Buck Creek Water Quality
Buck Creek is a small creek in the Texas Panhandle in the Red River Basin. Data obtained from limited water quality sampling by the Red River Authority in the past indicated that Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels sometimes exceeded levels allowed by the Texas Surface Water Standards. Too many E. coli or fecal coliforms may indicate the presence of pathogens that can cause disease and would keep the creek from being used safely for recreation.
In the Bacterial Monitoring for the Buck Creek Watershed project, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and cooperating soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) worked with the Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas AgriLife Research to collect and analyze water samples in Buck Creek to monitor water quality for bacterial nonpoint source pollution. The Texas AgriLife Extension Service along with SWCDs provided education regarding the project and its outcomes.
The current project, Watershed Protection Plan Development for Buck Creek, is identifying specific sources of the bacteria in Buck Creek, evaluating potential management alternatives for restoring the water body and then will educate landowners on the best management practices. Culmination of the project is a watershed protection plan that outlines a voluntary approach to managing the Buck Creek watershed to improve its health and water quality. Stakeholder participation in developing and implementing the watershed protection plan is critical for the success of the project.
Objectives
- Establish a baseline assessment of the Buck Creek watershed with regards to land use and possible bacteria sources
- Perform micro-watershed monitoring and sampling to inform SWCDs and landowners of any potential or existing water quality issues
- Use bacterial source tracking to identify the source of E. coli in the Buck Creek watershed
- Coordinate stakeholder communication and provide educational information
- Develop a stakeholder-driven watershed protection plan for Buck Creek
Accomplishments
- Completed three years of intensive monitoring that better describes potential concerns in the watershed
Collaborators
- Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife
- Texas AgriLife Research
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service
- Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts
- Red River Authority
Funding Agencies
- Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
