COASTAL BEND BAYS & ESTUARIES PROGRAM INC

THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE ORGINATED THE CEPRA AND GOMESA PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS DECLINING COLONIAL WATERBIRD POPULATIONS AND DISAPPEARING ROOKERY ISLANDS IN NUECES BAY AND THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL BEND. COASTAL BEND BAYS AND ESTUARIES PROGRAMS USED THESE APPROVED FUNDS TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AND PUT INTO ACTION THE ROOKERY ISLAND SHORELINE PROTECTION PLAN AND THE RESTORING COLONIAL WATERBIRD POPULATIONS ALONG THE TEXAS COAST.

THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S (EPA) NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1987 TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ESTUARIES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. THE CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 320 DIRECTS EPA TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR ATTAINING AND MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY IN AN ESTUARY. THIS INCLUDES PROTECTION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES AND PROTECTION AND PROPOGATION OF A BALANCE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF SHELLFISH, FISH, AND WILDLIFE THAT ALLOWS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, IN AND ON WATER, REQUIRES THAT CONTROL OF POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION TO SUPPLEMENT EXISTING CONTROLS OF POLLUTION. IN SEVERAL CASES, MORE THAN ONE STATE IS PARTICIPATING IN A NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM. EACH PROGRAM ESTABLISHES A COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN TO MEET THE GOALS OF SECTION 320. TO ASSIST THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE EFFORTS OF PROMOTING JUDICIOUS USE AND MAXIMUM CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE QUALITY OF THE STATE'S WATERS, SECTION 604 (B) OF THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA), AS AMENDED, AUTHORIZES EPA TO FUND WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES. UNDER THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 604(B) TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (TCEQ) WORK PLAN, THE WATER QUALITY PLANNING DIVISION STAFF OF TCEQ WILL ADMINISTER THE GRANT AND MANAGE THE WATER QUALITY CONTRACTS WITH REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCIES.