WATER QUALITY IN THE LOWER ANNUAL WATER QUALITY UPDATE AND BASIN ADVISORY MEETING LESLIE GRIJALVA, USIBWC CLEAN PROGRAM AUGUST 8, 2018, MERCEDES, TX WHAT IS THE IBWC TEXAS CLEAN RIVERS PROGRAM? − State fee‐funded program created in 1991 − IBWC integrated water quality monitoring program with TCEQ in 1998 − USIBWC collects ambient water quality for entire reach of the international portion of the Rio Grande − Samples are collected monthly or quarterly by IBWC, TCEQ Regional Offices, and volunteer groups such as City of Brownsville − Sample and analysis was standardized to ensure data quality

Monitoring sites on the Rio Grande Provide data so • USIBWC CRP –74 SITES Identify & that corrective Evaluate Water actions can be • TCEQ –36 sites Quality Issues prioritized and implemented • 9 DUPLICATE

• Total 94 stations WHAT DOES CRP DO?

• Water Quality Monitoring • Routine Monitoring • Special Studies • Water Quality Assessment and Reports • Annual Basin Highlights Report • Basin Summary Report (5- year report) • Watershed Characterizations (1st report 2016) OTHER CRP ACTIVITIES

• PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, OUTREACH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WHAT DATA DOES CRP COLLECT?

• ROUTINE PARAMETERS • FIELD DATA (PH, DO, EC, TEMP) • CONVENTIONALS (NUTRIENTS, SALTS, BOD, TDS) • BACTERIA • NON-ROUTINE • ORGANICS IN • METALS IN WATER AND SEDIMENT LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS- LOWER RIO GRANDE

Help monitor and collect water samples, and analyze water samples: • USIBWC Mercedes field office • USIBWC field office • UTRGV- EDINBURG • Brownsville PUB • USGS • TCEQ Harlingen • TCEQ Continuous WQ Monitoring WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DATA?

CRP and TCEQ regional offices collect and review data

Submit Data to TCEQ

TCEQ compares data to Standards

Segments not meeting standards are listed as impaired on the 303d List TEXAS SURFACE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

• FOR THE LOWER RIO GRANDE

SEGMENT USES TDS Bacteria (mg/l) (#/100 ml)

2301 – Tidal • Primary Contact Recreation -- 35 • Excellent Aquatic Life Entero

2302 – Below Falcon • Primary Contact Recreation 880 126 • High Aquatic Life E. Coli •Sole-source public drinking supply

2303 – Falcon Reservoir •Primary Contact Recreation 1,000 126 • High Aquatic Life E. Coli •Sole-source public drinking supply INTEGRATED REPORT AND 303D LIST

IMPAIRMENTS DOES NOT MEET WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

CONCERNS  CLOSE TO NOT MEETING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, OR HAVE HIGH VALUES OF PARAMETERS FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO STANDARDS WATER QUALITY IMPAIRMENTS AND CONCERNS IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE BASIN

BACTERIA ISSUES IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE

• DECREASING BACTERIA IN THE VALLEY • DECREASING IN BROWNSVILLE SINCE 2008 • MOST LIKELY DUE TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT GOING ONLINE IN 2008 IN MATAMOROS. • BACTERIA ISSUES IN THIS SECTION OF THE ARE IMPROVING • OTHER AREAS SHOW INCREASING LEVELS OF BACTERIA • RIO GRANDE CITY • HIDALGO • MCALLEN SALINITY IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE

• HIGH SALINITY HAS RECENTLY BEEN REPORTED, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE RECENT FLOOD EVENT • HIGH SALINITY VALUES RESULT IN THE NEED TO RELEASE MORE WATER TO DILUTE • POSSIBLE CAUSES • RECENT FLOOD EVENT IN JUNE, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT RUNOFF INTO THE RIVER. • RUNOFF BRINGS WITH IT EVERYTHING ON ROADS, AGRICULTURAL FIELDS, ETC. • IRRIGATION RETURN FLOWS COUPLED WITH PREVIOUSLY LOW FLOWS • FEWER RELEASES FROM FALCON RESERVOIR • OTHER INPUTS INTO THE RIVER (MORILLO DRAIN) UPSTREAM OF RIO GRANDE CITY

