The Water Monitor

Spring 2008 Volume 1, Issue 1

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality—Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Section

Table of Contents If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water -Loran Eisley An East Riddle 2 Welcome to The Water Monitor Texas Watershed Protection Plans 3 Welcome to The Water Monitor, a newsletter focusing on issues related to monitoring and protecting surface water quality. Each quarter this newsletter will bring updates on the The Downtown NPS happenings within three of the TCEQ’s water quality programs: Surface Water Quality Monitoring, Project 4 Texas Clean Rivers, and Nonpoint Source (NPS). This newsletter will be reporting on statewide activities and work being done through these programs as well as other field happenings and Rio Grande CWQMN 5 water-related topics. WQ Training Modules 5 Surface Water Quality Texas Clean Rivers Nonpoint Source Monitoring Coordinated Monitoring

Schedule 5 The statewide SWQM The Texas Clean Rivers The Texas Nonpoint Source Program is responsible for the Program (CRP) is a state (NPS) Program involves the Lower Sabine Tidal Flow collection of data that program for water quality administration and Study 6 accurately describe the monitoring, analysis, and implementation of projects physical, chemical, and public outreach on water- to reduce and prevent NPS EPA’s National Lakes biological characteristics of related issues. The CRP is a pollution. The state's official state waters. Data collected roadmap for implementing Assessment in Texas 6 collaboration of 15 partner as part of the statewide agencies, including 12 river the NPS Program is a monitoring program and for authorities, one water district, document titled Texas Texas Watch 7 special projects are used to one federal agency, one Nonpoint Source achieve the following goals: council of government, and Management Program (SFR- The Leaky Wader 7 the TCEQ. 068/04), which describes the -Characterize existing water goals, priorities, strategies, Statewide Fish Tissue quality and emerging and milestones for Texas. Water quality monitoring and Program 8 problems. The Program is administered -Define long-term trends. analysis under the CRP focuses by the TCEQ and the Texas on strategic, coordinated -Determine water quality State Soil & Water 2008 305(b) Report 8 sampling to identify water standards compliance. Conservation Board. quality issues and evaluate Critter of the Quarter 8 -Describe seasonal variation and frequency of occurrence whether water quality A few examples of the types conditions are changing. The of selected water quality of projects conducted are: E. coli Holding Time information developed constituents. Study 9 through the CRP is presented -Produce the State of Texas - watershed planning Water Quality Inventory, to stakeholders who assist in - implementation of best setting priorities for water Interesting Web Sites 9 which is required by Section management practices to 305(b) of the CWA. This quality activities within their prevent & reduce pollution basins. Photo Corner 9 assessment enables the - educational campaigns to public, local governments, prevent & reduce pollution Technology 10 state agencies, the Texas THE TEXAS - effectiveness monitoring Legislature, the USEPA, and for implemented projects Historic Monitoring Sites 10 Congress to make water - nutrient management quality management plans decisions. - storm water management

