State Agency Perspective of Estuary Program Subcommittees Brian Koch Regional Watershed Coordinator Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Lower Rio Grande Valley Stormwater Conference May 2017

What will be covered today Brief TSSWCB Agency Overview How TSSWCB works with the two Estuary Programs in Texas Leveraging Resources Summary

Agency Role Water Quality Mandate - Texas Agriculture Code §201.026 Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) is the lead agency in Texas responsible for planning, implementing and managing programs and practices for abating agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source water pollution.

Agency Role Provide technical and financial assistance to local soil and water conservation districts Local districts encourage landowners and agricultural producers to voluntarily conserve natural resources on their private lands through the implementation of best management practices Results in a positive impact on state water resources, and protects soil quality which supports the strength of Texas’ agricultural economy

How this gets done TSSWCB administers several programs to achieve conservation goals across the state, they include: Water Quality Management Plan Program Nonpoint Source Grant Program Water Supply Enhancement Program (Brush control) Flood Control Program

How this gets done The TSSWCB works with the 216 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Texas, by using local knowledge to achieve conservation goals that are based on the needs of each specific SWCD The TSSWCB provides technical assistance and in some cases financial assistance to the SWCDs to help achieve these goals as well

Agency Coastal Involvement Member of Coastal Coordination Advisory Council Water Quality Management Plan Program satisfies Agriculture/Silviculture NPS portion of the Texas Coastal NPS Program Both National Estuary Programs in Texas Coastal Watershed Plan Development (WPPs, TMDLs/I-plans)

NEP Objective The objective of any one NEP is to create and implement a CCMP that addresses water quality, sediment quality, living resources, land use, and water resources. By providing grants and technical assistance, EPA helps state and local governments achieve these goals. EPA also shares "lessons learned" among all the individual NEPs as well as other coastal communities (Source: Environmental Protection Agency 1998).

Water and Sediment Quality Action Items CBBEP Maintain and/or Enhance Water and Sediment Quality Understand Total Loadings and Pathways of Loadings to the Bay System Improve Management of Loadings to the Bay System GBEP Improve Water Quality Through Nonpoint Source Pollution AbatementImprove Water Quality Through Point Source Pollution Abatement Promote Public Health Awareness

Combining efforts With limited resources for individual agencies and programs collaboration and partnerships become essential to achieving goals Goals of the different entities often overlap (e.g. water quality protection, improvement, and restoration) Many times, just showing up and sharing knowledge from other projects goes a long way toward meeting goals

Working with NEPs Two Estuary Programs in Texas; Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) and Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP) TSSWCB sits on the Galveston Bay Council and participates in the Water and Sediment Quality Subcommittee, and currently serve as Chair of the subcommittee TSSWCB also participates on the Water and Sediment Quality Implementation Team for CBBEP Also, assisting with CCMP revision (Galveston Bay Plan, CBBEP Bays Plan)

Leveraging Resources Estuary Programs in Texas receive both state and federal funding Many projects (marsh restoration, watershed planning, land acquisition, etc…) require match in some form or fashion, e.g. federal funding usually requires state or local match

Working in NEP areas Currently 2 TSSWCB programs are active in the GBEP and the CBBEP program areas The WQMP program has been active since 1993 in both areas implementing conservation practices on thousands of acres helping preserve, protect, and restore water quality in tributaries and the bays and also implementing the Coastal NPS Program

Working in NEP areas Through the NPS Grant program, several planning, implementation and demonstration projects have been completed or still in progress Several Watershed Protection Plans have been completed and are being implemented An implementation project in the CBBEP area led to improved DO levels in Oso Bay

Working in NEP areas Coastal Prairie/Wetland Restoration at Sheldon Lake State Park in Houston Cedar and Double Bayou WPPs developed in the Galveston Bay Watershed, currently implementing the Ag NPS measures in both, and some of the wastewater and stormwater components Lower Nueces River WPP developed in the CBBEP area, implementing a few components, including OSSFs and Pet Waste

Other NEP/State Agency collaboration Habitat restoration/land acquisition projects (Texas GLO, TPWD) Fish and Shellfish Consumption (TDSHS) Freshwater Inflows (TWDB, TCEQ) Permitted Discharges (TCEQ) Other State Agency involvement (TDA, TxDOT, Railroad Commission

Summary Estuary Program Goals and State Agency Goals often overlap Partnerships are essential to accomplishing these goals Leveraging funding and other resources can accomplish overlapping goals

Regional Watershed Coordinator Brian Koch Regional Watershed Coordinator Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Wharton Regional Office 1120 Hodges Ln Wharton, TX 77488 979-532-9496 v 979-532-8765 f bkoch@tsswcb.texas.gov http://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/ http://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/cwp Authorization for use or reproduction of any original material contained in this presentation is freely granted. TSSWCB would appreciate acknowledgement.