Rio Grande near Fronton Texas: Station 13186 Rio Grande near Fronton Texas: Station 13186 1050 6000 300 6000

950 5000 250 5000

850 4000 200 4000

750

3000 150 3000

650 Flow (cfs) Flow (cfs) (MPN/100mL) TDS Value (mg/L) TDS Value 2000 E.coli 100 2000 550

1000 450 50 1000

350 0 0 0 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Jun-13 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Apr-16 Apr-15 Apr-14 Dec-16 Feb-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 Jun-13 Jun-14 Jun-15 Jun-16 Oct-13 Oct-14 Oct-15 Oct-16 Feb-13 Apr-13 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-16 Feb-17 Aug-13 Aug-14 Aug-15 Aug-16 Total Dissolved Solids (mg/l) Standard Flow E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) UPSTREAM OF RIO GRANDE CITY

Rio Grande River at Fort Ringgold, near Rio Rio Grande River at Fort Ringgold, near Rio Grande City: Station 13185 Grande City: Station 13185

1000 12000 6000 12000

900 10000 5000 10000

800 8000 4000 8000

700 6000 3000 6000 Flow (cfs) (MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) TDS Value (mg/L) TDS Value 600 4000 2000E.coli 4000

500 2000 1000 2000

400 0 0 0 Jul-16 Jul-15 Jul-14 Jul-13 Jan-17 Jan-16 Jan-15 Jan-14 Jan-13 Jul-16 Jul-15 Jul-14 Jul-13 Sep-16 Sep-15 Sep-14 Sep-13 Nov-16 Nov-15 Nov-14 Nov-13 Mar-17 Mar-16 Mar-15 Mar-14 Mar-13 Jan-17 Jan-16 Jan-15 Jan-14 Jan-13 May-16 May-15 May-14 May-13 Sep-16 Sep-15 Sep-14 Sep-13 Nov-16 Nov-15 Nov-14 Nov-13 Mar-17 Mar-16 Mar-15 Mar-14 Mar-13 May-16 May-15 May-14 May-13 TDS Standard Flow E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) UPSTREAM OF MCALLEN

Rio Grande River near Los Ebanos: Station 13184 Rio Grande River near Los Ebanos: Station 13184

2100 12000 2000 12000

1800 1900 10000 10000 1600 1700 1400 8000 1500 8000 1200 1300 1000 6000 (MPN/100mL) 6000 Flow (cfs)

1100 Flow (cfs)

E.coli 800

TDS Value (mg/L) TDS 4000 900 4000 600

400 700 2000 2000 200 500 0 0 300 0 Jul-13 Jul-14 Jul-15 Jul-16 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Sep-13 Sep-14 Sep-15 Sep-16 Nov-13 Nov-14 Nov-15 Nov-16 Mar-13 Mar-14 Mar-15 Mar-16 Mar-17 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Dec-16 Feb-17 Apr-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) TDS Standard Flow UPSTREAM OF MCALLEN

Rio Grande Downstream of Anzalduas Dam: Station 13664 Rio Grande Downstream of Anzalduas Dam: Station 13664

1600 8000 2500 8000

1400 7000 7000 2000 1200 6000 6000

1000 5000 5000 1500

800 4000 4000 Flow (cfs) Flow (cfs) 600 3000 1000

TDS Value (mg/L) TDS 3000 E.coli (MPN/100mL)

400 2000 2000 500 200 1000 1000

0 0 0 0 Jul-13 Jul-14 Jul-15 Jul-16 Jul-13 Jul-14 Jul-15 Jul-16 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Sep-13 Sep-14 Sep-15 Sep-16 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17 Nov-13 Nov-14 Nov-15 Nov-16 Mar-14 Mar-15 Mar-16 Mar-17 Sep-13 Sep-14 Sep-15 Sep-16 Nov-13 Nov-14 Nov-15 Nov-16 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17 Mar-13 Mar-14 Mar-15 Mar-16 Mar-17 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 TDS (mg/L) TDS Standard (880 mg/L) Flow (cfs) E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) DOWNSTREAM OF MCALLEN

