Water Quality

The Bayou Preservation Association is dedicated to improving surface water quality in Houston's creeks, rivers, and bayous. Much of what BPA does to improve water quality is through bayou clean-up programs, public education, habitat restoration, funding research, and advocating sustainable urban development that minimizes non-point source pollution. Working with governmental agencies and other environmental advocacy groups, the BPA strongly supports actions that would lead to water quality improvements in our waterways. The BPA is currently addressing litter in our bayous with a grant from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program.

The BPA Water Quality Committee, headed by Carolyn White, meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11:30 AM at the BPA office. Call to confirm 713.529.6443.

Water quality standards are allowable levels of chemical parameters set for each major waterway based on its use. For example, the upper Buffalo Bayou is considered to be a stream used for recreational purposes, such as boating, therefore the allowable concentrations of chemical constituents are based on human contact. These standards, set by state and federal agencies, are checked by collecting water samples and analyzing them in a laboratory. Samples are collected within the rivers and at designated discharge points where urban runoff or wastewater treatment plants empty into the waterway.

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), a voluntary association of counties, cities, independent school districts, and soil and water conservation districts, administers the Texas Clean Rivers Program in the region. Through Clean Rivers, the  H-GAC compiles and tracks water quality data for the region's creeks and bayous.

To learn more, visit H-GAC Clean Rivers Project.

Each year the H-GAC publishes a Basin Summary Report. The 2005 Report provides the following summary report entitled "How's the Water?", which we quote below:

"So, how's the water? Not bad, as a whole, but as you will see throughout this report, the health of the region's water bodies varies widely, as do the water quality management challenges."

WATERBODY	LOCATION OF IMPAIRMENT	PARAMETER
San Jacinto River Tidal	From US Hwy 90 to downstream of I-10	PCBs in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal/San Jacinto River Tidal	Downstream I-10 to Lynchburg Ferry Road	PCBs in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Goodyear Creek Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Greens Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	HSC Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Patrick Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Berry Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel Tidal/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Brays Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	HSC/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Hunting Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Sims Bayou	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Vince Bayou Tidal	PCBs in fish tissue, Chlordane, Dieldrin and Heptachlor epoxide in fish tissue
Greens Bayou above Tidal	Upstream FM 1960 to US 59	Bacteria
Clear Creek Tidal	Upstream of FM 528 to confluence of Clear Creek	Bacteria
Clear Creek above Tidal	Upper segment boundary to upstream of FM 528	Bacteria
Dickinson Bayou Tidal	Upper segment boundary to SH 3	Bacteria
Dickinson Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Halls Bayou below US 59	From US 59 to Hirsch Road	Bacteria
Halls Bayou below US 59	Tidwell Road to confluence with Greens Bayou	Bacteria
Halls Bayou above US 59	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Big Gulch above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Spring Gully above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Unnamed Tributary of Halls Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Brays Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Keegans Bayou above Tidal	From Harris County line to confluence with Brays Bayou entire stream reach	Bacteria
Sims Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Willow Waterhole Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Berry Bayou	1.5 miles upstream from confluence with Sims Bayou to SH 3	Bacteria
Kuhlman Gully above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Pine Gully above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Plumb Creek above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Country Club Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Brays Bayou	Entire perennial portion of stream	Bacteria
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Hunting Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Sims Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Buffalo Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Brays Bayou above Tidal	From Alief Clodine Road to SH 6	Bacteria
Sims Bayou above Tidal	From just south of West Orem to South Post Oak	Bacteria
Hunting Bayou above Tidal	From Bains Street to Sayers Street	Bacteria
Hunting Bayou above Tidal	From Falls Street to Loop 610	Bacteria
Hunting Bayou above Tidal	From Loop 610 to I-10	Bacteria
Little White Oak Bayou	From RR Tracks north of IH-610 to Trimble Street	Bacteria
Little White Oak Bayou	From Trimble Street to confluence of Buffalo Bayou	Bacteria
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
South Mayde Creek	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Turkey Creek	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Neimans Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Rummel Creek	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Spring Branch	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Garners Bayou	From a point adjacent to Vegas Road to confluence with Greens Bayou	Bacteria
Unnamed tributary of Greens Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Brickhouse Gully	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Coal Creek	From Flintrock Street to confluence with White Oak Bayou	Bacteria
Unnamed Tributary of White Oak Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Chigger Creek	FM 528 to the confluence of Clear Creek	Bacteria
Chigger Creek	From the headwaters to FM 528	Bacteria
Cowart Creek	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Mary's Creek	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Bordens Gully	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Geisler Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Gum Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Robinson Bayou	From Abilene Street to confluence with Cleark Lake	Bacteria
Robinson Bayou	From headwaters to Abilene Street	Bacteria
San Jacinto River Tidal	From Lake Houston Dam to Hwy 90	Dioxin in catfish and crab
San Jacinto River Tidal	From US Hwy 90 to downstream of I-10	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/San Jacinto River Tidal	Downstream I-10 to Lynchburg Ferry Road	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/San Jacinto River Tidal	Goose Island to SH 146	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/San Jacinto River Tidal	Lynchburg Ferry Road to Goose Island	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/San Jacinto River Tidal	SH 146 to Morgans Point	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Goodyear Creek Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Greens Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	HSC Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Patrick Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Berry Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Brays Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	HSC/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Hunting Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Sims Bayou	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Vince Bayou Tidal	Dioxin in catfish and crab
Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Buffalo Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
White Oak Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Clear Creek above Tidal	Upper segment boundary to upstream of FM 528	Chloride, total dissolved solids
Dickinson Bayou Tidal	Upper segment boundary to SH 3	Depressed DO
Upper Galveston Bay	Area west of a line from Eagle Point to Five Mile Pass to Houston Point	Bacteria (oyster waters)
Upper Galveston Bay	Red Bluff to Five Mile Cut to Houston Point to Morgans Point	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Trinity Bay	Area in northern portion of the Bay near Trinity River confluence	Bacteria (oyster waters)
East Bay	Area at the east end of the Bay near East Bay Bayou and ICWW to Marsh Point	Bacteria (oyster waters)
West Bay	24.4 square miles at the east end near Galveston and Texas City	Bacteria (oyster waters)
Tabbs Bay	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
San Jacinto Bay	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Black Duck Bay	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Scott Bay	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Burnett Bay	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Chocolate Bay	Entire segment	Bacteria (oyster waters)
Barbours Cut	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Bayport Channel	Entire segment	Dioxin in catfish and crab tissue
Lower Galveston Bay	Entire segment	Bacteria (oyster waters)
Spring Creek	Field Store Road to SH 249	Depressed DO
Oyster Creek above Tidal	From just upstream to Ramsey Prison Unit to CR 290	Depressed DO
Armand Bayou Tidal	Upper segment boundary to Bay Area Blvd.	Depressed DO
Armand Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Cotton Bayou	Upper half of bayou	Depressed DO
Cedar Bayou above Tidal	Entire segment	Depressed DO
West Fork San Jacinto River	I-45 to a point 10 miles downstreatm	Bacteria
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Patrick Bayou Tidal	Acute toxicity in sediment
Houston Ship Channel Tidal	Patrick Bayou Tidal	Temperature
Houston Ship Channel Tidal/Buffalo Bayou Tidal	Vince Bayou Tidal	Acute toxicity in sediment
Spring Creek	I-45 to confluence with Lake Houston	Bacteria
Cypress Creek	Upper portion of segment to confluence with Spring Creek	Bacteria
San Bernard River above Tidal	Lower 50 miles	Bacteria
Cedar Lakes	Entire segment	Bacterial (oyster waters)
Pine Gully above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Plumb Creek above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Country Club Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Unnamed non-tidal tributary of Buffalo Bayou	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Sims Bayou above Tidal	From just south of West Orem to South Post Oak	Depressed DO
Hunting Bayou above Tidal	From Bains Street to Sayers Street	Depressed DO
Little White Oak Bayou	From RR tracks north of IH-610 to Trimble Street	Depressed DO
Neimans Bayou	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Unnamed tributary of Greens Bayou	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Unnamed tributary of White Oak Bayou	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Bensons Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Armand Bayou above Tidal	Entire stream reach	Bacteria
Double Bayou West Fork	Entire stream reach	Depressed DO
Highland Bayou	From FM2001 to FM 519	Bacteria
Highland Bayou	From Fairwood Road to Bayou Lane	Bacteria
Highland Bayou	From headwaters to FM 2004	Bacteria, depressed DO
Marchand Bayou	Entire stream reach	Bacteria, depressed DO
Jarbo Bayou	From Lawrence Road to confluence with Clear Lake	Bacteria
Jarbo Bayou	From headwaters to Lawrence Road	Bacteria

