Watershed Protection Plans
NCTCOG Region Watershed Protection Plans
A Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) is a coordinated framework for implementing water quality protection and restoration strategies within a watershed. WPPs holistically address all the sources and causes of impairment through diverse, will integrated partnership of stakeholders to assure the long-term health of the watershed. Within the NCTCOG Region, there are currently five plans in place and three in development. More information about each WPP is provided below.
Source: NCTCOG, 2023; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Nonpoint Source Project Viewer. https://tceq.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8a9549c92da0426e828b32deb7c7d4aa
Village Creek-Lake Arlington Watershed Protection Plan
Status: Developed by the Trinity River Authority and the City of Arlington. Approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in May 2019. As of March 2020, components of the plan are being implemented through adoption of local plans and ordinances.
Location: Watershed protection planning includes the area from the Village Creek headwater in northern Johnson County, extending 35 miles to Lake Arlington in southeastern Tarrant County.
The Lake Arlington-Village Creek WPP is being developed in a partnership between the Trinity River Authority, The city of Arlington and local stakeholders. The WPP was developed as part of the City of Arlington's Lake Arlington Master Plan (LAMP), which defined recommendations to address water protection elements not required by the federal or state regulations.
View the Village Creek - Lake Arlington Watershed Protection Plan
Trinity River Authority's Village Creek-Lake Arlington Watershed Protection Plan Webpage
Contact: Heather Firn
Cedar Creek Reservoir Watershed Protection Plan
Status: As of March 2020, the Cedar Creek Reservoir WPP is conducting implementation with local funding sources.
Location: Watershed protection planning for the Cedar Creek Watershed is three miles northwest of Trinidad on Cedar Creek in the Trinity River Basin in Rockwall, Kaufman and Henderson Counties.
The Cedar Creek WPP was developed in 2008 through coordination with the Texas Water Resources Institute, Tarrant Regional Water District and local stakeholders within the Cedar Creek Watershed.
Check out the Cedar Creek WPP for more information about the strategies developed by the watershed partnership!
Contact: Aaron Hoff
Eagle Mountain Reservoir Watershed Protection Plan
Status: The WPP has been developed, and as of March 2020, implementation is underway with local funding sources.
Location: Watershed protection planning for the Eagle Mountain Reservoir covers 9,200 acres on the West Fork of the Trinity River just north of Lake Worth in northwestern Tarrant and southwestern Wise Counties.
Tarrant Regional Water District and the Texas Water Resources Institute collaborated with local stakeholders on the development of the Eagle Mountain WPP beginning in 2008. As of 2015, the WPP has been reviewed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas State and Soil Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB).
For more information on the multi-year implementation phase of the WPP, check out the Eagle Mountain Watershed Protection Plan: Management Measures, produced by the Texas Water Resources Institute.
Contact: Aaron Hoff
Lake Granbury Watershed Protection Plan
Status: As of March 2020, implementation ceased due to lack of stakeholder support and funding.
Location: Watershed protection planning includes the Lake Granbury Watershed on the Brazos River, draining into Lake Granbury in Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood and Erath Counties.
In 2010, the Lake Granbury WPP was developed in partnership between Brazos River Authority, Texas A&M AgriLife and local stakeholders living and recreating in the Lake Granbury Watershed. In 2016, a stakeholder meeting was held to discuss available funds to continue pursuing implementation of strategies under the Lake Granbury WPP.
For more information regarding the Lake Granbury WPP, visit the Brazos River Authority's Lake Granbury Protection Plan website.
Contact: Brazos River Authority
Hickory Creek Watershed Protection Plan
Status: As of March 2020, efforts continue on monitoring, research, and policy development to mitigate impairment status.
Location: Watershed protection planning for the Hickory Creek Watershed extends west from I-35 through the City of Denton and drains to Lake Lewisville in Denton County.
The 2008 Hickory Creek Watershed Protection Plan has recently been updated with an addendum (Appendix D-1) outlining a framework for the WPP to fully meet the requirements of the 9 Elements for Watershed Planning established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The City of Denton has partnered with The Upper Trinity Regional Water District and the North Texas Municipal Water District to find a way to mitigate the impacts of development and maintain current water quality in the Hickory Creek Watershed.
For more information on the updates to the Hickory Creek WPP, check out the City of Denton's Watershed Protection Planning page.
Contact: JoEtta Dailey
Lavon Lake Watershed Protection Plan
Status: Approved by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017. As of March 2020, implementation efforts are ongoing.
Location: Watershed protection planning for the Lake Lavon Watershed encompasses the Lake Lavon Watershed above Lake Lavon in Grayson, Fannin and Collin Counties.
The North Texas Municipal Water District, in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, is bringing together local stakeholders to begin the development of the Lake Lavon WPP.
The Lake Lavon WPP is in the initial stages of development, which will provide critical supporting data and information necessary for the development of a valuable, stakeholder-driven plan.
Are you interested in learning more about the development of the Lake Lavon WPP? Check out the Lake Lavon Watershed Protection Plan Fact Sheet to see how you can get involved!
Contact: David Cowan
Richland-Chambers Reservoir Watershed Protection Plan
Status: Under development by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Location: Watershed protection planning will encompass the area northwest of Richland-Chambers Reservoir in parts of Johnson, Ellis, Hill, Limestone and Navarro Counties.
The Richland-Chambers WPP is in its initial stages of development. Interested in learning more about the process and getting involved? Contact Tina Hendon with Tarrant Regional Water District to find out about upcoming meetings.
Contact: Aaron Hoff
Rowlett Creek Watershed Protection Plan
Status: Development of the Watershed Protection Plan is underway and the first stakeholder meeting was held in May 2023.
Location: Rowlett Creek discharges into Lake Ray Hubbard. The watershed covers parts of Collin and Dallas Counties.
Rowlett Creek was added to the Texas 303(d) list in 2014 for bacteria and a concern of nitrate.
For more information, visit the Rowlett Creek Watershed Project webpage.
Contact: Dr. Fouad Jaber and Therese Mehta
Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan
Status: The Joe Pool Lake WPP was approved by the U.S. EPA on October 25, 2022. This approval opens more funding opportunities to implement watershed improvements.
Location: The Joe Pool Lake Watershed contains a drainage area of 304 square miles in Dallas, Ellis, Johnson, and Tarrant Counties.
In the past, this area has been impaired due to bacteria and has had a concern regarding nitrate presence. According to the TCEQ 2020 Integrated Report, there are no current pollutants of concern or impairment in the watershed.
For more information, visit the Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan website.
Contact: Heather Firn