Buck Creek -
Water Quality Project
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Introduction
The Red River Basin includes 29 classified segments and 11 major reservoirs covering 145,169 acres. Buck Creek, also known as Spiller Creek, is a small waterbody situated within the Red River Basin and is located within a subwatershed to the Lower Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River (Segment 207). This stream segment is located within Ecoregion 27, Central Great Plains. Small streams within this region are typically characterized by widely varying flows and high levels of dissolved salts, generally originating from saltwater seeps and springs. Buck Creek (segment 207A) is situated within a predominantly rural and agricultural landscape in the panhandle region of Texas.
Land use in the watershed is predominantly row crops and grasslands. Temperatures in the region range from 25ºF-93ºF and rainfall averages approximately 21 inches. During periods of rainfall, bacteria (E. coli, specifically) originating from aquatic birds and mammals, livestock, inadequately treated sewage, and/or failing septic systems may be washed into the streams and have the potential to impede recreational use of the waterbody. Bacterial indicators, such as E. coli, may remain in the streams in levels exceeding established criteria and can be measured well after a rain event has occurred. These organisms are normally found in wastes of warm-blooded animals and are generally not harmful to human health, but may indicate the presence of pathogens that can cause disease.
The State of Texas requires that water quality in Buck Creek be suitable for fishing, swimming, wading, and a healthy aquatic ecosystem. However, data obtained from water quality monitoring indicates that bacteria levels are sometimes elevated in the creek. Although these data points provide an indicator of a potential water quality problem, the data do not provide conclusive evidence of persistent impairment; rather, it suggests a temporal recurring phenomenon.
Where is Buck Creek?
Bacterial Monitoring for the Buck Creek Watershed (PowerPoint Presentation)
Current Study
Like most states, Texas does not directly monitor pathogens because of the difficulty and expense of measuring them. Instead, it tests for the presence of organisms that indicate the likely presence of pathogens—for example, E. coli is typically used as the indicator in the assessment of fresh water. These indicators are used to estimate the relative risk of swimming or other recreation involving direct contact with the water because the probability of becoming ill is greater when the bacteria counts are elevated.
The data used to establish current bacterial loadings in the majority of classified waterbodies across the State is the result of quarterly sampling conducted through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)—Clean Rivers Program. Buck Creek is an unclassified waterbody and as such, has not been sampled at the same quarterly intervals as the classified waterbody, into which it flows. Since Buck Creek has been on an intermittent sampling regime, only 20 fecal coliform samples and 14 E. coli samples have been collected, from one designated sampling site, within a five year period.
It has been suggested that a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for bacteria can be done on several impaired segments across the State by using simple, established statistical methods to identify the timing and magnitude of observed exceedances of water quality criteria. While this may be acceptable for waterbody segments that have sufficient data; this waterbody would be better served with the encouragement of public participation, establishment of targeted monitoring and an educational outreach program.
As the lead agency for the State of Texas in abating agricultural/silvicultural NPS pollution, the TSSWCB works closely with Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), in addition to working cooperatively with various state agencies and universities to reduce NPS pollution from various agricultural activities. This project will expand the efforts and activities of TSSWCB, Hall-Childress SWCD. Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) and Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE)
In this project, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and cooperating districts will work with TWRI and TAES in the collection and analysis of water samples in accordance with an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). TAES will be responsible for collection, analysis, and compilation of water quality data as well as producing reports on project activities.
TAES will be responsible for composing the QAPP, analyzing samples in accordance with the QAPP, and composition of quarterly and final reports for this project. The Hall-Childress SWCD and TCE will collaborate for dissemination of information and educational efforts related to project activities. Both the SWCD and TCE will also aid in contribution to, and review of the final report as deemed necessary.
Following are actions that will be undertaken by this project to assess bacterial nonpoint source pollution within Buck Creek Watershed:
Monitor water quality as related to bacterial nonpoint source pollution in Buck Creek by in-stream water sampling Composition of final report
Publications
Improving Water Quality in Buck Creek - One TMDL for Bacteria
2002 Water Quality Inventory for Buck Creek
Links
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Texas Water Resources Institute