Rio Grande River at Hidalgo: Station 13181 Rio Grande River at Hidalgo: Station 13181 1500 8000

1200 8000 1400 7000

1300 7000 1000 6000 1200 6000

5000 800 1100 5000

1000 4000 600 4000 Flow (cfs)

900 Flow (cfs) (MPN/100mL) TDS Value (mg/L) TDS Value 3000 3000

800 400E.coli 2000 2000 700 200 1000 600 1000

500 0 0 0 Jun-13 Jun-14 Jun-15 Jun-16 Oct-13 Oct-14 Oct-15 Oct-16 Jul-16 Jul-15 Jul-14 Jul-13 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-16 Feb-17 Apr-17 Aug-13 Aug-14 Aug-15 Aug-16 Jan-17 Jan-16 Jan-15 Jan-14 Jan-13 Sep-16 Sep-15 Sep-14 Sep-13 Nov-16 Nov-15 Nov-14 Nov-13 Mar-17 Mar-16 Mar-15 Mar-14 Mar-13 May-16 May-15 May-14 May-13 TDS Standard Flow E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) DOWNSTREAM OF MCALLEN

Rio Grande Upstream of Pharr International Bridge: Station Rio Grande Upstream of Pharr International Bridge: Station 15808 15808 1300 8000 8000 8000

1200 7000 7000 7000

1100 6000 6000 6000

1000 5000 5000 5000

900 4000 4000 4000 (MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) Flow (cfs)

800 3000 E.coli 3000 3000 TDS Value (mg/L) TDS

2000 2000 700 2000

1000 1000 600 1000

0 0 500 0 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Jun-13 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Dec-16 Feb-17 Apr-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Feb-13 Apr-13 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Jun-13 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Apr-17 Apr-16 Apr-15 Apr-14 Apr-13 Dec-16 Feb-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Feb-13 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) TDS (mg/L) TDS Standard (880 mg/L) Flow (cfs) NORTH OF BROWNSVILLE

Rio Grande at Riverbend Golf Course West of Brownsville: Rio Grande at Riverbend Golf Course West of Brownsville: Station Station 13179 13179 1400 140

1300 120 1200

1100 100

1000 80 900

(MPN/100mL) 60 800

700 E.coli 40 600 20 500

400 0 Jul-16 Jul-15 Jul-14 Jun-14 Jun-15 Jun-16 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Oct-14 Oct-15 Feb-14 Apr-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Jan-16 Jan-15 Oct-15 Oct-14 Aug-14 Aug-15 Dec-15 Apr-16 Dec-14 Apr-15 Apr-14 Feb-16 Feb-15 Feb-14 Sep-15 Sep-14 Aug-15 Aug-14 Nov-15 Nov-14 Mar-16 Mar-15 Mar-14 May-16 May-15 May-14 TDS (mg/L) TDS Standard (880 mg/L) E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) DOWNSTREAM OF BROWNSVILLE

Rio Grande at El Jardin Pump: Station 13177 Rio Grande at El Jardin Pump: Station 13177 1400 5000

4500 25000 5000 1300

4000 4500 1200 20000 4000 3500

1100 3500 3000 15000 3000 1000 2500

(MPN/100mL) 2500 Flow (cfs) Flow (cfs) 2000

900 E.coli

TDS Value (mg/L) TDS 10000 2000 1500 1500 800 1000 5000 1000 700 500 500

600 0 0 0 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Jun-13 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Dec-16 Feb-17 Apr-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Feb-13 Apr-13 Jun-16 Jun-15 Jun-14 Jun-13 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 Oct-16 Oct-15 Oct-14 Oct-13 Dec-16 Feb-17 Apr-17 Dec-15 Feb-16 Apr-16 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Aug-16 Aug-15 Aug-14 Aug-13 TDS (mg/L) TDS Standard (880 mg/L) Flow (cfs) E.coli (MPN/100mL) E.coli Standard (126 MPN/100mL) Flow (cfs) WHAT DOES THE DATA TELL US?

