Introduction and Purpose

Reservoirs

Major Aquifers

Minor Aquifers

Water Planning Regions of Texas
Introduction

Texas has nearly 200,000 miles of streams and rivers and approximately 1.7 million acres of reservoirs and public water impoundments which provide habitat for the state’s diverse fish and wildlife species. Scientists recognize 247 fish species that inhabit fresh water for at least a part of their lives. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) estimates that 25% of native freshwater fish species are threatened, endangered, or already extirpated.

Groundwater systems in Texas are very diverse. Rainfall can be taken up by plants, evaporate over time, form runoff into streams, rivers and estuaries, or it can become groundwater by seeping into soil, sand and other land features. Water that moves into groundwater can begin the process of aquifer recharge. Aquifers are ground formations that store and transport water and are often tapped for human use.

Wetlands are among the most important habitats in Texas. These interfaces between water and land are integral in supporting a vast array of plants, fish and wildlife. They also perform numerous valuable functions: they trap water, sediments, and nutrients and therefore play a major role in improving water quality and decreasing pollution. They are invaluable for their ability to prevent and minimize flooding, protect shorelines and replenish groundwater sources.

The most significant conservation challenges to both freshwater and saltwater systems in Texas are reduced water quality and decreased water quantity. Factors such as the increasing population, increasing demands for water, and increasing shoreline development directly affect water quality and quantity.

Point source and nonpoint source pollution, which contribute to nutrient loading, directly threaten native fish and wildlife species that rely on clean water. Water that will not support fish and wildlife will not support human needs either. As the population grows and water demands and waste runoff increases, water flow in rivers and streams, or instream flow, decreases. In the next decade, pollutant concentrations in rivers and streams may increase to a point where they have a detrimental effect on aquatic life including low oxygen, harmful algal growth, and fish kills.

Decreased or altered water quantity will affect the ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife that depend on the natural flow regime of the stream or river. For example, groundwater withdrawals, inflow rerouting, reservoir operations, and increased use of water make rivers, streams and springs, and the fish and wildlife resource they support exceptionally vulnerable to the effects of drought.

TPWD recognizes that reservoirs are necessary to store water for human water consumption, flood control and hydropower generation, and to provide much of the freshwater recreational opportunities available to the public. However, reservoir development significantly alters the stream and river systems that supply water for storage as well as the bay and estuary systems downstream. Direct impacts of reservoir construction are caused by inundation of the land which displaces wildlife and causes the loss of terrestrial, wetland, riverine, riparian, and bottomland hardwood habitat types. Indirect impacts include reduction and/or alteration of downstream riverine, estuarine riparian, wetland, and bottomland hardwood habitat types which harm species that depend on them.

Exotic plant and animal species that are introduced either by design or by accident can cause unintended harmful consequences. Exotic species may become invasive, spreading rapidly, displacing native species and threatening community relationships that are necessary to sustain the aquatic environment. Eighteen non-native fish species have been documented in Texas as well as a number of snail and bi-valve species. Some have had an extremely negative impact on native fish communities. Further, great effort and resources have been expended to control invasive aquatic plants such as water hyacinth, hydrilla, and giant salvinia, which have negatively affected native freshwater communities.

Conserving freshwater begins when it rains and where the raindrops make first contact with the soil. Sufficient, quality freshwater runoff from land into rivers, streams, springs and reservoirs is critical to conserve and maintain the health of aquatic and terrestrial systems. In addition to the habitat that these systems support, they can also provide drinking water, food, power, irrigation, transportation and wastewater treatment. With the responsibility for maintaining these habitats and as the state trustee for aquatic resources, TPWD has developed numerous programs to promote the conservation of rivers, streams, springs and reservoirs in order to provide quality recreational opportunities.

Over the past twelve years, TPWD has studied and determined the quantity of freshwater inflows to Texas’ seven major bay and estuary systems necessary to maintain healthy habitats along the coast. Today, a similar effort is needed for rivers. Instream flow studies are evaluations of river and stream systems that are conducted to determine the appropriate flow regimes necessary to conserve fish and wildlife resources. TPWD conducts these studies to better understand river systems and to minimize impacts from existing and future water development. Given that instream flow studies can involve years of research and data analysis, TPWD developed a tiered system to make decisions on allocating resources to study the state’s 15 major river basins. Each river basin was categorized by the type of instream flow study needed based on water availability, water rights permits, proposed water development projects, and biological factors. The main resource studied was the instream flow as it pertains to water development projects, therefore the tiered system is less appropriate for the CWCS; and as a result was not used to delineate priority in this strategy. While the tiered system is not as applicable to the CWCS, it is important in terms of instream flow and should be reviewed for the sake of its importance to Texas water conservation. In addition, the 15 river basins chosen are also the focus of the CWCS.

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  Work to assure water quality needs are met in all streams, rivers, reservoirs and coastal systems.
  
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  Collaborate with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and other regulatory agencies to promote the conservation of water quality in streams and rivers.
  
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  Support efforts to integrate biological and physical habitat data into water quality standards.
  
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  Conduct research and evaluate water quality concerns in Texas’ freshwater and coastal water resources.
  

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  Implement and update tiered instream flow study priorities.
  
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  Complete instream flow studies at the basin and subbasin level in coordination with TCEQ and TWDB. Site-specific assessments will also be required to address specific water development projects.
  
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  Design studies to assist in regional water planning and water right decision making.
  

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  Implement freshwater inflow and instream flow studies’ recommendations.
  
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  Support amending the Texas Water Code to better recognize instream uses (instream flows, freshwater inflows to bays and estuaries, water quality, fish and wildlife resources, aesthetics and recreation) as beneficial uses when appropriating state water to ensure water is available for the health of fish and wildlife.
  
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  Work with regulators, regional water planning groups and stakeholders to develop state and regional water plans that protect the needs of fish and wildlife by incorporating flow regimes that adequately protect aquatic systems.
  
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  Work with regulators, permit holders and stakeholders on water right permits to protect the needs of fish and wildlife by incorporating permit special conditions that adequately protect aquatic systems. TPWD will encourage the conversion or transfer of existing unused water rights to the Texas Water Trust to protect instream uses.
  

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  When a water right is converted to a different use, sold or transferred out of basin, it is recommended that those actions should include permit conditions to mitigate detrimental impacts and ensure flows necessary to maintain the health of fish and wildlife.
  
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  Encourage private landowners to use a watershed management approach to increase water quantity and quality in rivers and streams to increase freshwater inflows to the bays and estuaries.
  
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  Incorporate the goal of watershed management and improving water quality and quantity into all Wildlife Management Plans (WMP).
  
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  TPWD, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, River Authorities and other organizations shall work to fund projects that increase water yields while protecting or improving wildlife habitat.
  

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  Protect Texas Springs and Wetlands
  
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  Fully implement the Wetlands Conservation Plan.
  
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  Ensure that future legislation affecting groundwater also protects springs and other beneficial uses for wildlife.
  
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  TPWD shall participate in the Groundwater Availability Models effort being directed by TWDB and advocate that these models be used to manage groundwater dumping to minimize impacts to springs and other associated surface water features.
  
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  Encourage groundwater districts to implement management practices that protect springs and spring habitats in their plans.
  

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  To increase support for conserving Texas freshwater and coastal water resources, conservation partners must increase outreach and education efforts.
  
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  Increase efforts to produce public education materials that discuss the importance of river, spring, reservoir, wetland, bay and estuary conservation.
  

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  Encourage anglers and boaters to increase their role as conservationists.
  
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  Assist local communities in planning and education programs that promote water conservation for fish and wildlife.
  
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  Work with schools to integrate water resource and recreation information into their curriculum.
  

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  Provide education and communication with all user groups concerning recreation impacts on water resources.
  

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  Base conservation decisions that impact fish and wildlife resources using the best science available.
  
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  Prioritize waterways that are important for conservation.
  
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  Develop and refine tools for analyzing aquatic systems and develop new conservation strategies like the CWCS.
  
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  Identify river and stream segments most at risk from over appropriation.
  
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  Increase our understanding of biological resources present in Texas rivers, streams, spring and reservoir systems.
  
