement Conference overview and member directory is available from the GBNEPProgram Office.)
The GBNEP received approval for an Action Plan Demonstration Project from EPA'sOffice of Marine and Estuarine Protection in July 1989, and EPA Region 6 providedfunding in September 1989. Such projects are designed to show near-term positiveactions by National Estuary Programs. Under the GBNEP project, two new coastalpreserves, Armand Bayou and Christmas Bay, were created under the existing jointTexas General Land Office (GLO)/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)Coastal Preserves Program. Armand Bayou, the focus of this regulatory survey, wasrecommended for Coastal Preserve designation due to its importance as an aesthetic andeducational resource.
This report contains a description and evaluation of essential regulatory activitiesgoverning Armand Bayou and its watershed. This report will be used in managementplanning for the preserve, and will also contribute to the baseline regulatory data fordeveloping the Galveston Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Acompanion report was prepared for the Christmas Bay Coastal Preserve.
This study was conducted by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and Duane Windsor,Ph.D., of Rice University, under contract to the Galveston Bay National EstuaryProgram.
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