PROGRAM

2 THE WATER MONITOR An RiddleB Or What the Old Folks Have Always Known by Art Crowe, TCEQ Region 5 Tyler

Riddle me this—How can a fish farm, more or less underway and by stream go from dry to midway between. There November 10th leaf color bank-full stage in a week was nothing unusual. was at its peak. During this with no rainfall runoff? How Immediately off this time the Neches River was can the same stream have property, however, there at bank-full stageCno flow, zero flow, yet high flow were the some tell-tale very clear water and a pH — severity? How can an East signs certain areas had of 3.2. Texas stream have a 6 foot bluish-green water with low Secchi depth? And why did pH. The landowner agreed Support for the hypothesis: it take us five years to to show me the source of The huge number of trees answer this riddle? clear water. We went down in East Texas affect to the river on his backhoe groundwater levels. When As a way of explanation, it and 100 m from the river he they go dormant in the late should be noted that in the dug a six-foot deep trench fall to early winter, past we have occasionally and we waited 30 minutes. groundwater levels rise. “How can a stream observed very clear water At that time there was When groundwater flows at several of our routine enough water in the trench through sulfur-bearing go from dry to stream sites in East Texas. to measure pHCa pH of 3. minerals, a dilute sulfuric We have observed it He was surprised that us acid is formed which bank- full stage in a seasonally on the upper college-educated people precipitates out suspended Neches River and Catfish did not know what the old solids and makes for clear week with no Creek. However, drinking folks around these parts water conditions. It is also water clarity in East Texas is have known for years— conceivable that metals rainfall runoff? How not the norm. It took a when the sap drops in the could go into suspension drought to figure it all out. trees, the river rises. during these events. In the can an East Texas However, some of my co- past, all these conditions Last year, the Neches River workers were skeptical. have been masked by stream have a 6 just outside Tyler went from normal rainfall which dilutes everything. foot Secchi depth?” dry to bank-full stage in a I set out to prove the old week. The water had a pH folks’ hypothesis. Starting in in the low 3's and was very October, I checked the Lest you think this oddity is clear. Fingers were pointed water level and pH in the an isolated occurrence, at industry and Neches River once a week. the following streams have municipalities. We mounted In the second year of the been observed with similar an investigation to worst drought in East Texas water this fall: Clear Creek apprehend the guilty party. since the 1950s the upper in Upshur County, Catfish Several opinions were Neches River had been dry Creek in Anderson County, voiced—all of them wrong. for months. During mid- and Bowles Creek in Rusk October, rain began to fall County. The low pH We went to the first in the1.0-1.5 inch variety appears to be highly upstream bridge crossing— with little runoff. On specific to areas with normal-looking water, October 30th and certain geological normal pH. We started November 3rd there were characteristics and the contacting landowners for three isolated pools near number of deciduous trees access points in between. SH64 with pH values varying in the watershed. from 3.5 to 4.5 to 5.4. By We got access to a large November, fall was well

11/30/05 12/02/05 12/07/05

pH = 6.6 pH = 4.8 Neches River at SH 64 River Neches

THE WATER MONITOR 3

WPPs in Progress Texas Watershed Protection Plans

Arroyo Colorado* In Texas, watershed Assistance Needs space (about 21,000 land (2201 & 2202) protection plans (WPP) are 5. Information, Education, acres and about 1,000 acres locally developed plans that and Public Participation Armand Bayou (1113) of open water). It retains coordinate activities and Component some very unique and resources to manage water 6. Schedule for Bastrop Bayou Tidal (1105) valuable natural areas, a quality. They facilitate the Implementing few of which are Brady Creek (1416) restoration of impaired water Management Measures permanently bodies and/or the protection 7. Interim Milestones for protectedCmost notably the Buck Creek (0207A) of threatened waters before Progress in Implementation 2,500 acres associated with they become impaired. 8. Criteria for Determining the Armand Bayou Nature (0401) These stakeholder-driven Pollutant Load Reductions Center and the 300-acre plans give the decision- and Water Quality Armand Bayou Coastal Cedar Creek Reservoir (0818) making power to the local Improvement Preserve. The watershed has groups interested in the goals 9. Load Reduction and Concho River (1421) also experienced heavy specified in the plans. The Water Quality Monitoring impacts by development watershed planning process Dickinson Bayou Tidal (1103) Component over the years. merges the scientific and Eagle Mountain Reservoir regulatory concerns of state The TCEQ and the Texas The tidal and above-tidal (0809) and federal agencies with State Soil and Water portions of Armand Bayou the social and economic Conservation Board are currently on the State’s (1247) considerations of local (TSSWCB) are facilitating list of impaired water bodies groups and communities, the development of because of low dissolved- North Bosque River thereby increasing public watershed protection plans oxygen levels that (1226 &1255) understanding of all the issues in watersheds around the seasonally occur in the involve. Most importantly, it state by providing Bayou. Seven major fish kills Pecos River (2310, 2311& increases public commitment technical assistance and 2312) have occurred in the to the solutions. funding through CWA §319 Armand Bayou watershed grants to local stakeholder Plum Creek (1810) While watershed protection since 1971, most located in groups. Projects to plans can take many forms, the tributaries. Four were implement elements of Upper San Antonio River* the development of plans attributed to low dissolved watershed plans that (1911) funded by Clean Water Act oxygen. The completed adequately address the §319(h) grants must follow Phase I Armand Bayou *these WPPs have been nine elements listed above guidelines issued by the Watershed Plan presents the completed and are in the can be funded with CWA Environmental Protection current state of the implementation phase §319 grant funds. The Agency. watershed, the current following is an example of management programs, a watershed protection These guidelines describe the and practices and strategies plan in progress. nine elements fundamental used throughout the

