The Clean Rivers Program
What is The Texas Clean Rivers Program?
The CRP (Clean Rivers Program) was implemented to maintain and improve the quality of surface water resources within each river basin in Texas. The CRP is a partnership involving the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality), other state agencies, river authorities, local governments, industry, and citizens. Using a watershed management approach, CRP partner agencies work with the TCEQ to identify and evaluate surface water quality issues and to establish priorities for corrective action. The CRP provides a vehicle for local, regional, and statewide interests to examine water quality issues on a watershed basis. Planning and management by watershed allows the examination of complex relationships between water resources and human activity. The water quality assessments performed under the CRP focus on the cumulative effects of a variety of potential pollutant sources within the context of the natural setting of a particular watershed.
The Texas Stream Team
What is Texas Stream Team?
Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working to gather information about our natural resources
Goals and Philosophy
- To produce quality-assured, usable information that government agencies, waste generators, and the public need to make environmentally sound decisions.
- To improve communication and facilitate education about the natural resources of Texas.
- To resolve conflicts over environmental impacts through positive cooperation.
Who can be involved?
Anyone with a desire to monitor water quality or learn more about the natural resources in Texas can be involved. Volunteers monitor a wide variety of habitats from public rivers, creeks, ponds, and lakes to bays, bayous and estuaries.
Location of the Main Office
Texas State University located in San Marcos is the main campus where data is submitted and coordination of activities occurs. The mailing address is The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas Stream Team, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX. 78666-4616.
Email: txstreamteam@txstate.edu
How Does the Clean Rivers Program Work?
In 1991 the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Clean Rivers Act in response to growing concerns that water resource issues were not being addressed in a holistic manner. This legislation requires that water quality assessments be conducted for each river basin in Texas using an approach that integrates water quality issues within a river basin or watershed. To fund the program, the TCEQ assesses a fee from permit holders for water use and wastewater discharges. The legislation directs the TCEQ to summarize basin-wide assessment report in even-numbered years. The Act also requires the TCEQ to develop rules and to implement a program to issue wastewater discharge permits on a watershed basis. All permits within a given watershed are issued in the same year.
The TCEQ implements the Program by contracting with 15 regional agencies, including river authorities, and councils of government, to conduct regional water quality assessments in the 23 river and coastal basins of Texas. In each basin, the designated partner agency (SRBA) has primary responsibility for surface water quality assessment its basin. For more information visit the Clean Rivers Program web page for links to water quality assessments, guidance, and partner information.
In order to accomplish it’s goals the TCEQ has compiled a set of Deliverables (reports, data, etc.) of which all partner agencies are responsible. These Deliverables are divided into Tasks in order to be received in an organized manner.
- Task 1 – Project Administration
- Task 2 – Project Planning and Quality Assurance
- Task 3 – Water Quality Monitoring
- Task 4 – Data Management and Watershed Inventories
- Task 5 – Water Quality Issues
- Task 6 – Public Participation and Outreach
- Task 7 – Special Projects
Latest Annual Steering Meeting Information
Steering Committee Previous Years Minutes and Agendas
Water Monitoring
See Our Monitoring Objectives
Click the button to the right to see our monioring objectives.
Coordinated Monitor Schedule
Click the LCRA logo to the right to visit the LCRA Coordinated Monitoring application to monitor the water quality of rivers, lakes, bays, and the Gulf of America.
Measurement Performance Specification
Click the button to the right to see our measurement performance specification.
Public Outreach
Texas Stream Team
The Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working to gather information about our natural resources. Read more about these volunteers by clicking the button at the right or visit their website.