Home >> Sabine River Watershed Management Program >> Texas Clean Rivers Program >> State of the Basin >> Basin Highlights >> Sabine River Basin, State of the Basin 1997

Water Availability

Water Conservation

Water Quality

Lake Levels & River Conditions

Recreation & Parks

Economic Development

About the Authority

This page in print-friendly format

Senate Bill 818 (SB 818), known as the "Texas Clean Rivers Program (TCRP)," was enacted in 1991 by the 72nd Legislature to ensure the comprehensive regional assessment of water quality in each river basin of the State. The TCRP provides for river authorities, under the supervision of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), to conduct regional assessments of their own river basins.

The Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA) was created by an act of legislature in 1949 with responsibilities to control, store, preserve, and distribute the waters of the Sabine River and its tributary streams for useful purposes. An agency of the State, SRA receives no appropriations and is not empowered to levy or collect taxes. Operating funds are derived from the sale of water, hydro-electric power, water quality services, recreational permit fees, and land use permit fees. SRA has taken an active role in water quality matters since operational activities began in 1954, and over the years has expanded its services to meet increasing needs throughout the Sabine River Basin.

The assessment approach has progressed from the initial "fact gathering" necessary during previous assessment periods toward an integrated and systematic approach to protect water resources in the Sabine Basin. Development of an Internet site has enhanced the ability to share SRA water quality data with TNRCC and other interested parties. Results from analyses of current and historical water quality data have been used to identify and prioritize water quality issues in the Basin. This process has allowed SRA to focus on problem areas, identify the causes, and work toward solutions.

The SRA Water Quality Monitoring Program and the SRA Subwatershed Screening Studies have been coordinated with other agencies to reduce duplication of effort and provide the most effective coverage of water quality monitoring. These monitoring programs have been augmented by development of a subwatershed inventory of all available water quality information for each subwatershed in the Basin. The SRA Geographic Information System utilizes the subwatershed inventory and the monitoring data to allow SRA to analyze impacts on water quality.

Public involvement in the TCRP has been increased through expansion of the Steering Committee. SRA is also continuing to increase public participation through the Texas Watch program,  development of a water quality newsletter, and presentations at schools, various groups, and organizations.

GIS

The SRA Geographic Information System (GIS) component of the Sabine River Watershed Monitoring Program (SRWMP) brings together the data and other information available for the various factors which can influence water quality, allowing the relationships of several factors to be examined together. For example, the spatial relationships of the permitted discharges, the concentrations of septic tank systems, as well as the locations of solid waste sites within a subwatershed can be determined. This information, along with data from SRA's subwatershed screening program, enables water resource managers to determine how these factors are influencing the water quality of the subwatershed.

SRA has played a key role in the establishment of a local GIS Consortium to direct a multi-application, cost sharing GIS in Orange County, Texas. This consortium is chartered and will act as a model to apply the "consortium approach" basin-wide to develop a distributed GIS data base compliant with NSDI metadata standards. The procurement of digital ortho quarter quadrangles (DOQQ) currently leads the agenda for GIS and related developments. SRA recently hosted a DOQQ procurement meeting which was attended by representatives from federal, state, and local entities having interest in DOQQ applications. The meeting resulted in the development of a cost sharing consortium to obtain the DOQQs across county and regional areas.

SRA has been selected as one of three sites in Texas to Beta-test Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcView Internet Map Server software and is the first of these sites to go online with demo applications. One of these demos is specific to the Clean Rivers Program and provides access to water quality and other Subwatershed Inventory Data by clicking on a GIS representation of stations or subwatersheds, respectively. This brings together GIS and WEB server data base applications to provide water quality and related information in an intuitive and universally accessible application.

The URL to this system is http://www.sratx.org/srwmp/swi/webmaps/.

