TASK 1: PROJECT ADMINISTRATION

ANRA and TCEQ agreed to a new contract for the FY 2008-2009 biennium to conduct the Clean Rivers Program (CRP) in Upper Neches River Basin.  The agreement was effective on Sept. 1, 2007 and will terminate on August 31, 2009.  The TCEQ will reimburse ANRA up to $349,164 over the two-year period.

TASK 2: QUALITY ASSURANCE

ANRA's FY 08-09 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the Upper Neches River Basin was approved by the TCEQ on August 29, 2007.  The QAPP must be finalized and approved prior to initiating FY 08 monitoring activities.  A copy of the QAPP is available on the ANRA website.

ANRA participated in a CRP Quality Systems Audit conducted by TCEQ on June 11-12, 2007. The results of the audit found that ANRA's Clean Rivers Program was in overall good standing and supported the goals of the state's program.

The ANRA Laboratory has completed all of the necessary requirements for certification under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC). The ANRA Laboratory is now compliant with NELAC and applied to the TCEQ for certification in the Fall of 2007.

TASK 3: WATER QUALITY MONITORING

During FY 2008, ANRA is conducting quarterly surface water quality monitoring at 24 routine monitoring stations in the Upper Neches basin.  Bimonthly bacteria and flow monitoring will be conducted at one station on Biloxi Creek to address bacteria concerns.

ANRA is also conducting metals monitoring for the TCEQ at five stations on a quarterly basis. During FY08 ANRA is conducting 24 monitoring at two stations within the upper basin. The primary focus of these measurements is the dissolved oxygen levels in the streams.

The City of Tyler also monitors four stations in the upper basin.  The current FY 08 monitoring schedule, basin maps and a list of monitoring parameters is available in the CRP Monitoring Program section.

TASK 4: DATA MANAGEMENT

The Upper Neches Basin surface water quality monitoring data files are submitted to the TCEQ three times per year.  The water quality data includes routine conventional, field, flow, bacteriological, and 24 hour data collected over the previous months.  The water quality data is avialable on the TCEQ's website at: 

http://www8.tceq.state.tx.us/SwqmisWeb/public/index.faces

ANRA's most recent data submittal was in February 2008.

TASK 5: DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

ANRA has completed the Draft 2008 Upper Neches Basin Highlights Report which is currently available on the ANRA website in the CRP Reports section below.  The annual Highlights Report provides an overview of the CRP activities in the basin.  The Draft 2008 edition includes:

• Surface water quality monitoring programs in the basin with current schedules and GIS maps of the monitoring locations
• Water quality data review and water body rankings
• Updates on water quality projects in the basin (including Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Projects)
• Stakeholder participation and public outreach activities

TASK 6: STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION & PUBLIC OUTREACH

ANRA's 2008 Upper Neches Basin CRP Steering Committee Meeting will be held on April 1, 2008 at the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center in Nacogdoches, Texas. See the "CRP Meetings and Events" section for details on this year's metting.

Topics to be discussed include the CRP work plan and budget, Draft 2008 Basin Highlights Report, the 2008 Water Quality Inventory and 303(d) List, Basin Monitoring Activities, Update on TCEQ's Continuous (Real-Time) Monitoring Program for the Upper Neches River Basin, Status of Basin Water Quality Projects, and Basin Objectives and Priorities.

• 2008 CRP Meeting Agenda
• 2007 CRP Meeting Minutes

ANRA continues to support Volunteer Environmental Monitoring in the basin.  ANRA provides Texas Stream Team (formerly known as Texas Watch) monitoring kits, training, and replacement supplies and reagents to active volunteer monitors in the basin. 

For more information about ANRA's Volunteer Monitoring Program, please contact Matt Romig at (936) 633-6435 or e-mail mromig@anra.org.

ANRA's Clean Rivers Program recently supported the Nacogdoches  ISD by providing Major Rivers student education materials. Major Rivers is a Texas water education program for elementary students.

CRP Steering Committee Process

Membership Program guidelines specify the steering committee should include stakeholder volunteers from across the ANRA's area of responsibility (Upper Neches River Basin), representing the following groups:

• Private citizens
• Fee-payers (identified in Texas Water Code TWC 26.0135(h)
• Political subdivisions (including local, regional, and state officials)
• State Soil and Water Conservation Board
• Other appropriate state agencies including: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas General Land Office, Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Railroad Commission and Texas Department of Transportation.
• Other entities interested in water quality matters including: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional staff, business and industry, agriculture, environmental and other public interest groups.

Role The steering committee serves as the focus for public input and assists with:

• Creation of specific achievable water quality objectives and basin priorities
• Review and development of work plans and allocation of resources
• Development, review and approval of major reports
• Establishing monitoring priorities and developing monitoring plans
• Identification of priority problem areas and development of actions to address these problems and pollutant sources

Goals The CRP Long-Term Action Plan established CRP goals for the steering committees to support and enhance public participation by:

• Improving awareness of water quality, water resource, and pollutant source issues
• Increasing opportunities for citizens to identify pressing issues and concerns, and contributing ideas to the CRP process
• Expanding the public’s role in water quality management issues

If you are interested in participating in the Clean Rivers Program and would like to be a member of the Upper Neches Basin Steering Committee, please contact Matt Romig at (936) 633-6435 or e-mail mromig@anra.org.

CRP Meetings and Events

The 2008 CRP Steering Committee Meeting will be held on April 1, 2008, at 1:30 pm in the Rusk Room at the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center in Nacogdoches. The Final Agenda is available below. For more information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Matt Romig at mromig@anra.org or 936-633-6435.

2008 CRP Steering Committee Meeting Agenda

2007 CRP Steering Committee Meeting Agenda

2007 CRP Steering Committee Meeting Presentation

2007 CRP Steering Committee Meeting Minutes 4-12-07