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2010 BASIN HIGHLIGHTS REPORT AN OVERVIEW OF WATER QUALITY ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE Canadian and red RIVER BASINS The preparation of this report was financed through and in cooperation with Red river at us78 the Texas commission on environmental quality TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Preface 3 How water quality is monitored 4 We have the data, now what do we do with it 4 Common water quality parameters 5 An overview of the Canadian River basin Map of the Canadian river basin 6 An introduction to the Canadian river basin 7 Reach I 8 Reach ii 10 Reach iii 12 Reach iv 14 Reach v 16 An overview of the Red River basin Map of the red river basin 18 An Introduction to the Red river basin 19 Reach I 20 Reach I Upper 22 Reach ii 24 Reach iii 26 Reach iv 28 Reach v 30 Outreach and involvement 32 Recommendations 33 Conclusions 34 Beaver creek at SH25 2 preface AT A GLANCE he Texas Legislature, in 1991, enacted the Texas Clean Rivers Act (Senate Bill 818) in or- T der to assess water quality for each river basin in the state. From this, the Clean Rivers Pro- BRIEF HISTORY gram (CRP) was created and has become one of the most successful cooperative efforts between OF THE RED RIVER federal, state, and local agencies and the citizens of the State of Texas. It is implemented by the AUTHORITY OF TEXAS Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) through local partner agencies to achieve & THE CLEAN RIVERS the CRP’s primary goal of maintaining and improving the water quality in each river basin. The PROGRAM Red River Authority is the partner agency for both the Red and Canadian River Basins. A watershed management approach was selected as the best method to manage the State’s di- 1991 verse surface water resources. In order to achieve this, the Authority subdivided each basin into Entered into contract with TCEQ for the CRP. five reaches, or sub-watersheds, divided by natural hydrology and composed of classified and unclassified water body segments. The TCEQ identifies each of these classified segments in the 1996 Began monitoring and Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (TSWQS). Data resulting from the collection and analy- sampling sites - Approximately 10. sis of water samples is used in the development of and compliance with these standards. 1999 An integral part of the CRP is the Basin Highlights Report (BHR). The reports are based on Environmental Services Division quality assured data as utilized in the Texas Water Quality Inventory and 303(d) List (TWQI). expanded including in-house laboratory. The TWQI is an assessment of the water quality data and is composed by the TCEQ every two 2003 years as required under the Federal Clean Waters Act (CWA) Sections 305(b) and 303(d) admin- Monitoring 36 sampling sites. istered by the Environmental Protection Agency. The 303(d) list identifies waters from the 2006 TWQI not meeting the uses designated in the TSWQS. The most recent TWQI may be accessed RRA relocated to new office and on the TCEQ’s website at: expanded lab facility. Monitoring 53 sampling sites. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/water/quality/data/08twqi/twqi08.html. 2008 This year’s BHR differs from those written in years past. In 2009, the RRA produced the Basin Laboratory receives NELAC Interim Summary Report, which included extensive technical data analysis based on the final 2008 Certification TWQI. This report utilizes the same information; however, the time frame is from September 2009 2008 through August 2009. The final 2010 TWQI or CWA section 305(b) and 303(d) Integrated Laboratory achieves NELAC Report is still in draft format. This BHR is brief in its extent and focuses mainly on water body Certification. Monitoring 49 sites. impairments and concerns. Therefore, it is suggested that the reader view the 2009 Summary Re- port of the Canadian and Red River Basins for more in depth information. It may be found on the RRA website at: www.rra.dst.tx.us. 3 INTRODUCTION HOW IS WATER WE HAVE THE DATA, NOW WHAT use, the water body is said to be QUALITY MONITORED? DO WE DO WITH IT? “impaired.” Water bodies may also have ater quality can be evaluated us- he State of Texas has designated five “concerns” if short-term data show ele- W ing physical characteristics, T water use categories including: vated levels. A “concern” can also indi- chemical characteristics, or a combination aquatic life, contact recreation, fish con- cate a potential water quality issue where of the two. Parameters, such as, dissolved sumption, public water supply, and gen- there is either an insufficient amount of oxygen, bacteria, suspended solids, and eral use. Each category has numerical cri- data to compare to or no numeric criteria chlorides, are just a few examples of how teria associated with it depending on its (limits) have been established. water quality can be measured. Through- designated use. For example, water desig- Some examples of water quality parame- out