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Introduction:
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 TCEQ implements the Program by contracting with 15 partner agencies, including the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority and 11 other river authorities, one water district, one federal agency, and one council of government, to conduct water quality monitoring and assessments in the 23 river and coastal basins of Texas. Each river or coastal basin is assigned to one of the designated partner agencies. The Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA) is responsible for Basin 16, the Lavaca Basin.
The Clean Rivers Program involves quality-assured
water monitoring, making this data accessible via our
website (see Water
Quality), publishing annual reports of water
conditions per basin, and various aspects of public
outreach and education. Under Water
Quality one will find data, monitoring schedules,
maps of sites within Lavaca Basin, CRP Work Plans,
Steering Committee meeting minutes, and Basin reports
from 2000 to present.
How does the public participate:
One way the public can participate is through
volunteer environmental monitoring via the Texas Stream Team
Program. Currently science students and teachers
from Edna conduct water quality
monitoring in
Lake Texana. LNRA sponsors these students with equipment,
supplies, and educational needs. Click on Texas
Stream Team for further information.
The Texas Clean Rivers Act established a way for the citizens of Texas to participate in building the foundation for effective statewide watershed planning activities. Each CRP partner agency has established a steering committee to set priorities within its basin and to allow local concerns to be addressed and regional solutions to be implemented.
The Lavaca Basin Steering Committee:
LNRA works with the Lavaca Basin Steering Committee
to seek public input, disseminate water quality information,
and set priorities for water quality monitoring in the
Lavaca Basin. Membership in the Committee is open to
staff from state and local governments, private landowners,
representatives of industry and agriculture, and interested
individuals. Anyone interested in participating as a
member of the Steering Committee may contact the offices
of LNRA and speak to General Manager,
Patrick Brzozowski
or Water Quality personnel,
Sylvia Balentine
or
Chad Kinsfather or one may just attend the annual meetings which are open to the public. Meetings are held at LNRA
headquarters--see map below:
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Input from the Steering Committee meetings allows LNRA to prioritize water
quality issues and to determine the most effective water
quality monitoring program for the Lavaca Basin. More information can be found by visiting the TCEQ Clean Rivers program
website at www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/clean-rivers.
Meetings are held annually each summer (usually in July) at LNRA facilities. Meeting notices are mailed out in advance to
Committee members and previous attendees and are posted
on the LNRA Calendar and in all Basin newspapers. The Draft and Final Agendas for the meetings
are posted on this page along with the meeting notices.
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