World Wide Web

SRA established a World Wide Web site (http://www.sratx.org/) on the Internet to provide better access to water resource issues for the TCRP stakeholders. With the implementation of the Web server, the cities, industries, legislators, private organizations, and citizens receive immediate benefits from TCRP information and data services. The Internet connection allows for information to be shared between the SRA and any other Internet-capable entity, company, or individual with an interest in water resources. Some highlights of SRA's website are as follows:

• Access to SRA water quality source data and monthly reports
• Current reservoir elevation and river flow data is available on web site on a daily basis, with tables and graphs available for historic data back to January 1, 1995 (http://www.sratx.org/basin/lake_and_river_conditions.asp).
• Digital Ortho-quad Imagery Data for Orange County was obtained and made available on web site (http://www.sratx.org/regional/octgisc/doq/).^*
• Work is in progress to obtain IR Digital Ortho-quad Imagery Data for the entire Sabine Basin (http://www.sratx.org/regional/setgis/txdoqq.htm).
• Through a Beta Testing agreement with ESRI SRA is developing demos that highlight the application of Internet GIS applications to TCRP (http://www.sratx.org/srwmp/swi/webmaps/).

Overview of the Sabine River Watershed Monitoring Program

Water quality of streams, lakes, rivers, and estuaries is dependent on the interrelationships among water, land and air and their interaction in a specific watershed. SRA has determined the best way to deal with water quality questions within the Sabine Watershed is to evaluate the area with a subwatershed approach. The determination of subwatersheds is based on the tributaries and their watersheds as defined by the area's natural topography. This approach provides a more comprehensive and responsive means of evaluating all the factors affecting water quality and isolating these into specific subwatersheds. The primary benefit of this approach is that specific water quality monitoring needs can be established for each subwatershed based on the factors in that subwatershed which can potentially impact water quality. This makes the best use of limited resources and tailors them to the specific needs in each subwatershed. Subwatersheds can then also be targeted on a priority basis for water quality monitoring. The basin topography has been used to divide the Basin into 110 subwatersheds (24 of these are located in Louisiana) which are organized into 7 reaches. A "reach" of the main-stem of the River roughly corresponds to the old segment system but the reaches are based on hydrography and similarity of land features. This system allows a manager to determine which areas have adequate water quality information and which areas do not.

The SRA Environmental Services Division (ESD) collects surface water quality data as part of its commitment to water quality protection in the Sabine Basin. This Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) is funded entirely by SRA and is contributed as an "in-kind" service to the TCRP. The emphasis of the WQMP has focused on water quality issues concerning water supply as part of SRA's responsibility to conserve and protect the water resources of the Sabine Basin. The SRA WQMP for 1997 includes 41 stations on the mainstem and reservoirs which are sampled monthly. Active stations for WQMP were selected on the basis of relative position (upstream or downstream) to point source discharges, water supply intakes, proximity to industrialized areas of the basin, arial coverage of reservoirs, and other land use activities that have the potential to impact water quality.

Additional monitoring requirements brought about through the implementation of the TCRP, complement the existing WQMP by providing information on the many subwatersheds not covered by WQMP. The SRA TCRP Subwatershed Screening program utilizes biological screening studies in combination with routine physical and chemical parameters to provide data on the health of aquatic life and long range water quality protection. For subwatersheds which have never been sampled and are not prioritized for immediate study, a detailed field evaluation may be performed to establish general baseline information. The subwatershed approach incorporates risk factors such as municipal and industrial outfalls, solid waste sites, urban and rural land use, plus additional factors, into the decision making process. In the 1997 calendar year, the Subwatershed Monitoring Program will continue to focus on Reaches 5 and 6. These subwatershed sampling locations were prioritized by previous bioscreening results, historical data, and accessibility, with additional screening sites selected from other Reaches based on previous sampling and known problems. Subwatershed Field Evaluations will be performed in some subwatersheds to supplement the biological screening program and at sites where TCRP subwatershed screening study results have indicated water quality problems.

These programs have sampled 59 out of the 110 subwatersheds since the TCRP began in 1991. An additional nine subwatersheds are being monitored this year along with six sites where monitoring is being continued from last year.

Reach 1

Description: Sabine River, from Sabine River Confluence into Sabine Lake to Morgan Bluff in Orange County.

The SRA Subwatershed approach indicated Reach 1 should receive a high priority for the focus of monitoring efforts. A portion of the Basin used for recreation, agriculture, and industry, Reach 1 is located in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain Region, and is characterized by relatively flat terrain and extensive pine forests. Reach 1 contains one of the three highest population concentrations in the Sabine Basin, having two cities with populations greater than 5,000 and over 50 permitted discharges. There is also a large rural population in this reach with an estimated 8,700 septic tanks which have had historical problems. Oil and gas wells are also numerous in this area. The main-stem of the River and the five subwatersheds in the Texas portion of the reach were studied in 1995. The main stem of the Sabine River in this reach shows no concerns; however, the Cow Bayou subwatershed (Segment 0511) and the Adams Bayou subwatershed (Segment 0508) have concerns and possible concerns with nutrients, dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform. Both of these subwatersheds have very low flow and some degree of nutrient enrichment from point and non-point sources.