to a successful plan: watershed, with particular Armand Bayou Watershed focus on the preservation of 1. Identification of Causes Lower Armand Bayou is open space. The Phase II and Sources of Impairment one of very few Armand Bayou Watershed 2. Expected Load Reductions unchannelized stream Plan will build on the Phase I from Management Measures segments in the Houston plan to begin to implement 3. Proposed Management metropolitan area. Just the mission and vision of the Measures over half its watershed is in Watershed Partnership. Visit undeveloped or “open” the WPP plan Web site at 4. Technical and Financial .

For general information regarding watershed protection plans contact the NPS Program at or online at

Access Texas SWQM Data OnlineCNEW!!

The Surface Water Quality Web Reporting Tool will allow you to select TCEQ water quality monitoring stations to view and optionally download sample data. This data comes from the TCEQ's new Surface Water Quality Monitoring Information System (SWQMIS).

4 THE WATER MONITOR

"What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt—it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else."

— Hal Boyle

improvement and fish kills The system is a radical The Rio Concho have been virtually departure from the other eliminated. As a result, the constructed BMPs with a UCRA and the COSA have “state of the art” “Downtown” both received local and treatment system utilized national recognition for these as a model for other NPS Project efforts. Because of the water systems constructed The “Downtown” quality improvements, the within the city. The system demonstration project is a COSA recently initiated an consists of a vortex culmination of a 10-year $11 million project along the separator, filtration program implemented by the river for sediment dredging, system, and a Upper Colorado River Authority tree and bank stabilization, recirculation system (UCRA) to improve water and recreational within a series of quality along a 4.75 mile enhancements. decorative ponds. The “This program has segment of the North Concho decorative ponds been immensely River through urban San The project area, Irving Street demonstrate the successful as water Angelo. This stretch of the river to Johnson Dam, has been efficiency of the system was determined to be one of quality has shown characterized by the local and serve as a “living the most heavily impacted in community as the “heart of laboratory” for public significant Texas for nonpoint source the city”. This area serves as education. The project improvement and fish pollution, displaying repeated the center for many events will also assist in the kills have been fish kills and deteriorated water and receives daily foot traffic. completion of a BMP quality conditions. The initial virtually eliminated.” The “Downtown” identified in the Concho Clean Water Act (CWA) 319 demonstration project was River Basin Watershed (h) project (funded in the early paired with other Protection Plan relating to mid-90s), involved the enhancements to the area public education and construction of a highly visible that resulted in a cost savings plan implementation. structural control and a for water quality comprehensive public improvements and the much A project dedication was information effort resulting in a needed completion of the held October 20, 2007 in master plan for best Paseo improvement project. partnership with the management practice (BMP) The total cost of the COSA and the San development within the combined projects was $1.345 Angelo Museum of Fine watershed. Over $3 million has million. Arts. The dedication been allocated to the served as a kickoff for an program by the UCRA, the City The constructed abatement all day Ecological Fair of San Angelo (COSA), and feature is multi-faceted, sponsored by the For more information on this the USEPA (managed by the operating as a practical storm Museum and was a project visit the UCRA Web site TCEQ) to date. water treatment system, an spectacular beginning for at outstanding public education the many facets of this This program has been tool, and an aesthetic exciting project. immensely successful as water enhancement to the area. quality has shown significant

We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one. - Jacques Cousteau

THE WATER MONITOR 5

To access Rio Grande Basin and other TCEQ CWQMN data online go to Rio Grande CWQMN

