Bacteria Implementation Group

What is the BIG?

The Bacteria Implementation Group, familiarly known as the BIG, is a thirty-one-member committee  that is preparing an implementation plan, or I-Plan, to remedy high levels of bacteria in waterways identified in four Total Maximum Daily Load  projects in the Houston Region. The BIG is responsible for receiving input, establishing workgroups, facilitating communications, developing recommendations, and providing oversight in the development of the I-Plan. Activities of the BIG are open to all interested parties, and people are encouraged to attend meetings and participate in the various water quality issues pertinent to the I-Plan.

The draft I-Plan is a common-sense approach for reducing bacteria levels in our waterways and providing better services to citizens. However, for the plan to work, we need your help. With everyone pitching in together, we will reduce bacteria levels in our waterways. On August 16, 2011, the Bacteria Implementation Group approved the draft I-Plan for the purpose of submitting it to the TCEQ for consideration. TCEQ is currently considering the I-Plan to determine whether to approve the plan for the purpose of soliciting formal comment. As of November 18, 2011, almost 100 organizations representing local governments, business, and environmental interests have passed resolutions in support of the Implementation Plan.

Implementation Plan for Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria
in the Houston-Galveston Region (PDF) 13M
submitted to TCEQ for consideration

To request printed copies, please contact Rachel Powers at
(713) 993-4559 or rachel.powers@h-gac.com
A four-page summary is available here (PDF) 613K

BIG Meetings

BIG Annual Meeting: Tuesday, May 22, 2012:
Draft Agenda (PDF) 467K

Meetings are held at the H-GAC offices in Conference Room A on the second floor unless otherwise noted. The Implementation Plan calls for an annual meeting, at which an assessment of progress toward meeting the goals of the I-Plan will be presented. Particular questions that will be addressed in the report include:

1. Does ambient water quality monitoring data indicate that bacteria levels are changing?
     If so, are bacteria levels improving or degrading?
2. Do non-ambient water quality monitoring data indicate that implementation activities
     are reducing bacteria loading?
3. Are implementation activities and controls being undertaken as described in this I-Plan?
      Which activities have been implemented and which have not?

Notes and materials from past meetings can be found here.

BIG Workgroups

On November 18, 2008, the BIG established workgroups to address specific water quality issues pertinent to the I-Plan. A detailed description of the workgroups can be found here:
BIG Workgroups (PDF) 220K

The workgroups recommended content for the BIG I-Plan, assess progress on implementation, and recommend changes to the I-Plan and possible action for the BIG. All interested parties are welcome and encouraged to participate in one or more workgroups. Notes from past meetings can be found on each workgroup page. Please click through the navigation bar on the left for workgroup meeting information and materials.


Last updated April 26, 2012