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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 Watch
Program. Currently science students and teachers
from Edna and Yoakum High Schools conduct water quality
monitoring in their localities: Edna monitors in
Lake Texana and Yoakum students monitor in Big Brushy
Creek. LNRA sponsors these students with equipment,
supplies, and educational needs. Click on Texas
Watch 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. Meetings are held at LNRA
headquarters--see map below:
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The Lavaca Basin Steering Committee provides guidance
on the use of resources from the Clean Rivers Program.
The Steering Committee allows LNRA to gain insight from
local stakeholders and expertise from such members as
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), United States Geological
Survey (USGS), Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), and the County Agricultural Extension Service.
Input from the Committee allows LNRA to prioritize water
quality issues and to determine the most effective water
quality monitoring program.
Meetings are held annually each summer (usually in July)
at LNRA facilities. Meeting notices are mailed out three
weeks in advance to Committee members and are posted on
the LNRA
Calendar.
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