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  Make historical reports and associated data available for research to document long term changes to flora and fauna of rivers and streams.
  
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  Improve monitoring and research on aquatic species or groups suspected to be declining or whose status is unknown. TPWD will research and monitor bay and estuary systems.
  
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  Determine freshwater inflows and nutrient and sediment loading regimes to tidal streams.
  

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  Prevent the introduction of potentially harmful, nonindigenous fishes, shellfish and aquatic plants into freshwater and marine environments through education and regulations.
  
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  Implement the State Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (Durocher and Chilton).
  
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  The following goals and objectives are provided as a method of measuring success of the Land and Water Plan. They also provide guidelines by which state planners may evaluate the success of future conservation efforts.
  

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  Incorporate recommendations for watershed management in all Wildlife Management Plans (WMP).
  

Undertake a complete review of all scientific and conservation programs.

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  Review assessment and monitoring functions for fish and wildlife populations.
  
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  Complete an independent programmatic peer review.
  
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  Establish a systematic review process.
  

Develop an integrated GIS database of fish, wildlife and water data to assure that decisions are based on sound science and the best available data.

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  Annually develop Internet accessible data and analytical capability, develop, provisions for continuous updating and coordination with other state agencies to access pertinent data.
  
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  Complete formal agreements with state and federal resource agencies where necessary.
  

In conjunction with TCEQ and TWDB, complete instream flow studies to determine the quantity and timing of water, flow regime, necessary to support a sound ecological environment in rivers and streams.

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  Work with TCEQ and TWDB and with each of the 16 water planning regions over the next two state water planning cycles in 2006 and 2011 to incorporate fish, wildlife and recreation needs into each regional plan and the state water plan.
  

Encourage the conversion or transfer of existing unused water rights to the Texas Water Trust to protect instream uses.

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  During each of the subsequent triennial reviews (2003, 06 and 09),TPWD will work with affected stakeholders to assure the water quality standards increasingly incorporate biological information conducive to management of fish and wildlife resources and implementation of this Plan.
  

The Land and Water Plan assists in providing guidance to future conservation for Texas inland waters over the next 10 years. Goals for TPWD have been set and these goals are useful in moving conservation forward in Texas. When coupled with the CWCS effort, these goals can be used independently or they can be sharpened and made more specific to meet the needs of Texas native species and the habitats associated with these species. The following chapters supply facts on the major river basins of Texas and provide more specific information concerning the issues associated with each basin. The 15 river basins are highlighted with information concerning the location and condition of each basin and its tributaries as well as the problems associated with these waterways. In order to address the goals of the Land and Water Plan as well as the problems associated with these basins, actions are also provided that supply guidance for future conservation efforts within the basins.

Brazos River Basin
Associated Maps

Texas Rivers and River Basins…….. ……... 12

Brazos River Basin………………………… 13

Minor Aquifers……………………... ……... 26

Major Aquifers……………………... ……... 27

Texas Rivers and Reservoirs……….............. 28

The Texas Priority Species List…………….743

Within Texas, the Brazos River has a total basin drainage area of 42,800 square miles, and its total length equals 840 miles. The Brazos River begins in eastern New Mexico and northwest Texas and flows in a southeastern direction to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Normal yearly rainfall in the basin ranges from about 19 inches per year in Lubbock to more than 56 inches per year in Angleton (BRA 2005). The Brazos flows through most of the major physiographic ecoregions of Texas beginning with the High Plains in the uppermost part of the basin, followed by the Rolling Plains, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Blackland Prairies, Post Oak Savannah, and ending in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes (BEG 1996a). Nearly 3.3 million people live within the Brazos basin (BRA 2005).