Reach 1 Summary.

Reach 2

Description: Sabine River, from Morgan Bluff to a point which includes Caney Creek in Newton County.

Most of Reach 2 is in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain Region with the remainder in the South Central Plains Region. This region is characterized by small rolling hills and then becomes relatively flat in the southern most portion. The vegetation is primarily pine trees with some hardwood trees and is mostly rural containing two small cities with populations of less than 2,000 each. There are 7,311 septic tank systems and only eight permitted discharges. The main-stem of the River and four of the six subwatersheds in Texas have at least some water quality data. The only area of concern in this reach is the Big Cow Creek (Segment 0513) subwatershed. Past data shows elevated levels of fecal coliform. Largely rural, with very few possible sources of pollution, Reach 2 is not prioritized for additional study this year beyond the routine station already in place.

Reach 2 Summary.

Reach 3

Description: Sabine River, from Above Caney Creek Confluence to Toledo Bend Dam.

Reach 3 is in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain Region and is characterized by small rolling hills with vegetation consisting of primarily pine trees with some hardwood trees. Reach 3 is mostly rural containing one small city in Texas and one in Louisiana. There are 1,297 septic tank systems and only one permitted discharge. The main-stem of the River and three of the eight subwatersheds have at least some water quality data The data analyses indicate mostly no concerns, but the results from the Bayou Anacoco* subwatershed showed possible concerns with fecal coliform and nutrients as well as concerns with chlorides, sulfates, and total dissolved solids. An additional station was reactivated for the 1997 WQMP to address the concerns in this reach.

Reach 3 Summary.

Reach 4

Description: Toledo Bend Reservoir - From Toledo Bend Dam to a point which includes Murvaul Creek Confluence.

Reach 4 is in the South Central Plains Region and is characterized by small rolling hills with vegetation consisting primarily of pine trees with some hardwood. All of Toledo Bend Reservoir, including the headwaters and the tributaries, are within Reach 4 with the Texas side being dominated by the Sabine National Forest. Mostly rural, Reach 4 contains one city in Texas with a population greater than 5,000. There are 11,722 septic tank systems and 18 permitted discharges. In the last two years four special investigations have been conducted by SRA ranging from wastewater discharges to gasoline spills. Data analysis indicated some problems with total dissolved solids, total phosphorus, sulfate, dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus. The problems were found mainly in the Tenaha Creek Arm of the Reservoir which receives runoff from a city and six other permitted discharges The main-stem of the River (Toledo Bend Reservoir) and five of the 21 total subwatersheds have at least some water quality data. Reach 4 is prioritized for additional study this year and data will be collected at three additional sites in Texas and four additional sites in Louisiana. (Note: TCRP funds are not used for any work in Louisiana).

Reach 4 Summary.

Reach 5

Reach 5 is located in the South Central Plains Region and is characterized by extensive forests and somewhat level terrain. The most densely populated area in the Sabine Basin, the reach contains six cities with populations greater than 5,000, with 83 permitted discharges and approximately 20,458 septic tanks. This area also has numerous mining activities and a heavy concentration of gas and oil wells. A total of ten special investigations have been conducted in this reach over the past two years, with the majority of the investigations involving spills related to the oil production operations in the area. Several sites within this reach have been previously monitored as part of the SRA TCRP Subwatershed Screening Program and extensive monitoring is currently being conducted. An intensive survey to update the waste-load evaluation for Segment 0505 was conducted during a low-flow period (1996) by SRA, TNRCC, the City of Longview, the City of Kilgore, Texas Eastman, USGS, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Other wastewater dischargers provided personnel and/or equipment for this study. This study also included a time of travel analysis and an analysis of the two year - seven day low-flow. This cooperative effort to base permit limits on better scientific data was made possible through the TCRP.

Reach 5 Summary.