Increasing salinity has become well to continuous monitoring. the greatest water quality The first project in this network challenge facing water of continuous water quality bodies in the Rio Grande monitoring (CWQM) stations Basin. The challenge faced in started in 2004 on the Upper remote areas of west Texas, Pecos River. The network has where these water bodies been growing ever since; from flow, was finding a way to two sites in 2004 to 11 sites in enhance existing water quality 2007 with five more scheduled monitoring. The Rio Grande for installation in 2008. flows 1,276 miles along the Texas-Mexico border from El For more information on these Paso to the Gulf of Mexico. projects contact, The Texas portion of the Pecos River flows approximately 400 Christine Kolbe miles from TCEQ, SWQM Program to the Rio Grande confluence. RG Basin Project Lead Rio Grande CWQMN Stations Field instruments used to measure water quality adapt (Stations in blue are scheduled for installation in 2008) WQ Training Modules

Each year it becomes more To access the Stream Flow difficult to provide training Measurement module and to new water quality other TCEQ SWQM Guidance monitoring staff across the documents online go to state. The challenge is to be . more responsive to training needs in a time of shrinking Training modules in progress resources. A pilot project include routine basic field was started in 2007 to make and water sample collection detailed training materials and sediment sample available. Stream Flow collection. Photos from the Measurement, the pilot field are always welcome. module, was completed in For more information January 2008. A contact, companion video is in the planning stages. The Christine Kolbe training modules are TCEQ, SWQM Program Stream Flow Training Module available online as a PowerPoint file and as a PDF document.

The Coordinated Monitoring Schedule

Coordinated monitoring coordinated monitoring with studies across the state can makes collecting and guidance for site selection also be found on the CMS analyzing data on surface and for sampling Web site. water more efficient for the requirements for routine SWQM Program and its monitoring, special study, The CMS is continually participants—CRP, other state and targeted monitoring. updated during the planning and federal agencies, The most recent information period for coordinated municipalities, and others. The on all surface water monitoring. The final version coordinated monitoring monitoring being for FY 2009 will be available schedule (CMS) is planned conducted by the TCEQ or May 31, 2008. To view CMS and developed from March under TCEQ contract can online go to . through May of the preceding be found on the CMS. fiscal year. The TCEQ supports Information on special

6 THE WATER MONITOR

Lower Sabine Tidal-Flow Study

The Lower Sabine Tidal Lake. The study area Waterway. There appeared Study (LSTS) documented included sites in Adams to be no relationship the extent of saltwater and Cow Bayous in Texas between sediment, in the intrusion, the effects of tide and on the Gulf form of suspended solids, on flow, the sediment and Intracoastal Waterway and and flow. Nutrient nutrient concentrations of Black Bayou in Louisiana. concentrations were freshwater flowing into The most upstream intrusion assessed using total Kjeldahl Sabine Lake, and of the saltwater wedge was nitrogen (TKN) and total attempted to better on the Old River Channel phosphorus (TP) and found Map of Tidal Reach of the understand the dynamic near Nibletts Bluff, LA. Tidal to be fairly uniform across Sabine River nature of this complex river saltwater flowed the stream profile and within system. The LSTS was predominantly upstream ranges typical for the lower conducted by the Sabine during low stream flow and Sabine River. River Authority of Texas during high tide conditions. under the Texas Clean Adams and Cow Bayous For information on this and Rivers Program in followed the general flow other projects in the Sabine cooperation with the Texas direction of the Sabine River Basin visit the Sabine Commission on River; however this was not River Authority online at Environmental Quality. true of the flow in Black . Sampling was conducted Bayou and the Gulf bimonthly from 02/22/06 Intracoastal Waterway. through 02/22/07 from The flow in Black Bayou was SH12, at river mile 40.2 at consistently counter to the the Sabine River near Ruliff, tidal flow in the river and Texas, to the mouth of the was most likely the result of Sabine River at the hydrologic changes from Monitoring on Tidal Reach northeast end of Sabine the Gulf Intracoastal of the Sabine River

For more information, The EPA’s National Lakes Assessment contact:

The EPA’s national To answer these questions, sampling methods. Bill Harrison monitoring studies are the following data was -Provided a useful tool for SWQM Program designed to report on the collected: directing future targeted NLS Project Lead condition of the nation’s monitoring. lakes, streams, rivers, Trophic Indicators wetlands, and coastal -In situ temperature and -Provided a statistically valid waters. In 2007, TCEQ staff dissolved- oxygen profiles estimate of various Sediment Core participated in the National -Water chemistry/nutrients constituent levels in Texas Lake Assessment (NLA). The -Chlorophyll a, Secchi depth, lakes including mercury, EPA assigned Texas 25 NLA. turbidity, and color nutrients, and DO. Texas added an additional 20 sites to get a statistically Ecological Integrity -Compared where Texas valid data set at the state Indicators lakes stand in relation to level. -Sediment Diatoms national averages. -Phytoplankton The goal of the NLA is to -Zooplankton -Development of biological address two key questions on -Shoreline physical habitat methods for reservoirs using a national level: -Macroinvertebrates macroinvertebrates and plankton. 1. What percent of the Recreational Indicators nation’s lakes are in good, -Enterococci fair, or poor condition for the -Algal toxin (Microcystins) key indicators of trophic -Sediment mercury state, ecological health, and recreation? A few of the benefits from the TCEQ’s participation in 2. What is the relative the NLA include: importance of key stressors such as nutrients and -Development of the EPA National Lake Study pathogens? capacity to use probabilistic

THE WATER MONITOR 7

Texas Watch Gets a New Name

Texas Stream Team, formerly collect, and share depending on their Texas Watch, supports the valuable water quality resources, time TCEQ’s nonpoint source information. Texas Stream commitment, involvement, pollution prevention Team staff conduct and environmental goals. program through a workshops, monitoring Participation is open to partnership with Texas State training, field activities, groups of all sizes and ages University-San Marcos and and presentations; from third grade and up. the USEPA-Region 6. Texas distribute outreach and Stream Team conducts educational materials, environmental education including a quarterly and training activities newsletter; and support a through a statewide network comprehensive Web site. of individuals; schools; civic Volunteer monitors are

organizations; local, state, certified at various levels and federal governments; and industries and businesses For more information, call Texas Stream Team at 1-877- that cooperatively monitor, 506-1401 or visit A GUIDE TO FRESHWATER ECOLOGY The Leaky Wader

A Cool Drink of water from the milk jugs as face. Wide-eyed, he drinking water while in the looked at me and said: Water field? So, we prepared for “Did you just drink THAT?” the trip, I froze the water, Admiring my ingenuity with It all began rather and everything was good to the frozen milk bottles, I innocently one summer go. replied that I did. He turned back in 2000. Scott Burns, to Jim and started howling Jim Wright, and I were We left early to get a head with laughter. Between preparing for a sampling start on the summer heat. laughs he kept repeating run in the Canadian River Our first site was a pretty “do you know what he Basin. Still being naïve little spot called Sweetwater did?” Jim didn’t know so TCEQ GI-034 8/05 TCEQ GI-034 8/05 and a little green at the Creek, known to have Scott enlightened us. He monitoring game, Scott bacteria issues. So we reached into the ice chest This and other TCEQ and I were trying our best collected our samples and and pulled out my very publications are available to minimize problems in were off to the next site, cool, tasty jug of water and the field. One of the online at Wolf Creek, feeling proud of held it up for us to see, all things we did was pre- our hard work. By the time the while laughing so hard label our sample he could barely stand. and click on Publications we arrived at Wolf Creek, collection bottles before the sun was beating down When I finally read what he we left, to ensure we and the temperature was was holding, I was almost always knew we had a well over 100E. Being the sick right then and there. It complete set for each super troopers we are, we was the unpreserved site before we ever left finished our sampling and sample from Sweetwater the office. Well, that year decided to partake of a Creek. it was particularly hot, it cool drink of water from the was just June and the milk jugs I had carefully To this day I get asked if I temperatures were marked, frozen, and loaded would like a drink of sample already breaking 100E. I in the ice chest. Relaxing a water now and again. I got the ingenious idea of bit in the shade, I decided I politely decline. So if you freezing water in new was still thirsty and reached see me, please don’t ask half-gallon milk jugs to use into the ice chest, grabbed me to drink your water. as ice blocksCmy theory another jug and chugged Needless to say, we’ve being that we knew we away. After my third chug- learned a few things since were going to have to a-lug I was putting my water those formative years. add ice before the trip back in the cooler when I was over, why not kill two noticed the startled and David “Sweetwater” Holub birds with one stone by confused look on Scott’s Red River Authority of Texas using the melting

8 THE WATER MONITOR

Statewide Fish Tissue Program

The Statewide Fish Tissue The Tier 1 portion ended on contaminants exceeding Monitoring Program was 8/31/2007. Three to five Texas Department of State initiated in 2003 to increase predator fish and three to Health Services (DSHS) the number of water five bottom-dwelling fish screening values. DSHS bodies sampled for fish were collected from each collected and analyzed fish tissue contamination water body, if possible. from Tier 2 water bodies. A (metals and organics). The Predator species collected fish consumption advisory for objective of Tier 1 was the included was issued by identification of water and freshwater drum. DSHS as a result of Tier 2 bodies with contaminated Bottom-dwelling fish sampling efforts. fish tissue. Tier 1 reservoir included common carp, sampling was conducted channel catfish, blue catfish, For more information by Texas Parks and Wildlife and smallmouth buffalo. contact: Department (TPWD) staff, and rivers were sampled by Tier 2 of the project consists Pat Bohannon TCEQ staff. Tier 1 included of human health risk TCEQ SWQM Program predator and bottom- characterizations of water 512-239-5255 dwelling fish species from bodies identified in the Tier 1 66 reservoirs and 15 rivers. study as having fish with For information on Harmful Algal Blooms 2008 Texas Water Quality Inventory (HABs) in Texas visit the

TPWD Web site at These reports satisfy the are available for review The Texas Water Quality requirements of the federal online. This Web site also Inventory [or 305(b)] Report Clean Water Act for both includes assessments by river describes the overall status Section 305(b) water quality basin, water quality concerns, Site contains updates on of Texas surface waters reports and Section 303(d) the assessment guidance, current Red Tide and Golden based on historical water lists. The Inventory and List and other information related Alga blooms, ongoing quality data. The Inventory are produced every two to the 305(b)/303(d) process identifies water bodies not research and other related years in even-numbered in Texas. meeting water quality information. years, as required by law. A standards (set for list must be approved by the To view current and past designated uses such as EPA before it is considered assessment information aquatic life, recreation, and final. The 2008 draft online visit human health) and places Inventory and 303(d) List them on the 303(d) List. have been completed and Critter of the Quarter-Guadalupe Bass

The Guadalupe bass, a species found in Texas by portions of the Brazos River member of the genus the lack of vertical bars drainage. Relatively small Micropterus within the sunfish seen in smallmouth bass, a populations can also be family, was named the jaw that doesn't extend found outside of the official state fish of Texas by beyond the eyes as in Edwards Plateau. Typically, the 71st Legislature in 1989. It largemouth bass, and Guadalupe bass are found is included in a group of fish coloration that extends in flowing water, whereas known as “black bass”. much lower on the body largemouth bass are found than in spotted bass. in quiet water. The Guadalupe bass, like Illustration © TPWD other black bass including The Guadalupe bass is For additional information on largemouth, smallmouth, found only in Texas and is the Guadalupe bass and the Guadalupe Bass and spotted bass, is not a native to the northern and C TPWD Black Bass true bass at all but a eastern Edwards Plateau Identification Guide visit Micropterus treculii member of the sunfish family including headwaters of the . green in color and may be Gonzales, the Colorado distinguished from similar River north of Austin, and

