1. City of New Braunfels Watershed Management Programs
Mark Enders
Watershed Programs Manager
Public Works Department

2. City of New Braunfels Watershed Management Programs
1) MS4 Stormwater Management Program
2) Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
3) Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) for Dry Comal Creek & Comal River
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

3. MS4 Stormwater Mgmt Program
MS4- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
A system of storm drains, pipes, ditches, channels, catch basins and streets that collect and convey stormwater runoff to waters of the State and U.S.
In December 2014, the City of New Braunfels was required to obtain coverage under the TCEQ Small MS4 General Permit as City population >50,000.
The TCEQ MS4 Permit requires the City to implement stormwater pollution prevention measures designed to protect water quality.
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

4. MS4 Stormwater Program
The City’s Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) specifies ways in which the City will protect water quality & meet MS4 permit requirements. The SWMP includes:
Public Outreach and Involvement
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
Construction Site Stormwater Management
Post-Construction SW Management for New Development
Pollution Prevention for Municipal Operations
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

5. MS4 Stormwater Program Examples
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Program-
Construction Stormwater Mgmt Program-
Map SW outfalls, screen outfalls for signs of pollutants, prohibit illicit discharges to MS4 and rivers/ creek
Inspect construction sites for adequate erosion/ sediment control & pollution prevention measures
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

6. MS4 Stormwater Program Examples
Post-Construction Stormwater Control
New WQ requirements for new developments
New developments adding >5,000 ft2 impervious cover (IC) & with total IC >30% must install water quality treatment devices to treat ½” of runoff from new IC.
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

7. MS4 Program Ordinances and Policies
CoNB Drainage and Erosion Control Manual (DCM):
Revised in 2016 to include water quality mgmt requirements
Section 13: Water Quality Controls
Low-Impact Development (LID) Guidance Manual included as appendix to DCM
“MS4” / Water Quality Protection Ordinances
New ordinances (Ordinance No ) adopted by Council in December 2016.
Includes:
Illicit Discharge prohibitions
Construction stormwater mgmt requirements
Permanent stormwater control inspection & maintenance
Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

8. Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP)
The EAHCP includes both springflow & habitat protection measures implemented by SAWS, EAA, City of New Braunfels, City of San Marcos & TX State University to protect endangered species in Comal & San Marcos Rivers.
The City of New Braunfels implements many ongoing habitat restoration projects within the Comal River as part of the EAHCP program
CoNB EAHCP projects include Bank Stabilization Project, streambank restoration, aquatic plant restoration, invasive species removal and water quality planning.

9. EAHCP Springflow Protection Measures
1956 Drought of Record– Comal Springs ceased to flow for 6 months
Increased demand
San Antonio: population increasing
Surrounding communities
EAHCP establishes minimum and long-term average springflow limits for Comal Springs (30 & 225 cfs, respectively)
EAHCP includes springflow protection measures: VISPO, Conservation, & SAWS ASR (amount to >100,000 acre-feet in pumping reductions)

10. City of NB EAHCP Habitat Protection Measures
Aquatic Plant Restoration in Landa Lake & Old Channel of Comal River
Flow Split Management
Non-native Animal Species Control
Riparian/ Streambank Restoration
Water Quality Planning

11. Examples of CoNB Habitat Protection Projects-
Aquatic Vegetation Restoration
Includes removal of invasive aquatic plants and planting of native aquatic plants in Landa Lake and Old Channel of Comal River

12. Bank Stabilization Project along Old Channel
Pre-existing: Eroding river bank slope
Project under construction
Nearly completed project

13. Riparian Restoration-Old Channel
Remove invasive species:
Ligustrum
Chinese Tallow
Chinaberry
Elephant Ear
Plant native species:
Turks’ Cap
Mountain laurel
Emory Sedge
Frostweed
Switchgrass
Mexican buckeye
Installation of erosion control berms

14. Riparian Restoration-Spring Run #3
Remove invasive species:
Ligustrum
Elephant Ear
Plant native species:
Turks’ Cap
Emory Sedge
Frostweed
Mexican buckeye
Installation of erosion control berms
Area of Restoration

15. EAHCP Water Quality Planning
Developed a Water Quality Protection Plan (WQPP) in early 2017.
The WQPP identifies water quality management strategies to be implemented as part of the EAHCP.
The WQPP focuses on water quality retrofit opportunities & opportunities for funding mechanisms to implement WQ improvements.

16. 2018 Planned Water Quality Projects

17. Watershed Protection Planning for the Dry Comal Creek & Comal River

18. Dry Comal Crk and Comal River Watershed & Clean Rivers Prgm (CRP) Monitoring Locations

19. Bacteria Levels-Dry Comal Crk and Comal Rvr
Dry Comal Creek
Initially placed on the 303(d) list for bacteria in 2010.
Comal River
Bacteria levels have been increasing over the past 10 years.
Texas Water Quality Standard for Bacteria (126 CFU)

20. Bacteria Source Tracking Results (3-Way Split)

21. Watershed Protection Planning for the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River
The City and its project partners are developing a Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) to proactively address bacteria levels in the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River watersheds. Effort began in Summer 2015.
WPP development is funded through grants from EPA/ TCEQ:
Phase 1: $200,000 ($120,000 grant/ $80,000 match)
Phase 2: $475,000 ($285,000 grant/ $190,000 match)
A large group of local stakeholders and technical advisors assisted with the development of the WPP.
WPP to be completed in August 2017.

22. Proposed Bacteria BMPs
Overabundant Urban Wildlife
Wildlife feeding restrictions & education
Urban wildlife surveys – Deer & Ducks
Urban Stormwater
LID and Stormwater Treatment BMPs
Pet Waste BMPs – education, ordinances, pet waste stations
Livestock
Voluntary Water Quality Mgmt Plans (WQMPs) for individual ranches
Education and Outreach – ex. Lone Star Healthy Streams
Partner with local Soil Water Conservation Districts
Septic Systems/ OSSFs
Septic system operation education
Targeted inspections to identify failing OSSFs
Partner with Comal County
Education and Outreach

23. WPP Implementation
Bacteria management measures identified in the WPP are scheduled to be implemented over a 10-year period.
Submitted grant application to TCEQ for FY Clean Water Act grant to fund first 3 years of WPP implementation. Requesting $850,000 in federal funds.
CoNB staff will work with project partners to implement BMPs and seek additional grant opportunities.
Continue to monitoring bacteria levels and modify management measures, as needed.

24. Watershed Programs Manager-Public Works
Questions?
Mark Enders
Watershed Programs Manager-Public Works
(830)