There are fifty-two water body segments listed as impaired on the 2004 draft 303(d) list (TCEQ). These include forty-one segments listed for bacteria, seven segments listed for depressed dissolved oxygen, two for toxicity to aquatic organisms, two for chlorides, two for total dissolved solids, one for sulfate, and one for both high and low pH (several segments are listed for more than one parameter). Segments listed for depressed DO include Gibbons Creek in Grimes County, Lake Mexia in Limestone County, Rocky Creek in Burnet County, Proctor Lake in Comanche County, Salado Creek in Bell County and Williamson County, Upper Oyster Creek in Fort Bend County and Aquilla Reservoir in Hill County. The Brazos G Regional Water Quality Planning Group (one of 16 such groups created in Texas contributing to the 2002 State Water Plan) describes natural salt pollution as the most serious and widespread water quality problem in the region, which includes the entire middle basin and some of the upper basin (HDR 2001). Mean total dissolved solids concentrations range from 40,399 mg/L in the Salt Fork of the Brazos River in the upper reaches of the basin, to 433.6 mg/L in main stem Brazos River upstream of the intertidal area near the Gulf of Mexico (TCEQ 2002, based on the 1996 through 2001 assessment period). The regional water planning group also projects water shortages for 30 counties in the region primarily due to increases in municipal and steam-electric uses during the first half of the 21^st century. The proposed Little River Reservoir is among the water management strategies recommended by the regional water planning group to address future water needs (TWDB 2002). Five minor reservoirs were also recommended: New Throckmorton, Brushy Creek, Meridian Off-Channel, Somervell Off-Channel, and Groesbeck Off-Channel. In addition, there are several major water right requests in the Brazos Basin pending at TCEQ. Combined, these requests total 489,083 acre-feet per year for new diversions, including the Brazos River Authority’s request to operate its reservoirs as a system. The cities of Lubbock and Cleburne have also requested permission to divert and use all of their historic and future treated effluent.

Main tributaries further downstream of the Double Mountain, the Salt Fork, and the Clear Forks include Yegua Creek, Bosque River, Little River (fed by the Leon, Lampasas, and San Gabriel Rivers) and the Navasota River.

The Bosque River rises in northern Erath County and flows approximately 115 miles southeast through Hamilton, Bosque, and McLennan Counties to join the Brazos River at Waco. One reservoir, Lake Waco, is located on the river in McLennan County. The Bosque flows through rolling hills with post oak and juniper dominating the vegetation. The river is a perennially flowing stream, but its suitability for recreational use is restricted during dry periods. Since the 1980’s, the North Bosque has been heavily impacted by nutrient runoff from intensive dairy farm development in Erath County.

Rising in northeastern Erath County, the Paluxy River flows southeast for 38 miles through Wood and Somervell Counties to join the Brazos River. The river is formed by the junction of the North and South Forks, both small streams with limited flow. The stretch between Paluxy and Glen Rose contains the famous Dinosaur Valley where well-exposed dinosaur tracks have been found in the riverbed (Dinosaur Valley State Park is located within this area). The river at the Park is a small, narrow waterway but has numerous rapids during periods of heavy rainfall. Scenic hardwood bottomlands consisting of oak, elm, and Ashe juniper are common along the entire section. Limestone outcroppings are common and in some places the riverbed is composed entirely of limestone with sandy banks.

The San Gabriel River is formed at Georgetown by the union of its North and the South Forks. After the forks unite, the river flows northeast about 50 miles through Williamson and Milam Counties where it joins the Little River. The scenery along the main stream of the San Gabriel is varied, with heavy vegetation on the banks and periodic bluffs. Water levels fluctuate for the entire length of the river; however, except during the dry summer periods, there is normally sufficient water for recreational use.

The Lampasas River rises in western Hamilton County and flows approximately 100 miles southeast through Lampasas, Burnet, and Bell Counties. The river unites with the Leon River to form the Little River just south of Belton. Flowing through rugged hill country, the Lampasas contains heavily vegetated banks. The River is characterized by low flows most of the time.

Formed in Bell County by the union of the Leon and Lampasas Rivers, the Little River flows southeast for 75 miles to join the Brazos River in Milam County. This waterway has sufficient water for recreational use at all times due to major inputs from these two tributaries. A third major tributary, the San Gabriel River, joins the Little River in Milam County. The Little River flows very slowly, winding between heavily vegetated banks for its entire distance.

