1. 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

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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).

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Regional Watershed Coordinator
Brian Koch
Regional Watershed Coordinator
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Wharton Regional Office
1120 Hodges Ln
Wharton, TX 77488 v f
Authorization for use or reproduction of any original material
contained in this presentation is freely granted.
TSSWCB would appreciate acknowledgement.