Page 1 Basin Highlights Report

Lower Neches Basin Highlights

The Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) has been involved in  Completed 2010 Basin Summary Report the Clean Rivers Program (CRP) since the Clean Rivers Act was passed in 1991. The goal of the program is to maintain and  Completed TCEQ Metals in Water Special Study improve the quality of water within each river basin in Texas  Completed Organics in Water Sampling at Pine Island Bayou through an ongoing partnership involving the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), river authorities, other agen-  Assisted with Pine Island Bayou UAA Study in August cies, local governments, industry and citizens.  Collected 24-hour DO Measurements for UAA Study Through a watershed management approach, the CRP is de- signed to identify and evaluate water quality issues, establish pri-  Operated Real-Time Station (CAMS 749) on Pine Island Bayou orities for corrective action, work to implement those actions, and adapt to changing priorities. The LNVA administers the CRP in  Quarterly Water Quality Monitoring at 31 Routine Stations the Lower Basin (Basin 6) and the Neches-Trinity  Maintained NELAP Laboratory Accreditation Coastal Basin (Basin 7). During 2010, LNVA was involved in many activities which support  Expanded Volunteer Environmental Monitoring Program the objectives of the CRP in the Lower Neches River Basin. The  Performed Public Education and Outreach Activities Basin Highlights for 2010 include the following:  Funded Book Covers & Major Rivers’ Material for Area Schools

Station ID LNVA Routine Monitoring Stations 15675 15670 op 10581 Neches River at FM 1013 op 15674 15671 15673 op 15343 Neches River near Lakeview op op F M 7 35 0 10484 Sandy Creek at FM 777 7 10 15672 M RD F Sam Rayburn Reservoir 15344 Wolf Creek at FM 256 opROOM 255 10607 Pine Island Bayou at Old Sour Lake Rd 10610 S T op A T 15367 Pine Island Bayou at FM 770 E REC RD 25 5 H U W F S M HW Y Y 2 9 6 3 9 8 6 3 6 15345 Willow Creek at Unnamed Rd near Nome 7 WY 4 Y E H 2 TAT W S

st H 99 10599 Pine Island Bayou at LNVA 1 Lift Station 2 7 F M 27 S 6 4

U 3 50 F M FM 1 74 5 7 FM 6 1 F 90 2 5 M Y 1 2 M 10602 Pine Island Bayou at US 69/96/287 M 56 HW F 15344 F US 10484 15346 Little Pine Island Bayou at SH 326 op FM 9 9 op 5 42 Y F 15347 Little Pine Island Bayou at FM 770 M W

2 H 2 5 S FM 94 op B.A. Steinhagen Lake U 6 FM 1746 F 5 10610 at SH 63 M 0 0 2 1 5 0 M 13625 Village Creek at FM 418 0 F 15353 15355 Beech Creek at FM 1943 op FM 1 10581 15356 01 3 FM op 15356 Turkey Creek at FM 1013 1 op 2

7 D

6

R

15349 Hickory Creek at US 69 C 8

8 C FM 9 4 1 F 00 M 194 M 1 15353 Big Sandy Creek at US 190 F 3 004 F M 943 FM 1

15349 15355 6 9 15350 Turkey Creek at Gore Store Road F FM M 2827 Y F op op 2 M W S 7 R H 9 15350 T D 8 9 15352 Cypress Creek at US 69 A 43 GOREST S FM O U T 3 0 R E 63 op E

H R 10688 D F W 15670 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site GC M F Y M 9 1 op 9 2 4 4 3

15671 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site FC 6 H

W 3 03 Y FM 2 5 0 15672 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site CC 1 9 F 2 M 12 M 7 93 N 78 F RD 41 F M 8 4 M M S F F 1 F 15673 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site AC W op T E 8 New Routine Station M N A

F T 1 13625 M E 0

15674 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site LC 2 0 FM H (20774) established by 5 3 15352 70 op 22 W 7 op 46 1 FM 8 Y

6 LNVA at Salinity Sta- 15675 Sam Rayburn Reservoir at USGS Site MC F 2 U M S 6 15347 H 1 2 0 S W 3 5 tion Y below the 10669 Taylor Bayou at Labelle Road T Y Y op A 15367 op 6 T H W E W 9 E AT Y ST H Neches River Saltwater

10687 Hillebrandt Bayou at SH 124 H op 1 0 E W 5 T H 7 15343 S A Y W 130 0 T Barrier forT FY 2011 1 3 7 A 10688 Menard Creek at SH 146 S Y FM F 2 F op S T 1 M 15346 1 1 M 3 E M F 1 T A 1 10602 0 1 1 7 10599 12 T 3 H 0 7 op E 0 W Y 0 D W H 8 R op Y M H AM W F E op 8 R T T A Y T 7 S Legend 6 A 2

K I 10

N

E

N 10607 I T Beaumont W PAR F K

H A S M VE T LNVA Routine Stations

op R op LNVA Routine Stations, FY 2008 15345 1 0 8 D op 5 0 FM 105 0 M 160 0 1 F op Y 90 WASHINGTON BLVD FM 0 6 M US HW 10 op TCEQ Region 10 Stations, FY 2008 FM 1960 F TCEQ Region 10 Stations WALDEN RD FM S 90 10687 op 14 S HWY 42 F T U S P M M A op O U

T I R S 1 T E T H 4 H 0 A W Reservoirs H 9 R R W D Y op T F H 6

Y

S M U 9 op op

T 5 6 5 L R 6 A 1 6 A 3 Cities 3 R T 4 B D Y AMP E R 2 E W 1 op H L H op

Y L W FM 365 65 E opW HWY 3 W Y H Port Arthur Major Rivers & Tributaries R

1

E D 4 T 10669 6 A T R S D 6 op 5 M 6 942 F FM 1663 0 op Counties 1 5 RD 4 3 FM F 7 1 Y

F W M E H M TAT

5 I 1 M S 0

6 1 3 F 4 op Roads 1 op 0 op µ Page 2 Basin Highlights Report

Lower Neches Basin Highlights

The DSHS advises people should limit consumption of flathead Fish Consumption Advisory Issued catfish, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, gar, and fresh- for Portions of the Neches River water drum from Composite Site 2 (Neches River-Upper). http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood/FishConsump.shtm Adults: No more than two eight-ounce meals a month

On March 8, 2010, the Texas Department of State Health Services Children under 12 or those who weigh less than 75 lbs: No more (DSHS) issued a fish consumption advisory for portions of the than two four-ounce meals a month lower Neches River due to high levels of mercury in fish tissue. Women who are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant: The DSHS Seafood and Aquatic Life Group (SALG) staff collected Should not consume any of the species affected from the Neches fish samples from the Neches River in June and September 2007. River Mercury was also found in high levels in 2004/2005 by the TCEQ and TPWD in earlier studies, which prompted the DSHS survey in Fish from the lower section of the Neches River (Composite Site 1) 2007. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. (TPWD), TCEQ, and did not appear to have contaminants at levels that exceeded the DSHS comprise the Texas Statewide Fish Tissue Monitoring Pro- systemic or carcinogenic HAC (health assessment comparison ject. value) for any contaminant. Therefore, consumption of fish from Six locations on the Neches River were identified by SALG to col- Composite site 1 may be consumed without undue restrictions. lect fish tissue samples (see Figure 1). Composite 1:

 Site 1: Neches River near the LNVA saltwater barrier

 Site 2: Neches River at U.S. 96 Composite 2:

 Site 3: Neches River at FM 1013

 Site 4: Neches River at R-255

 Site 5: Neches River at U.S. 59

 Site 6: Neches River at S.H. 7

A total of 60 fish were collected, 20 from Composite Site 1 and 40 from Composite Site 2. They included 18 freshwa- ter drum,10 longnose gar, 9 blue catfish, 8 smallmouth buffalo, 3 flathead catfish, 3 largemouth bass, 2 spotted gar, 2 white bass, 2 white crappie, 1 black crappie, 1 channel catfish, and 1 spotted bass. Highlights of Results

 All 60 samples of fish contained mercury

 Values ranged from 0.114 mg/kg (channel catfish) to 2.522 mg/kg (longnose gar)

 Sites 4 and 5 (R-255 and U.S. 59, respectively) had the highest mercury concentrations

 Flathead catfish contained highest levels overall

The six species listed in the advisory are flathead catfish, freshwater drum, gar, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and white bass. The advisory affects areas of Hardin, Ange- lina, Houston, Jasper, Polk, Trinity, and Tyler Counties. Figure 1. Neches River Sample Sites, 2007 Page 3 Basin Highlights Report

Lower Neches Basin Monitoring Program  RUAAs are planned for Beech Creek (0608A), Big Sandy FY 2011 Monitoring Program Update Creek (0608B) and Cypress Creek (0608C) in FY 2011. How- ever, no changes were made to the CMS. The following updates were made to the FY 2011 Coordinated Monitoring Schedule (CMS) to address water quality issues in the basin. The CMS website is http://cms.lcra.org/. Segment 0610

 LNVA deleted station 15672 (Sam Rayburn Reservoir USGS Segment 0601 Site CC) to prevent duplication of monitoring at the reservoir’s main pool.  TCEQ Region 10 will continue routine monitoring for organ- ics in water (malathion only) at station 10563 (Neches River at SH87) and 10485 (Star Lake Canal). Segment 0701  TCEQ Region 10 will collect fish tissue samples at station  Fish tissue sampling was deleted by TCEQ Region 10 at sta- 10570 (Neches River 1/2 mile below Mobil Canal) and 10575 tion 10642 (Shallow Prong Lake). (Neches River at I-10 Bridge in Beaumont).  Metals in water were deleted by LNVA at station 10669  LNVA added a routine monitoring station adjacent to salinity (Taylor Bayou at Labelle Rd.) due to the completion of the station Y located 1.8 KM downstream of the Neches River CRP metals in water special study. Saltwater Barrier (Station ID 20774).

