Trinity River Authority

The agenda for this meeting included standard procedural items such as roll call and certification of compliance with open meeting requirements. Key items for action under the Consent Agenda involved approving updates to the Capital Expenditures and Depreciation Policy, adopting revisions to the Debt Management Policy, and adopting several new or revised internal financial policies, including those for Administrative Overhead Charges and various fund balances. Directors were also set to approve the Investment Officers' Report for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 and approve revisions to both the Harassment Policy and the Uniform Policy, along with revisions to the Salary Administration Plan. The Board was also scheduled to review the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Internal Audit Report as a status item. Major actions for the Utility Services Committee included authorizing Engineering Services Agreements for several wastewater system projects, such as the Elm Fork Interceptor Rehabilitation and Replacement, Meter Station Groups 3-5, and Ten Mile Creek Interceptor Improvements. A change order for the Tarrant County Water Supply Project was also proposed. Additionally, the Board was set to accept bid awards for Goods, Services, and Chemicals. Discussion items included General Office Bond Redemption and approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Internal Audit Plan, along with authorizing Interlocal and Recreational Lease Agreements.

The meeting commenced with housekeeping items, including instructions on downloading agenda files and submitting names for the sign-in sheet. The first presentation provided an overview of the Clean Rivers Program administered by TCEQ and its framework involving local river authorities. The first substantive presentation detailed the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS), explaining its purpose in assessing capital investment needs for clean water projects, its historical context dating back to 1972, and its impact on funding allocations, such as the OSG program. It highlighted significant under-reporting in the 2012 CWNS, particularly for stormwater needs, and outlined the timeline for the current survey, including deadlines for state-specific estimation approaches. The second presentation focused on Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), discussing their widespread use in consumer products (like rain gear, food containers, and non-stick cookware) due to their unique properties, and their general environmental concerns. This presentation detailed the ongoing PFAS sampling project on the Trinity River, funded by the Water Research Foundation.

The meeting focused on the coordination of monitoring activities for the FY 2025 monitoring schedule (September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025). Key discussion points included operational reminders for field equipment maintenance, calibration procedures (e.g., specific conductance in air thresholds, zeroing electromagnetic flow meters), and data handling requirements such as file saving and mandatory seven-year retention. Specific attention was given to drought conditions, requiring reporting of reservoir stage/percent full and stream flow conditions (dry/no flow) with appropriate severity codes. Sampling protocols for stream water column depth versus sample depth were reviewed. The discussion also covered data submittal timelines to the TCEQ, emphasizing adherence to deadlines for biennial integrated report assessments. Finally, the participants reviewed the monitoring schedules for various entities including the Cities of Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Irving, Plano, regional water districts, DFW Airport, and TCEQ, noting specific site changes such as accessibility issues impacting a site in Region 12 and the removal of Lake Fairfield from the schedule in Region 9.

This document outlines the Trinity River Basin Master Plan, acting as a roadmap for responsible water use and reclamation to ensure a healthy river basin. It addresses key objectives including water supply, conservation, water reuse, extreme weather, flood protection, water quality, and environmental flows for the Trinity River Basin and Galveston Bay System. The plan coordinates with municipalities and other entities to serve Texas residents' water-related needs, undergoing regular revisions to adapt to dynamic technical, legal, environmental, and economic changes.

The Trinity River Basin Master Plan serves as a roadmap for responsible water use and reclamation, focusing on objectives such as public access, conservation, education, flood protection, water supply, water reuse, wastewater treatment plant management, water management policy, and water quality. The plan aims to ensure a healthy river basin and benefit the entire basin's population through coordinated water-related programs.