Reservoirs

The Brazos River Basin cuts across several major aquifers on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Major aquifers include the Ogallala, Seymour alluvium, Trinity, Carrizo-Wilcox, and Gulf Coast (BEG 2001). The basin begins on the edge of the Ogallala Aquifer in West Texas and moves through the Seymour Aquifer in North Texas. The Seymour Aquifer exists in patches with part of the aquifer existing on the northern border of Texas along the Red River Basin and occurring south as far as Jones County. Farther south and east, the Brazos flows over the Trinity Basin and cuts across the northern edge of the Edwards Aquifer. The Trinity Aquifer exists from the northern border of Texas in Montague and Cooke Counties down to the Edwards Plateau as far south as Medina and Uvalde Counties.

Projected increases in water demand for human uses, combined with the problems of high salt concentrations from the upper portions of the basin have been the impetus for placing the Brazos system on a Tier 1 (highest priority) status for completion of instream flow studies to determine optimal flow regimes for protection of aquatic life which may otherwise be heavily impacted by water withdrawals.

TPWD has identified several reaches of the main stem Brazos and 14 tributaries as ecologically significant stream segments (TPWD 2003). These stream segments exhibit exceptional ecological characteristics including high water quality, exceptional aquatic life, high aesthetic value, presence of threatened or endangered species, or valuable riparian habitats. Further study of such stream reaches would provide much needed data enabling more effective conservation of those resources.

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  Monitor species of concern—Special studies and routine monitoring should be targeted at specific species of concern. Species-specific monitoring will provide population trend data and may be particularly important for species that are federally or state listed as endangered or threatened as well as those being considered for listing or delisting.
  
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  Monitor taxonomic groups suspected to be in decline or for which little is known. Monitoring and special studies should also target particular groups of organisms that are suspected to be on the decline or for which little is known. Research across North America and Europe has documented the overall decline of mussels and amphibians.
  
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  Monitoring of exotic plants and animals should be an integral part of any biological monitoring program or special study, with the goal of controlling the spread of invasive species, and where possible preventing their introduction.
  
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  Ensure adequate instream flows and water quality through evaluation of proposed reuse projects and water diversions in the Brazos River basin.
  
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  Monitor golden alga problems to determine extent of impacts on aquatic communities, aid in developing management plans for affected ecosystems, and determine potential control mechanisms.
  
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  Facilitate the availability of historical reports and associated data—Departmental and other publications containing biological data are not readily available and that situation inhibits the ability to document faunal changes through time in the state’s rivers and streams.
  

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  Conduct studies, monitoring programs, and activities to develop the scientific basis for assuring adequate instream flows for rivers, freshwater inflows to estuaries, and water quality with the goal of conserving the health and productivity of public waters in Texas. The Texas Instream Flow Program, directed by Senate Bill 2 (2001), identified the Brazos River basin as a priority study area. Research needs as identified by TIFP study designs should be considered as high priority for the basin.
  
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  Work with river authorities to develop water management plans to address instream and freshwater inflow needs as practical.
  
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  Participate in development of the State Water Plan through the 16 planning regions to assure consideration of fish and wildlife resources.
  
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  Facilitate coordination of all TPW divisions with other state and federal resource agencies to assure that water quantity and water quality needs of fish and wildlife resources are incorporated in those agencies’ activities and decision-making processes.
  
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  Review water rights and water quality permits to provide recommendations to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and participate as warranted in regulatory processes to assure that fish and wildlife conservation needs are adequately considered in those regulatory processes.
  
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  Investigate fish kills and other pollution events that adversely affect fish and wildlife resources, make use of civil restitution and role as a natural resource trustee to restore those resources, water quality, and habitat.
  
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  Research golden alga problems to determine extent of impacts on aquatic communities, aid in developing management plans for affected ecosystems, and determine potential control mechanisms.
  
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  Continue to increase the information available to the public about conserving Texas river, streams and springs with the goal of developing greater public support and involvement when important water resource decisions are made. Development of integrated GIS products for analyzing and sharing information should be a focus of this effort.
  
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  Continue to provide technical support and advice to entities developing Habitat Conservation Plans to address instream flow, habitat, and water quality issues and needs.
  
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  Conduct habitat restoration projects where possible to return aquatic and riparian habitats to a more natural condition.