More than 200 water bodies in Texas are impaired because they did not meet bacteria criteria established by the state to protect contact recreation use in freshwater and/or oyster water.
The Fate and Transport of E. coli in Rural Texas Landscapes and Streams project addresses several issues related to bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development and implementation addressed in a recent state task force report. These issues include identifying, characterizing and monitoring the fate and transport of E. coli in impaired watersheds and streams. The results from this project will help in developing scientifically sound TMDLs.