THE WATER MONITOR 9

E.coli Holding Time Study

An E. coli Holding Time Study Texas labs are geographically not allowed to freeze. was done in an effort to dispersed it has become comply with new necessary to consider the Method changes based on requirements from the Texas option of shipping water these findings will be Legislature. These new samples, often long distances, contingent upon approval requirements make it in order to meet holding time by EPA Region 6. mandatory for surface water requirements of bacteria bacteria samples to be samples. Though the holding For additional information Boater Safety analyzed in a National time for bacteria samples is 8 contact: Environmental Laboratory hours, this study shows that Accreditation Conference E.coli samples can be held for Steven Earnest To access the TPWD’s The (NELAC) accredited lab. up to 48 hours when the SWQM Program Handbook of Texas Since the few accredited samples are held at 4 EC and Boating Laws and Responsibilities online visit: Interesting Web Sites htm> - Water on the Web, Online water quality primer: - Watershed Planning Short Course: - Texas Instream Flow Program: - EPA guidance on developing WPPs: - USGS Real-Time Water Data for Texas: - Texas Water Matters: We will be looking for photos for future Photo Corner editions. Anything related to field work.

Congratulations to Mike VanBuskirk for taking Stay Current, Stay Safe!! the plunge and doing a lap around the boat on Lake Fork Reservoir in February. Well Done! Due to global warming issues, the swim wasn't as dramatic as first hopedCwater temperatures were 10EC. But next year, he intends to do Lake Jacksonville in January! "Is there anyone in the State of Texas who can even equal this feat"? What some people do for free food!!!! Submitted by Art Crowe, TCEQ, Tyler Region.

To access Texas Surface Water Quality Data, Guidance Documents, and other program information online, go to .

10 THE WATER MONITOR

TCEQ New Technology-Optical DO Sensor MC 165 WQM&A Section PO Box 13087 The optical DO sensor is a This interference reduces Austin, TX 78711-3087 relatively new technology the intensity of the light that is available for most of emitted, the amount of time the major multiprobe the dye fluoresces, and the Phone instruments (Hydrolab, YSI, amount of time between (512) 239-1716 In-Situ, and Eureka). Each blue light emission and red

manufacturer has a light response. This Fax different way of packaging phenomenon is known as (512) 239-1605 the optical technology. “quenching”. The degree of However, each sensor quenching is directly related To contribute articles, works on the same basic to oxygen concentration. updates, or photographs principle. Different brands of DO sensors use different physical to the newsletter contact: “Optical DO sensors have a aspects of quenching to

tip coated on the inside calculate DO concentration Christine Kolbe with a thin layer of oxygen- in surface water quality sensitive fluorescent dye. A monitoring.” 512-239-5831 light-emitting diode (LED) From USGS Open-File Report shines blue light on the dye 2006-1047. Thanks to Cory Horan for his layer, causing the dye to contributions to the emit red fluorescent light The TCEQ has approved the newsletter. Cory is leaving that travels to a use of optical DO sensors for the Clean Rivers Program to photodetector. surface water quality join the Water Supply monitoring. Division, Water Rights Oxygen diffusing into the Example Optical Do Sensors

Section. sensor tip interferes with the Visit the manufacturer Web sites

light emitted by the dye. for more information

Submitted by Larry Koenig, TCEQ Historic Monitoring Site TMDL Program

Station 16580CSan Antonio had been used long before to mark about where the San River at Conquista Crossing, the Spanish arrived. From Antonio River cuts into the approximately 2.4 km descriptions, it is a place Oakville Escarpment. From downstream from FM 791 in where a solid bedrock there, the Spanish Karnes County near Falls City. outcrop allows easy crossing moved along the ridge of the

of the river; some allege that escarpment toward Cuero As the name indicates, the wagon ruts from 18th and 19th (where they often established station is a site where Spanish century use are visibly worn base camps near Irish expeditions crossed the river in into the rock. The area was Creek/Guadalupe River the late 1600s (looking for also part of the 18th century confluence) and then on to LaSalle) and early Spanish ranching (picture LaGrange area along the 1700s, before San Antonio itself Spaniards dressed in relatively level and easy- was founded and before the American Revolution period traveling ridge, or towards SA-Goliad trail that later went costumes fighting Victoria/Garcitas Creek via through the area. The crossing Comanches while herding the nearby Chicolete Prairie. was shown to the Spanish by cattle and goats). The Those were all well Indians, and bedrock outcrop itself seems established Indian routes.