Bacteria Implementation Group

What is the BIG?

The Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) is a thirty-one-member committee  that has developed and is overseeing implementation of a plan, or I-Plan, to remedy high levels of bacteria in waterways identified in Total Maximum Daily Load  projects in the Houston Region. 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 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.

The BIG I-Plan

On August 16, 2011, the Bacteria Implementation Group approved the draft I-Plan for the purpose of submitting it to the TCEQ for consideration. As of May 2012, almost 100 organizations representing local governments, business, and environmental interests have passed resolutions in support of the Implementation Plan. On January 30, 2013, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) formally approved the BIG's I-Plan officially known as the

Implementation Plan for Seventy-Two Total Maximum Daily Loads
for Bacteria in the Houston-Galveston Region:
BIG I-Plan Full Document (PDF) 32M
BIG I-Plan Excerpts (PDF) 6.9M
BIG I-Plan Four-Page Summary (PDF) 613K
BIG I-Plan TCEQ Project Page
To request printed copies, please contact Todd Running at (713) 993-4549 or todd.running@h-gac.com

BIG Meetings

Annual Meeting May 14, 2013
Agenda (PDF) 357K | Meeting Summary (PDF) 65K | BIG At-A-Glance Summary (PDF) 2.5M | 2013 BIG Annual Report (PDF) 7.8M

BIG Workgroup Meetings in Preparation of the 2013 Annual Meeting
Meeting materials, including agendas, handouts, and meeting notes are available on the respective workgroup pages:
March 28, 2013: Coordination & Policy
March 8, 2013: Sanitary Sewer Sytems
March 7, 2013: Research | Monitoring & Plan Revision | Watershed Outreach
February 28, 2013: Wastewater Treatment Facilities
February 21, 2013: Stormwater System | Construction & Land Development
February 13, 2013: Residential & Outreach
January 8, 2013: Illicit Discharges & Dumping
December 18, 2012: Animals & Agriculture 
November 14, 2012: Onsite Sanitary Sewage Facilities

BIG Mid-Year Meeting, Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Agenda (PDF) 263K  Roster (PDF) 58K  Meeting Summary (PDF) Handout Packet (PDF) 2M
TCEQ Memorandum of Changes to the I-Plan (PDF) 81K
subsequent to submitting the plan for TCEQ agenda consideration
Summary of Changes to the I-Plan (PDF) 462K prepared by H-GAC Revised Report Template (PDF) 626K

BIG Annual Meeting: Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Agenda (PDF) 467K Roster (PDF) 65K Meeting Summary (PDF) 541K Handout Packet (PDF) 13M
Proposed Revisions to Ground Rules (PDF) 143K List of Supporters (PDF) 208K
TCEQ Comments on the I-Plan (PDF) 84K Proposed Changes to the I-Plan (PDF) 19K
2012 Basin Highlights Report (PDF) 7.3M 2012 BIG Progress Report (PDF) 4.8M List of New TMDLs (PDF)

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. 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 use the navigation on the left to access each workgroup. A detailed description of the workgroups can be found here: BIG Workgroups (PDF) 220K