Watershed Protection Plan - Lower Rio Grande Valley Development ...

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SOURCES OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Texas Commission on Environmental Quality The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitors water quality in the Arroyo Colorado directly through the state’s SWQM program and through partnerships with its Texas Clean Rivers Program (CRP) partners. Participation of the TCEQ in the ACW Water Quality Monitoring Plan is critical to its implementation. The technical assistance provided by the TCEQ and its CRP partners for monitoring in the Arroyo Colorado must be sustained, at least over the 10-year period of the ACW Protection Plan. The TCEQ also regulates wastewater discharges, urban stormwater discharges and enforces regulations against unauthorized discharges of pollutants into the Arroyo Colorado. Thus, the participation of the TCEQ is critical to the success of the ACW Protection Plan. Nueces River Authority (NRA) The Nueces River Authority (NRA) provides technical assistance in monitoring fl ow and water quality in the Arroyo Colorado. NRA is a CRP partner with the TCEQ and currently monitors several sites on the Arroyo Colorado Tidal. Texas Sea Grant and Texas Cooperative Extension of the Texas A&M University System The Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE) program and the Texas Sea Grant College Program (TSG) offer educational and technical assistance to private landowners and local governments for land management. The ACW Protection Plan relies on the ability of the TCE, TSG and other programs of the Texas A&M University System to provide technical assistance to educate producers in the ACW watershed about agricultural BMPs. Texas Watch The Texas Watch program provides technical assistance for establishing volunteer monitoring programs and for educating the public about general water quality issues. Texas Watch currently plays an important role in the ACW Protection Plan. Continued participation of the Texas Watch program in the ACW Protection Plan will ensure complete implementation of the E&O Component of the Plan. Cattail wetlands cell Arroyo Colorado Above Tidal Universities Local universities such as UTB, UTPA and TAMUK conduct research on specifi c topics of direct relevance to the Arroyo Colorado and provide technical assistance for water quality monitoring, BMP implementation, habitat restoration and E&O. Academic institutions in the Arroyo Colorado watershed are already participating in the ACW Protection Plan by fi lling important data gaps identifi ed by previous research. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are involved in conservation projects and general E&O. However, a number of NGOs also offer technical assistance to stakeholders and the public on management practices, grant writing and land acquisition. Regional and Local Regional and local organizations also provide technical assistance to stakeholders and the public, mainly in the form of fl ow and water quality monitoring, research and E&O. A brief description of the technical resources available from the regional and local entities follows: Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist (RGVCTMN) The Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist (RGVCTMN) program offers training on organic gardening, natural resource conservation and preservation of natural areas. The RGVCTMN has been active in the ACW Partnership and is an important participant in the ACW E&O Plan. Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan 140 January 2007
SOURCES OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy plans to design local conservation strategies in the Rio Grande Valley that include developing private land conservation techniques in cooperation with local landowners in the Arroyo Colorado watershed. These efforts will be instrumental in restoring habitat along the Arroyo Colorado. Available Sources of Funding Several federal and state programs are available to fi nance many of the load reduction measures described in the ACW Protection Plan. Additionally, several national and regional non-governmental organizations offer fi nancial support to local governments and the public to implement environmental projects. Federal Federal grant and low-interest loan programs designed to fi nance wastewater infrastructure or to mitigate urban and agricultural NPS pollution are critical to the success of the ACW Protection Plan. A brief description of the resources available from federal programs follows: Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Programs Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs provides low-interest loans with fl exible terms, and signifi cant funding for wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control and estuary protection projects. Eligible applicants include municipalities, communities of all sizes, farmers, homeowners, small businesses and nonprofi t organizations. CWSRF creates partnerships among banks, nonprofi ts, local governments and federal and state agencies to provide the best water quality fi nancing source for their communities. Many of the measures in the Arroyo Colorado PRP, the Wastewater Infrastructure Component of the ACW Protection Plan, target CWSFR funding specifi cally for implementation . The USDA Rural Development Program (USDA- RD) The USDA Rural Development Program (USDA-RD) offers grants and supports low-interest loans to rural communities for water and wastewater development projects. USDA-RD promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. Small, rural communities in the Arroyo Colorado watershed such as Rio Hondo, Progreso and Hidalgo have fi nanced wastewater projects through the USDA-RD Program. These communities will again target USDA-RD for fi nancing of additional wastewater infrastructure projects included in the ACW Protection Plan . North American Development Bank (NADB) The North American Development Bank (NADB) is a binational fi nancial institution capitalized and governed equally by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of fi nancing environmental projects certifi ed by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC). The two institutions work together with communities and project sponsors in both countries to develop and fi nance the infrastructure necessary for a clean and healthy environment for border residents. Many of the municipalities in the Arroyo Colorado watershed have fi nanced wastewater infrastructure projects through NADB loans. Many of the measures described in the Arroyo Colorado PRP target NADB as a potential source of funding for implementation . Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Recreational fi shing at dawn Laguna Madre At the request of local interests, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provides assistance in developing and implementing solutions to water January 2007 141 Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan
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Photos courtesy of Brand Cowan, Cam
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CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .........