Reach 6

The majority of Reach 6 is in the East Central Texas Plains Region with some part also in the South Central Plains Region, and is characterized by low rolling hills with extensive forests. There are no cities with populations greater than 5,000 in this reach, but the area does have an estimated 30,532 septic tanks and 59 permitted discharges. Gas wells, oil wells, and dairies are numerous in this reach. There have been 14 special investigations in this reach over the past two years, ranging from oil industry related spills to illegal dumping. Eleven of the 27 subwatersheds have routine water quality data. The data analyses showed mostly no concerns in this large reach. The Harris Creek subwatershed ambient toxicity testing indicated some biological impairment. Lake Fork Creek subwatershed had high levels of fecal coliform and problems with low dissolved oxygen. Birch Creek subwatershed showed concerns for both fecal coliform bacteria and nutrient enrichment and the Dry Creek subwatershed experienced some low dissolved oxygen problems. These problems are consistent with the agricultural activities in the area and are being addressed by several projects. The Lake Fork Hydrologic Unit Project currently being conducted by several federal, state, and local agencies, is intended to identify, design, and implement best management practices to minimize or eliminate surface and ground water pollution from agricultural activities. The area of study includes numerous streams which discharge into Lake Fork Reservoir. The TNRCC is also conducting a non-point source pollution study in this area.

Reach 6 Summary.

Reach 7

Reach 7 is in the Texas Blackland Prairies Region and is characterized by low rolling hills with some forested areas of post oaks, blackjack oaks, elms, and few pines with extensive areas cleared of forests for agriculture. Containing one city with a population greater than 5,000, the area has an estimated 9,406 septic tanks and 28 permitted discharges. The five special investigations conducted in this reach over the past two years have primarily been associated with sewage related problems. The SRA Subwatershed Approach selected the seven subwatersheds in this reach for extensive monitoring in 1995. The area of study includes the numerous streams which discharge into Lake Tawakoni as well as the Lake itself. Data analysis shows concerns for fecal coliform, nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the South Fork subwatershed which also had possible concerns for chloride, sulfate, and total dissolved solids. In addition, the Cowleech Fork subwatershed shows a concern for fecal coliform with possible concerns for chloride, sulfate, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients. Monitoring will continue at two sites in this subwatershed to address these issues.

Reach 7 Summary.

Water Quality Overview

The City of Dallas has also been conducting preliminary tests for Giardia and Cryptosporidium in tributaries entering Lake Tawakoni and other lakes. These organisms are known to occur in surface water and the Dallas study was aimed at providing data on the extent of the presence of these parasites in their raw water supply. Giardia and Cryptosporidium have been linked to serious health threats in other parts of the country; however, no outbreaks of these parasites have been noted in Texas.

Future Plans

The SRA WQMP and the SRA TCRP Subwatershed Screening program have made significant progress in the comprehensive regional assessment of water quality in the Sabine River Basin. Progress has really been dramatic in recent months as accomplishments through the GIS and SRA's Web site are bringing together water quality data and other related information to allow evaluation of many factors which affect water quality and provide better access to these water resource databases for the TCRP stakeholders.

What does this future hold? We need to be sure that we continue to build and access good sound scientific data for inclusion into this basin-wide effort. The SRA Subwatershed Inventory needs to provide this data where reasonable and provide links via the Internet to other data providers in the Sabine Basin. This cooperative sharing of information via SRA's Web site benefits cities, industries, agencies, legislators, private organizations and the general public.

SRA believes the "Subwatershed Approach" is a sound methodology for addressing water quality issues on a systematic basis. The future development of a real-time "Subwatershed Report Card" that describes the condition of water quality throughout the Basin on a subwatershed basis will allow water managers to focus limited resources on those subwatersheds with water quality problem areas, and to make consensus decisions on corrective measures. The long-term goal is to establish a basin/subwatershed pollution prevention program.

As part of a natural progression in our overall planning effort, SRA has undertaken, with approval from our Board of Directors in October of 1996, a two year study to develop a Comprehensive Sabine Watershed Management Plan for the Sabine River Basin, Texas. This comprehensive study involves funding assistance (25%) from the Water Development Board and includes evaluation of SRA's overall water quality management program as well as; water quality information, groundwater resources, water rights, surface water development, population and water use projections, water treatment system needs, wastewater treatment system needs, water conservation, mineral resources evaluation,, environmental considerations, lake sedimentation, aquifer storage and recovery, information resource issues (GIS and INTERNET), surface water projects issues, and a strong public participation program. This holistic approach will provide for a comprehensive evaluation of key water management options.