• BACTERIA COUNTS ARE DECREASING IN THE BROWNSVILLE AREA, BUT INCREASING UPSTREAM NEAR RIO GRANDE CITY AND MCALLEN. • MAY BE NON-POINT SOURCE RATHER THAN A POINT SOURCE. • RAINFALL, STORM WATER RUNOFF, AND AGRICULTURAL RETURN FLOWS MAY ALL BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. • URBAN AREAS HAVE GROWN AND INCREASING POPULATION MAY ALSO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ISSUE. • TDS LEVELS TEND TO RISE WHEN FLOWS ARE LOW, AND DECREASE WHEN FLOWS ARE HIGH. • THEY ARE ALSO HIGHER AS WE GET FURTHER DOWNSTREAM • CURRENTLY, IN CRP’S MONITORING FRAMEWORK, THE INCREASING SALINITY VALUES ARE SOMETHING WE ARE MONITORING CLOSELY • NO CURRENT IMPAIRMENT OR CONCERN EXISTS FOR SALINITY IN THIS REACH UNDER THE 303D LIST. • AVERAGE IS STILL UNDER THE WATER QUALITY STANDARD OF 880 MG/L. • THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO MONITOR AT THE STATIONS ON A ROUTINE BASIS AND PROVIDES THE DATA TO THE TCEQ. RIO GRANDE WATER QUALITY

• RECENT TIMELINE- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013, IBWC TERMS OF REFERENCE “- JOINT COOPERATIVE ACTIONS IN THE LOWER RIO BRAVO/RIO GRANDE RIVER BASIN” • GENERAL OBJECTIVE- TO ESTABLISH, UNDER THE IBWC, A GROUP FROM THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO TO EXPLORE SANITATION AND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT • SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES- • IMPROVE SALINITY MANAGEMENT FOR RETURN FLOWS INTO THE LOWER RIO GRANDE • ADDRESS CURRENT AND FUTURE WATER QUALITY ISSUES OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE • IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE AFFECTED PARTIES TO MANAGE WASTEWATER DISCHARGES AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS • EVALUATE CURRENT WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING THE EFFLUENT QUALITY • EVALUATE NEW MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES FOR SYSTEM OPERATIONS THAT COULD IMPROVE AMBIENT WATER QUALITY • BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATIONS, IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS TO MEET THESE OBJECTIVES AS APPROPRIATE, AND RESULT IN MEASURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT IN WQ LOWER RIO GRANDE WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE

• SEPTEMBER 10, 2013- LOWER RIO GRANDE/RIO BRAVO WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE, PILOT PROJECT • INITIAL PROJECT TO DEVELOP A BINATIONAL WATER QUALITY PLANNING EFFORT FROM FALCON INTERNATIONAL DAM TO THE TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY (FOCUS ON BACTERIA BUT INCLUDED SALINITY SOURCES AS ANOTHER EFFORT) • TECHNICAL APPROACH • HISTORICAL DATA REVIEW • IDENTIFICATION OF DATA GAPS • DATA COLLECTION • DATA ANALYSIS AND MODELING • IDENTIFYING FEASIBLE OPTIONS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY • LEGITIMIZING THE ANALYSIS • LEGAL FRAMEWORK IBWC SURVEY

LOWER RIO GRANDE WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE

• STATUS OF THE LRGWQI • MODEL (LAQUAL II) HAS BEEN COMPLETED • CALIBRATED • APPROVED BY BOTH U.S. AND MEXICAN TEAMS • STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT • ONGOING, WORKSHOPS HELD IN U.S. COMMUNITIES AND ARE BEING PLANNED IN MEXICO AT THIS TIME • BINATIONAL MEETING (AUGUST 2018, TENTATIVE) • DISCUSS MODEL AND SCENARIO DEVELOPMENT • DRAFT REPORT OF INITIATIVE AND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN • WILL SERVE AS AN INSTITUTIONAL MODEL FOR ADDRESSING ADDITIONAL TRANS-BOUNDARY WATER QUALITY ISSUES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE RIO GRANDE. CONTACT INFO:

LESLIE GRIJALVA, USIBWC CRP PROGRAM MANAGER [email protected] 915-832-4770

CRP Website: https://www.ibwc.gov/CRP/Index.htm

Thank you!