Segment 0704 Segment 0602  Fish tissue sampling was deleted by TCEQ Region 10 at sta-  Metals in water were deleted by Region 10 at station 10580 tion 10686 (Hillebrandt Bayou at Humble Rd.). This station (Neches River at US 96). (10686) was deleted entirely from the CMS.

 TCEQ Region 10 will collect chlorophyll-a samples at station Segment 0603 10687 (Hillebrandt Bayou at SH 124) to assess the upper AU, and LNVA will continue routine monitoring at this station.  Metals in water were deleted by LNVA at station 10484 Chlorophyll was added to the CMS. (Sandy Creek) due to the completion of the CRP metals in water special study.  Recreational Use Attainability Analyses (RUAAs) are planned Special Projects for Sandy Creek (0603A) and Wolf Creek (0603B) in FY 2011.  Use Attainability Analyses (UAA) on Pine Island Bayou and However, no changes were made to the CMS. Aquatic Life Assessment (ALA) on Little Pine Island Bayou:

Biological sampling and 24 hr. measurements were collected Segment 0607 on August 30-31, 2010 and September 23-24, 2010 by TCEQ  Metals in water were deleted by LNVA at six stations (10599, Central Office, TCEQ Region 10, TPWD and LNVA personnel. 10602, 10607, 15345, 15346, 15367) due to the completion  Recreational Use Attainability Analyses (RUAAs): of the CRP metals in water special study. Data collection has been suspended by the TMDL program  Organics in water were deleted by LNVA at station 10602 for the Neches River Basin. (Pine Island Bayou at US69) and station 10607 (Pine Island Bayou at OSL) due to the completion of the organics in water special study. Volunteer Monitoring Program  24 hr. DO monitoring by LNVA at five stations (10602, 10607,  LNVA has trained 42 volunteer monitors since 2008. 15346, 15367, 20069) to support on-going UAA studies for Pine Island Bayou and Little Pine Island Bayou.  Eleven sites are currently monitored by trained volunteers.  24 hr. DO monitoring was deleted by Region 10 at station 15345 (Willow Creek).  Volunteer monitoring sites include: Lake Kimball in Wild- wood, Neches River at LNVA Saltwater Barrier, Adams Bayou Segment 0608 at Shangri-La Gardens, Taylors Bayou at Port Arthur Country Club, Pine Island Bayou at Cooks Lake Road, Little Pine Island  Metals in water were deleted by TCEQ Region 10 at station Bayou at Woodway Blvd. in Pinewood, Neches River at River- 10609 (Village Creek at US 96). front Park near downtown Beaumont, Hillebrandt Bayou at  Metals in water were deleted by LNVA at five stations (13625, drainage ditch near Hwy 124 in Beaumont, Village Creek at 15349, 15352, 15355, 15356) due to the completion of the Village Creek State Park in Lumberton, Village Creek at Hwy. CRP metals in water special study. 327, and private pond near Tram Road in North Beaumont. Page 4 Basin Highlights Report Basin Impairments/Concerns Table

Explanation of Watershed/ Use Impair- Identified Recommended Impairment/ Actions Taken Segment ment/Concern Parameters Concern Actions

Segment 0601: Aquatic Life Use *Malathion is not Application of TCEQ Region 10 Continue quarterly Neches River Tidal included in the pesticides for mos- organics in water monitoring for Draft 2010 Con- quito control monitoring Malathion (lower portion) cerns List (Feb. 5,

2010)

Segment 0601A: Aquatic Life Use Depressed Dis- Natural, low flow TCEQ Region 10 Continue routine Star Lake Canal solved oxygen conditions; Molas- routine monitoring monitoring; collect (DO) ses Bayou influ- 24 hour DO meas- ence urements

Segment 0602: Fish Consump- Mercury in fish Atmospheric New Advisory issued TCEQ Special Lower Neches tion Use tissue Deposition by DSHS on March 8, Study; Coordinate River above Tidal 2010 fish tissue sam- pling with DSHS