The H-GAC has a strong water quality management program with numerous objectives ranging from conducting water quality assessments of rivers to identifying future needs for wastewater collection and treatment facilities. By educating the public and coordinating with local and state government agencies, the H-GAC is working to improve water quality in the Houston area and bring our water ways closer to being swimmable and fishable.

According to federal law, states are required to compile a list of water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes) that are not meeting water quality standards. About 47 water bodies in the H-GAC 13-county region have been identified as water quality limited. For each of these water bodies, the TECQ is required to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). A TMDL is developed by first determining the capacity of a water body to receive a particular pollutant of concern and still meet water quality standards. Second, this amount of pollutant loading is divided up amongst the sources of that pollutant within the watershed. Activities that bring a pollutant to the water body include both non-point sources such as urban runoff and point sources such as treatment plants or industrial discharges. Once sources are identified and the TMDLs are allocated for pollutants of concern, actions can be taken to reduce the loading of pollutants in the future.

1) Learn more about the flow of water in your neighborhood and discover what bayou receives water from your storm drains. Through the use of maps you can learn where the water from your driveway goes.

2) Be conscious about what goes down your drains. Recycle used oil and dispose of household hazardous waste at city drop-off locations. A map and hours of operation for the City of Houston recycle centers are provided below.

3) Minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in your yard.

4) Volunteer to monitor and clean up the water ways. You can participate in Texas Watch a program that trains and certifies students, volunteers, and professionals in water quality monitoring procedures. Data collected through Texas Watch are used by government agencies to set water quality standards that meet designated uses.

LEARN MORE & SIGN UP! Check out Texas Watch.

The City of Houston operates the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center at 5900 Westpark. It is a drive-through facility where citizens can drop off their recyclable items. The City of Houston also accepts batteries, oil, paint and antifreeze at this recycling center. The facility is open 9-5 Monday thru Saturday.

The City of Houston also provides collection of household hazardous wastes at the Environmental Service Center. The Environmental Service Center is located at 11500 South Post Oak. The Center is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information regarding the City of Houston's recycling and household hazardous waste management program, visit their website at City of Houston-Recycling.

Every month, the City of Houston samples area bayous for bacterial contamination from fecal coliform organisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). As BPA receives the data from the City we post those numbers above 10,000 colonies per 100 ml. The data received runs three to four months behind, so it is an indication of past contamination only. BPA continues to examine bacterial contamination in our bayous and hopes to understand the sources so we can work to reduce these high levels.