In 2010, the Upper San Marcos River Watershed was cited on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)’s 303(d) list of impaired waters, for exceeding total dissolved solids (TDS) water quality standards. The watershed is currently in compliance with the Clean Water Act standards, but several pollutants have been identified as a concern by stakeholders. The Upper San Marcos River Watershed Protection Plan (Upper SMRWPP) began in 2012 as a multi-year process of research and information gathering. In 2018, the plan became a TCEQ and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved watershed protection plan.
SMRF, along with community members with varied interests, have explored ways to manage impacts to surface and groundwater resources through a voluntary, stakeholder driven watershed protection plan for the upper San Marcos River watershed. The plan addresses the listed impairments for TDS, and as well as E.coli, nutrients, sediment, items identified by stakeholders, and future growth scenarios.