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CONTENTS - FIGURES Habitat Restorat
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TABLES LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Tabl
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Arroyo Colora
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Habitat Approxima
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY management practi
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Elements of the W
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INTRODUCTION In its most pristine c
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INTRODUCTION Colorado, where physic
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED PARTN
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED The A
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED the D
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED Figur
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED Table
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THE ARROYO COLORADO WATERSHED Resac
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED From a natur
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED resacas loca
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Water Qualit
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Table 8. Des
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Figure 12. L
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Figure 14. 1
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Figure 18. T
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Figure 20. T
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED facilities a
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED controlled.
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STATE OF THE WATERSHED Tree plantin
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XXX Arroyo Colorado Watershed Prote
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POLLUTION IN THE ARROYO COLORADO
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POLLUTION IN THE ARROYO COLORADO 1)
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POLLUTION IN THE ARROYO COLORADO St
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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Successful
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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK the water r
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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK managing pr
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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK criteria fo
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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK pertaining
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ELEMENTS OF THE ARROYO COLORADO WAT
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Page 102 and 103: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Fostering lo
Page 104 and 105: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH • Distribu
Page 106 and 107: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH quality prob
Page 108 and 109: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH • Develop
Page 110 and 111: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH take to do t
Page 112 and 113: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH industry, de
Page 114 and 115: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH To support m
Page 116 and 117: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH members of t
Page 119 and 120: ESTIMATED WATERSHED LOADINGS AND LO
Page 129: ESTIMATED WATERSHED LOADINGS AND LO
Page 132 and 133: WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN Figur
Page 134 and 135: WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN Figur
Page 136 and 137: WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN Autom
Page 139 and 140: TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Page 150 and 151: SOURCES OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL
Page 159 and 160: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Federal CWA
Page 161 and 162: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Table 24. T
Page 163 and 164: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE TMDL Monito
Page 165 and 166: MEASURING PROGRESS The ultimate mea
Page 167 and 168: MEASURING PROGRESS Table 25. Criter
Page 169: MEASURING PROGRESS Table 27. Milest
Page 172 and 173: APPENDICES HUC HWWS IBWC IMAS km LL
Page 174 and 175: APPENDICES APPENDIX B Arroyo Colora
Page 176 and 177: APPENDICES arise necessitating the
Page 178 and 179: APPENDICES c. Committee Members: Co
Page 180 and 181: APPENDICES APPENDIX C Arroyo Colora
Page 182 and 183: APPENDICES FRANK MARTINEZ IBWC JAME
Page 184 and 185: APPENDICES WESLEY ROSENTHAL TAMU JE
Page 186 and 187: APPENDICES APPENDIX E Rare Plants a
Page 188 and 189: APPENDICES Common Name Scientific N
Page 190 and 191: APPENDICES APPENDIX F Locally Activ
Page 192 and 193: APPENDICES Gorgas Science Foundatio
Page 194 and 195: APPENDICES Endangered Species Act T
Page 196 and 197: APPENDICES APPENDIX H List of Feder
Page 198 and 199: APPENDICES Common Name Scientific N
Page 200 and 201: APPENDICES APPENDIX I Selected Mars
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APPENDICES Mid-Depths - 15 to 50 cm
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REFERENCES Arnold, J.G., P.M. Allen
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REFERENCES IBWC, 2003. Hydraulic Mo
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REFERENCES TAES (Texas Agricultural
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REFERENCES USEPA, 1999. Draft Guida
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