What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that water flows over on its way to streams, rivers and lakes. What happens in our watersheds affects the quality of water. Protecting our watersheds is an integral part of protecting water supplies and ensuring safe drinking water.
Which watershed do I live in?
What is TRWD’s History with the program?
TRWD has actively supported responsible watershed management for almost 50 years, beginning with federal and local agencies in the Big Sandy Creek portion of the Eagle Mountain Lake watershed. More recently, TRWD worked diligently to gain state and federal recognition of the importance of watersheds in protecting drinking water supplies. Through this support and subsequent funding, the first in‐depth studies to identify watershed‐based stressors and solutions were conducted in TRWD watersheds. These studies were the precursor to TRWD’s existing Watershed Program.
Today, the program focuses on scientifically sound, stakeholder‐driven strategies to implement sustainable and economically feasible land management and educational initiatives that protect TRWD drinking water supplies and the Trinity River within the bounds of the Fort Worth Federal Floodway System.
What are some best practices for agriculture owners?
Agricultural best management practices are structures and activities that help protect and improve water quality by minimizing the use of chemicals and controlling stormwater using techniques that reduce stormwater runoff and promote infiltration. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has developed regional lists of agricultural practices that protect soil and water from erosion and degradation. TRWD actively supports the use of these measures in our watersheds by supporting educational initiatives and implementation programs along with our state and local agricultural agencies.
What is stormwater?
When rain falls to the ground, it either soaks in or runs off. Plants provide a natural pathway along with its leaves, stems, and roots, and finally to the ground where rainwater can slowly soak in. When vegetation is replaced by rooftops, driveways, or other hard surfaces, water is prevented from soaking into the soil and is forced into storm drains and waterways. This fast‐moving stormwater has a much greater potential to create erosion and move pollutants into our streams, rivers, and lakes.
Urban areas make up a relatively small part of TRWD reservoir watersheds, but stormwater runoff from these areas can have significant impacts to water quality. Sediment, bacteria, nutrients, and toxic chemicals are some of the pollutants that routinely occur in urban stormwater.
