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Recreational Use Attainability Analysis for One Segment in the Red River Basin and One Waterbody in the Sabine River Basin

Project Goals/Objectives: This project will collect data to evaluate factors affecting attainment of recreational use in Lower Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River (0207)  and Little Cypress Bayou (0501B). Possible sources of bacteria will be assessed by developing a comprehensive GIS inventory, evaluating historical water quality data, and conducting a watershed source survey. To ensure decision-making is founded on local input and that watershed action is successful, public participation and stakeholder interaction will be a critical component of this project.

Project Background:Major revisions to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (TSWQS) were adopted by TCEQ in 2010 and approved by EPA in 2011, including modifications to contact recreation use and bacteria criteria. As part of this process, TCEQ developed procedures for conducting RUAAs. In order for a new category of recreational use or a different bacteria water quality criterion to be applied to a water body, an RUAA will need to be conducted. TCEQ and TSSWCB have collaborated on developing a list of priority water bodies for collecting information needed for RUAAs and the water bodies for this project (The Lower Prairie Dog Town Fork River and the Little Cypress Bayou are on that list). Since primary contact recreation use is presumed for both water bodies in the study area, the findings from an RUAA will provide information to substantiate the level of recreational use actually occurring in the water bodies.

Project Location:The Lower Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River (0207) is located in the north western region of Texas. The Lower Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River (0207) is located in portions of Armstrong, Briscoe, Hall, and Childress Counties and flows under U.S. Route 83 near Childress. The Little Cypress Bayou (0501B) is located in the Sabine River Basin in the coastal region of Texas within Orange County and flows through the northeast corner of the City of Orange.

Project Participation: TSSWCB, Texas Institute for Applied Enviornmental Research (TIAER)

Project Workplan15-57

Quality Assurance Project Plan15-57

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