the Canadian and Red River Basins nated for public water supply will have ters commonly used to evaluate water there are several entities who participate in more stringent requirements compared to a quality are listed in the table on page 5. routine water quality monitoring efforts: water body designated for general use. Collecting field data Sweetwater Creek at Us83 • Red River Authority (RRA) All available data collected during moni- • City of Sherman toring events are used to develop appropri- • Texas Commission on Environmental ate water quality standards (WQS) for wa- Quality (TCEQ) ter bodies across Texas. WQS use a pe- • United States Geological Survey riod of record data, many years if available (USGS) to develop appropriate standards for water bodies across Texas. The TWQI differs Joint efforts and adherence to Quality As- from this using a seven-year assessment surance Project Plans (QAPPs) enable data window that progressively moves every collected from various organizations state- two years. Current datasets are then com- wide to be used in collaborative efforts to pared to these standards to evaluate water assess the water quality and develop water quality. Data may either support, or not quality standards for streams, rivers, and support the designated use. If data do not lakes. show good water quality to support the 4 Common Water Quality Parameters FIELD PARAMETERS Collected and processed in the field laboratory. Results are expressed in mg/L except where noted. PARAMETER DEFINITION The hydrogen-ion activity of water caused by the breakdown of water molecules and the presence of dissolved acids and bases. pH pH determines whether a water body is acidic, neutral, or basic. The pH of the water may affect the toxicity of many substances. Re- sults are expressed in standard units. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - the oxygen that is freely available in water. DO is vital to fish and other aquatic life and the prevention of Dissolved Oxygen odors. Traditionally, adequate ranges of dissolved oxygen levels have been accepted as the single most important indicator of a wa- ter body's ability to support desirable aquatic life. The current indicator bacteria to determine if the water body is suitable for contact recreation. It is expressed in MPN (most probable number) per 100mL of water. High results of an E. coli test can indicate a potential pollution problem. E. coli is used as an indicator Bacteria (E. coli) because it is found in warm blooded animal fecal matter and could indicate potentially harmful conditions to people like pathogen exposure. CONVENTIONAL PARAMETERS Collected in the field but processed in the laboratory. Results are expressed in mg/L except where noted. PARAMETER DEFINITION Naturally occurring in surface and wastewater, and is produced by the breakdown of compounds containing organic nitrogen. Ammonia Elevated ammonia levels are a good indicator of organic pollution. A photosynthetic pigment which is found in all green plants. The concentration of chlorophyll-a is used to estimate phytoplankton Chlorophyll-a biomass in surface water. Results are expressed in micrograms per liter. Nutrients can stimulate the production of chlorophyll-a, leading to elevated levels which can indicate a problem. Is a soluble form of phosphorus (PO4) that is applied to urban and agricultural land as fertilizers and is often found in storm water Orthophosphorus run-off. An essential nutrient to the growth of organisms and can be the nutrient that limits the primary productivity in water. An excessive Total Phosphorus amount from wastewater, agricultural drainage, and certain industrial wastes, also contributes to the eutrophication of lakes and other water bodies. Phosphorus is commonly known as a man-made pollutant. Total Dissolved Solids TDS - A measure of solids, both organic and inorganic, dissolved in water. Usually dissolved into waters from rocks and soils containing gypsum, iron sulfides, and other sulfur compounds. Sulfides are Sulfate widely distributed in nature and in high concentration, sulfate can affect drinking water. One of the major inorganic ions in water and wastewater. Concentrations can be increased by industrial processes. High chloride Chloride concentrations can affect metallic objects, growing plants, and make water unsuitable for drinking. Chloride compounds, often known as salts, can be an indicator of natural or manmade pollution, as in the case of oil field brines. 5 Canadian river basin 6 An introduction to the Canadian River basin he Canadian River Basin includes all or parts of 15 counties support aquatic life and recreational uses. However, there are two T in the Texas Panhandle. Beginning at the northeastern major issues that have long affected the Canadian River Basin. slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico as a One is the ongoing drought that has been a problem since the mid tributary to the Arkansas River, the Canadian River eventually 1990’s.

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