Overview

The River Systems Institute, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute, will design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, long-term, integrated watershed planning and implementation process that will support sustainable water resource management in the Red River Basin.  This project implements the first stage of a multi-phased process, which will address the problem of pathogen impairments in the portion of the watershed above Lake Texoma.  The project’s five objectives include: 1) form a transboundary, regional work group comprised of local, regional, state and federal participants; 2) compile and characterize data on pathogen within the study area; 3) conduct workshops on the types, occurrence, detection, analysis techniques, and health risks associated with pathogens ; 4) identify information and resources needed to fully characterize the pathogen impairment problem; 5) develop a strategic plan to augment pathogen data collection. The project will produce a management model that can be expanded to other portions of the basin.

“Transboundary Pathogen Education and Data Characterization in the Red River Basin above Lake Texoma” henceforth referred to as the Project, is funded through a 12 month, $72,599 Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grant (AWPPG) from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to the River Systems Institute (RSI).  The project began January 1, 2009 and is currently scheduled to end December 31, 2009.  It received collaborative support from the following organizations:

Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute (OWRRI)

Arkansas Water Resources Center (AWRC)

Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB)

Red River Authority (RRA)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER)

Red River Valley Authority (RRVA)

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

This project was conceived and developed at the RSI, Texas State University San Marcos (www.rivers.txstate.edu) through the Consortium for Watershed Excellence (Consortium) which includes the OWRRI at Oklahoma State University and the AWRC at the University of Arkansas.  The Consortium’s primary purpose is to engage university’s and their water resource research institutes in capacity building efforts that target impaired waters with a special emphasis on transboundary waters.  In the course of developing this project, the RSI and its collaborative partners deferred to agencies in Oklahoma and Texas as well as the RRA to determine how this project could benefit current and on-going efforts.

Transboundary Work Group

Two levels of participation are available to Work Group participants, Tier 1 and Tier 2.  Tier 1 participants commit to active participation in the Work Group by attending meetings in person or via remote conferencing. Tier 2 participants will essentially only participate by email.  If you wish to participate you may complete the Transboundary Work Group Participant Form.

Work Group Mission

The Work Group will meet within the project area three times between May 2009 and December 2009 at a location to be decided.  Through these meetings, the work group will complete three tasks. 

Task 1) Oversee data gap analysis of 10 impaired stream segment (5 in each state);

Task 2) Help design stakeholder pathogen education workshops;

Task 3) Assist in developing a strategic plan for follow up action on each of the 10 segments

Task 1)            Data Gap Analysis.  AWRC has compiled Red River data from state and other sources to support the Regional Technical Advisory Group’s (RTAG) work on nutrient standards for the Red River Basin.  AWRC will provide OWRRI with pathogen data that were compiled in conjunction with the RTAG project.  An OWRRI graduate assistant will conduct a data gap analysis using these data.  The Work Group will review the methodology for conducting the analysis, recommend segments to be included in the analysis, review and comment on the draft and final data gap analysis report, and recommend appropriate action on each of the 10 targeted segments.

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Task 2)            Pathogen Education Workshops. Enhancing communication and understanding about pathogens is one of this project’s most important objectives.  Work Group meetings, in addition to addressing data gap analysis issues, will discuss development of two Pathogen Education Workshops on “the types, occurrence, detection, analysis techniques, health risks, and best management practices associated with pathogens” (Project Work Plan p.2) The Work Group will recommend the target audience for these workshops, which may include technical briefings to the Work Group itself. 

Task 3)            Strategic Plan. The strategic plan will evaluate monitoring data presented in the Task 1 data gap analysis and propose actions for each of the 10 targeted segments using available guidance such as the three-tiered approach presented in the June 2007 Bacteria TMDL Task Force Report (http://twri.tamu.edu/reports/2009/tr341.pdf) and adopted by the TCEQ and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB).  Key components of the strategic plan may include recommended action on targeted segments, including: monitoring objectives; outreach and education priorities; potential sources to be investigated; institutional participants, and; funding sources.

Project Schedule

Work Group Meeting One- June 29, 2009. Review Work Group mission, participants, and data gap analysis methodology, includes stream segment selection. Identify workshop audience, topics, dates and locations.  Discuss logistics of Work Group participation including sponsorship needs for Work Group and workshop participation.

Education Workshop One- June/ July. To be decided by Work Group in first meeting.

Work Group Meeting Two-August/September. Review data gap analysis draft report. Develop preliminary recommendations for each segment. Identify audience, topics, speakers, dates and location for fall workshop.

Education Workshop Two- October/November. To be decided by Work Group in second meeting.

Work Group Meeting Three- November/December. Approve strategic plan and discuss immediate action items for continuation of project.

Transboundary Work Group Meeting #1
Red River Authority of Texas
June 29, 2009

Agenda and Presentations

Highlights

·         13 people attended the meeting, 7 from Texas, 4 from Oklahoma, and 1 from Louisiana (Rich Brontoli with the Red River Valley Association).  An additional 4 people attended via audio conference in the afternoon

·         The project has two main objectives: 1) help develop a strategic plan for addressing the impairment status of 10 segments; 2) help design 2 workshops on pathogens

·         The Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership program provided an overview and shares a transboundary focus with this project

·         Oklahoma and Texas water quality standards are similar with respect to criteria.  There are differences in beneficial uses, indicators, and approaches to assessment.

·         The Work Group requested additional information and resources which will be compiled for meeting #2.

·          It was recommended that the Buck Creek project be used as an example of an effective approach to addressing pathogen impairments

·         Outreach and education needs to meet people at their level of interest and concern and be persistent