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Pollution Reduction, Galveston Bay Estuary Program

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Pollution Reduction, Galveston Bay Estuary Program POLLUTION REDUCTION As many as 32 bacteria-related, impaired water bodies exist in the Houston-Galveston area, making it one of the highest priority problems facing the Galveston Bay ecosystem. Non-point source pollution within the watershed has impacted hundreds of miles of bayous and streams that flow to Galveston Bay. Four million people currently live in the Galveston Bay area, and another 3.5 million are expected by 2035. Construction of new wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and runoff from converted land as a result of population increases, combined with current defective and leaking WWTPs and an estimated 80,000 failing septic systems, present challenges for Estuary Program partners. With the help of many private, public and community partners, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) is combining water- shed-based management and targeted-source reduction to address the pollution and other estuary threats. THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM IN ACTION Galveston Bay Estuary Program Over 384 municipal WWTPs have Galveston’s WWTPs and address large-scale water quality im- been built in the Houston- some 1,000 permitted discharg- provement projects in targeted Galveston area, and more are es. Many small WWTPs were watershed areas, the GBEP and expected as population grows. identified and included in GBEP’s Texas Commission on Environ- Dozens of WWTPs—many of 10-year strategic action plan, mental Quality have pooled Fed- them small and aging—are “Charting the Course to 2015.” eral Clean Water Act Section struggling to optimally manage The GBEP also identified 17,800 320, 319 and 106 program fund- costs and meet performance failing systems in an under- ing, which enabled municipali- standards. Additionally, an esti- served area by conducting a se- ties to receive $4 million in part- mated 20 percent of septic sys- ries of septic system surveys nership grants. tems in the region are failing and and sponsoring a community occasionally discharging sew- risk assessment study on the Another notable success is a six- age into local waterways. potential health impacts of fail- year, 3.5-acre stormwater dem- ing septic systems. The work onstration project consisting of a The GBEP recently galvanized an moved county officials and the series of three ponds, spear- effort to bring watershed man- community toward finding re- headed by the GBEP and part- agers together to determine the placement options. In helping lo- ners in 2001. With plans to widen best way to regionalize some of cal governments implement the Brays Bayou at Mason Park EFFECTIVE • EFFICIENT • ADAPTIVE • COLLABORATIVE Recreation Department, Texas ing what it has learned and is Master Naturalists, NRG Energy applying it to other Harris County Inc., and students from local watersheds. high schools, came together to provide project funding, exper- Visit www.gbep.state.tx.us to tise and volunteer labor. learn more about this and other GBEP efforts. Having laid the path for future collaborative work, the award- EPA’s National Estuary Program winning project is already reap- (NEP) is a unique and successful ing environmental benefits, in- coastal watershed-based program cluding an average 99% established in 1987 under the reduction in bacteria levels in Clean Water Act Amendments. already under way by the Harris pollutants. The goal: address a the water. The constructed ponds The NEP involves the public and County Flood Control District, the low-income community’s long- help filter out sediments, oil, and collaborates with partners to pro- GBEP, in partnership with the term wasterwater treatment other pollutants after a rainfall tect, restore, and maintain the wa- Texas Coastal Watershed Pro- needs. event from Brays Bayou neigh- ter quality and ecological integrity gram, saw an opportunity. Aware borhoods’ run-off—aiding in the of 28 estuaries of national signifi- that the project would require It took little persuading for the decreased bacteria levels. The cance located in 18 coastal states the excavation of large portions county to agree to the add-on ponds also provide new habitat and Puerto Rico. of earth in order for streamside and soon numerous local, state, for fish and wildlife. A recre- shelves to be installed, the GBEP and federal agencies and orga- ational trail with a kiosk and in- For more information about the approached the county with the nizations, including Texas Sea terpretive signs is educating the NEP go to www.epa.gov/owow/ idea of creating wetland areas Grant, US EPA, Harris County public about the function and estuaries. that could provide a wet bottom Flood Control District, Texas benefits of the 3.2-acre project. detention to catch floatable litter, Parks and Wildlife Department, And the best part of all? The fertilizers, pesticides, and other the City of Houston Parks and flood control district is now tak- The NEP: Implementing the Clean Water Act in ways that are Effective, Efficient, Adaptive, and Collaborative. EPA-842F09001.
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