Water Quality Water Quality Standards at Standards at Caddo LakeCaddo Lake

Environmental Flows Environmental Flows Workshop Planning Workshop Planning

MeetingMeeting

May 2007May 2007

Two Recent Two Recent ProposalsProposals

1. Proposal to change the 1. Proposal to change the segments and related pH segments and related pH issuesissues

2. Delisting or Downgrading 2. Delisting or Downgrading - TCEQ proposed changes to 303(d) - TCEQ proposed changes to 303(d) listings for segments 401, 402, listings for segments 401, 402, and 407and 407

Current SegmentsCurrent Segments

Map will go here.Map will go here.

Proposal to change Proposal to change segments and related pH segments and related pH

issuesissues Arthur Crowe to Caddo Lake Institute on March, Arthur Crowe to Caddo Lake Institute on March,

26 2007 (abbreviated)26 2007 (abbreviated)

TCEQ staff would like to offer several ideas for discussion TCEQ staff would like to offer several ideas for discussion regarding Caddo Lake during the current triennial standards regarding Caddo Lake during the current triennial standards review:review:

1. Change the boundary description between 0401 and 0402 to 1. Change the boundary description between 0401 and 0402 to read the intersection of Big Cypress Bayou and Government Ditch read the intersection of Big Cypress Bayou and Government Ditch in the Devils Elbow area. This is a clearer description than the in the Devils Elbow area. This is a clearer description than the current boundary which is a certain distance downstream of SH43current boundary which is a certain distance downstream of SH43

2. Divide segment 0401 into two separate segments with the 2. Divide segment 0401 into two separate segments with the upper area referred to as The Caddo Swamp (see next slide). The upper area referred to as The Caddo Swamp (see next slide). The two areas are different physically and hydrologically.two areas are different physically and hydrologically.

3. The Caddo Swamp to have different pH standard (5.5-8.5 S.U.) 3. The Caddo Swamp to have different pH standard (5.5-8.5 S.U.) than that of the main lake (6.0-8.5 S.U.). than that of the main lake (6.0-8.5 S.U.).

We are also considering lowering pH standards for some other We are also considering lowering pH standards for some other streams in the Cypress Basin that we feel are the result of natural streams in the Cypress Basin that we feel are the result of natural conditions…conditions…

Delisting/DowngradingDelisting/Downgrading

Draft 2006 Texas Water Bodies Draft 2006 Texas Water Bodies and Parameters Removed from and Parameters Removed from the 303(d) List (March 19, 2007)the 303(d) List (March 19, 2007) Caddo Lake (401)Caddo Lake (401) Big Cypress Below Lake O’ the Pines Big Cypress Below Lake O’ the Pines

(402)(402) James’ Bayou (407)James’ Bayou (407) Little Cypress Bayou (Creek) (409)Little Cypress Bayou (Creek) (409)

Caddo Lake (Segment Caddo Lake (Segment 401)401)

Current Listed Impairment – Current Listed Impairment – Depressed Dissolved Oxygen Depressed Dissolved Oxygen

Current Listed Impairment Category Current Listed Impairment Category – 5c– 5c The water body does not meet The water body does not meet

applicable water quality standards or is applicable water quality standards or is threatened for one or more designated threatened for one or more designated uses by one or more pollutantsuses by one or more pollutants

Additional data and information will be Additional data and information will be collected before a TMDL is scheduledcollected before a TMDL is scheduled

Caddo Lake (Segment Caddo Lake (Segment 401)401)

Reason for delisting – PollutionReason for delisting – Pollution This impairment is not caused by a pollutant This impairment is not caused by a pollutant

load that can be allocated and controlled load that can be allocated and controlled with a TMDL. This impairment has been with a TMDL. This impairment has been moved to a category 4c.moved to a category 4c.

Additional InformationAdditional Information The seasonal low dissolved oxygen condition The seasonal low dissolved oxygen condition

in this portion of the lake is due to natural in this portion of the lake is due to natural conditions with trees, wind protection, little conditions with trees, wind protection, little water movement, and warm temperatures. A water movement, and warm temperatures. A TMDL would not be a useful water quality TMDL would not be a useful water quality planning strategy…planning strategy…

Big Cypress (Segment Big Cypress (Segment 402)402)

Current Impairment 1 – Depressed Current Impairment 1 – Depressed Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen Current Listed Category – 5cCurrent Listed Category – 5c

The water body does not meet applicable The water body does not meet applicable water quality standards or is threatened water quality standards or is threatened for one or more designated uses by one for one or more designated uses by one or more pollutants.or more pollutants.

Additional data and information will be Additional data and information will be collected before a TMDL is scheduled.collected before a TMDL is scheduled.

Current Impairment 2 – Lead in Current Impairment 2 – Lead in WaterWater Current Listed Category – 5c (see above)Current Listed Category – 5c (see above)

Big Cypress (Segment Big Cypress (Segment 402)402)

Reason for Delisting – MEETSReason for Delisting – MEETS The most recent set of data The most recent set of data

demonstrates that water demonstrates that water quality standards are now met quality standards are now met and water quality meets the and water quality meets the requirements for delistingrequirements for delisting

For both impairments 1 and 2For both impairments 1 and 2

James’ Bayou (Segment James’ Bayou (Segment 407)407)

Current Impairment – Copper in Current Impairment – Copper in BayouBayou Current Category – 5cCurrent Category – 5c

The water body does not meet applicable water The water body does not meet applicable water quality standards or is threatened for one or quality standards or is threatened for one or more designated uses by one or more more designated uses by one or more pollutantspollutants

A review of the water quality standards will be A review of the water quality standards will be conducted before a TMDL is scheduledconducted before a TMDL is scheduled

Reason for Delisting – MEETSReason for Delisting – MEETS The most recent set of data demonstrates that The most recent set of data demonstrates that

water quality standards are now met and water water quality standards are now met and water quality meets the requirements for delisting quality meets the requirements for delisting

Little Cypress (Segment Little Cypress (Segment 409)409)

Current Listed Impairments – Current Listed Impairments – Depressed Dissolved Oxygen and Depressed Dissolved Oxygen and BacteriaBacteria

Current Listed Impairment Category – Current Listed Impairment Category – 5c5c The water body does not meet applicable The water body does not meet applicable

water quality standards or is threatened water quality standards or is threatened for one or more designated uses by one or for one or more designated uses by one or more pollutantsmore pollutants

Additional data and information will be Additional data and information will be collected before a TMDL is scheduledcollected before a TMDL is scheduled

No proposal to change this listingNo proposal to change this listing