Five bodies of water across Texas are being addressed by Tarleton State University’s Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER). These waters were added to the 2022 Texas 303(d) list of impaired waters due to elevated E. coli concentrations, an indicator of fecal contamination and the potential presence of pathogens that pose risks to human health through water contact or incidental ingestion. In response, TIAER is collaborating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to conduct a Recreational Use Attainability Analysis (RUAA) to evaluate whether current recreational use designations accurately reflect observed conditions and actual use patterns.
The project will integrate field-based assessments with stakeholder-informed data collection to develop a scientifically robust, context-sensitive understanding of recreational use across the study area. Activities include targeted field surveys, observational assessments of stream conditions, and structured engagement with landowners and community members to capture both current and historical use patterns. This participatory approach ensures that local knowledge is meaningfully incorporated alongside empirical data, enhancing the defensibility and relevance of study outcomes.
Through this research, TIAER will provide actionable, science-based recommendations to support appropriate recreational use classifications and associated water quality criteria. The study advances adaptive, evidence-driven water resource management, ensuring that regulatory designations are scientifically sound and aligned with real-world conditions and stakeholder perspectives.