Segment 0603: Fish Consump- Mercury in fish Atmospheric Public Advisory is- TCEQ Special B.A. Steinhagen tion Use tissue Deposition sued by DSHS Study; Coordinate Reservoir fish tissue sam- pling with DSHS

Segment 0603A: Contact Recrea- E. coli Non-point Source East Texas Recrea- Evaluate bacteria Sandy Creek tion Use Pollution tional Use Attainabil- standards based ity Analysis (RUAA) on RUAA results Segment 0603B: Project Wolf Creek

Segment 0607: Aquatic Life Use Depressed DO Natural, low flow Use Attainability Complete UAA, Pine Island Bayou conditions Analysis (UAA); ALA studies; Use

Aquatic Life Assess- CWQMN data and

ment (ALA); revise standards as Segment 0607B: CWQMN Station needed Contact Recrea- Little Pine Island tion Use Non-point Source LNVA CRP Routine Conduct Recrea- Bayou E. coli Pollution Monitoring tional UAA

Segment 0607A: Aquatic Life Use Depressed DO Natural, low flow UAA on Willow Complete UAA on Boggy Creek conditions Creek Willow Creek

Segment 0607C: Unknown N/A Plan UAA and/or Impaired Habitat Willow Creek ALA on Boggy (Boggy Creek) Creek Page 5 Basin Highlights Report Basin Impairments/Concerns Table Watershed/ Use Impair- Identified Explanation of Actions Taken Recommended Segment ment/Concern Impair- Parameters Actions ment/Concern

Segment 0608: General Use Low pH Natural Condi- TCEQ Proposed Approve Standards Village Creek tions 2010 Standards to revise pH Range (Village, Beech, Cypress) Revision Segment 0608A: Non-Point Source Complete RUAAs on Contact Recreation E. coli Beech Creek Use Pollution RUAAs Planned; Beech, Big Sandy, LNVA CRP Routine and Cypress Segment 0608B: (Beech, Big Sandy, Cy- Monitoring Big Sandy Creek press, Turkey) Continue 24 hr. DO/ Natural, low flow 24 hr. DO & Biologi- Biological Data Col- Segment 0608C: Aquatic Life Use Depressed DO conditions cal Assessment; CRP lection Cypress Creek (Cypress, Mill) Routine Monitoring

Segment 0608E: Aquatic Life Use Impaired Habitat Unknown N/A Mill Creek ALA on Beech Creek (Cypress, Beech)

Segment 0608F: TCEQ Special Study; Fish Consumption Turkey Creek Mercury in fish Atmospheric Public Advisory Is- Coordinate fish tissue Use tissue Deposition sued by DSHS sampling with DSHS Segment 0608G: (Lake Kimble, Village) Lake Kimble

Segment 0701: Aquatic Life Use Depressed DO Natural condi- UAA on Taylor/ Complete UAA; Re- Taylor Bayou tions Hillebrandt Bayou vise DO standard as General above Tidal needed Use/Nutrients Chlorophyll a Continue Routine (Taylor Bayou) Unknown LNVA & TCEQ Rou- Monitoring; Consider Segment 0701D: tine Monitoring Fish Consumption Special Study Shallow Prong Arsenic in fish tis- Use TCEQ Fish Tissue Lake sue Unknown DSHS evaluation; Sampling (Shallow Prong) issue public fish con- sumption advisory Segment 0702: General Chlorophyll a Unknown TCEQ Routine Moni- Continue Routine Intracoastal Water- Use/Nutrients toring Monitoring; Consider way Tidal Special Study Aquatic Life Use Statewide Ambient Toxicity in Water, Air Deposition, Toxicity Assessment; Determine source(s) (Alligator) Sediment; Impaired Point Source Pol- Alligator Bayou ALA of toxicity; develop Segment 0702A: Fish Community lution *Fish Consumption TMDL Alligator Bayou Public Advisory Is- Use sued by DSHS, July (Intracoastal Waterway Dioxins, PCBs in Unknown 8, 2008; from East Bay to Port TCEQ Special Study; fish tissue Bolivar) Identified in the Coordinate fish tissue Draft 2010 303(d) sampling with DSHS List (Feb. 5, 2010) Segment 0704: Aquatic Life Use Depressed DO Natural, low flow UAA on Taylor/ Complete UAA; Re- Hillebrandt Bayou conditions Hillebrandt Bayou vise DO standard as General needed Use/Nutrients Non-point source LNVA & TCEQ Rou- Ammonia- pollution; urban/ tine monitoring Continue Routine *Contact Recrea- nitrogen, chloro- storm-water run- Monitoring to in- tion Use phyll a I off, sewage clude chlorophyll a; dentified in the consider special Non-point Source Draft 2010 303(d) study E. coli Pollution List (Feb. 5, 2010) Continue Routine

Monitoring