Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Receives $3.8 Million to Address Water Quality Issues in Texas

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) recently received a grant of $3,836,250 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant will support TSSWCB’s Texas Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program which addresses water pollution caused by water runoff that carries pollutants into rivers, lakes and other waterbodies.

Projects funded through this grant include implementing agricultural components of watershed protection plans for Plum Creek, Medina River, Arroyo Colorado River and the Leon River watersheds. The funds will also provide educational and outreach opportunities for landowners through the Lone Star Healthy Streams Feral Swine Component, Watershed Coordinator Development Program and the Riparian and Ecosystem Education program. Additionally, the grant will support implementation activities in the Davidson Creek and Brazos County watersheds. 

“We look forward to continuing our efforts to restore impaired watersheds by working closely with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and our natural resource partners” said TJ Helton, TSSWCB Program Administrator.

The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires States to develop a plan to protect the quality of water resources from the adverse effects of nonpoint source water pollution. NPS pollution is all water pollution that does not originate from regulated point sources. Types of regulated point sources include wastewater treatment facilities, municipal stormwater systems, and concentrated animal feeding operations. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall flows off the land, roads, buildings, and other features of the landscape. This diffuse runoff carries pollutants into drainage ditches, lakes, rivers, wetlands, bays and aquifers.

The Texas NPS Management Program is a comprehensive strategy for addressing nonpoint source pollution across Texas, where assessment has determined that water quality is impaired or threatened. TSSWCB implements the agricultural and silvicultural aspects of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) through assessment, planning, implementation, education and research.