18 Dec 1997—1^st TMDL Stakeholders' meeting

Armand Bayou's two segments (1113 and 1113A, below and above tidal, respectively) are listed as impaired, or "too polluted to maintain their beneficial uses", because of excessively low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high levels of bacteria. Therefore, TCEQ began to investigate establishing a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Armand Bayou. A group of stakeholders was assembled by HGAC and began to meet regularly to assist TCEQ in this pilot process.

25 February 1998—1^st Clean Water for Armand Bayou meeting

John Jacob, of Clean Water for Armand Bayou or CWAB--a project of Texas Agricultural Extension Service (now Texas Cooperative Extension) and Texas Sea Grant--assembled a group of representatives from local, state and federal agencies, as well as private industry and not-for-profit environmental groups, to begin discussion about the Armand Bayou watershed. This group later formalized itself as the Armand Bayou Watershed Working Group, and subsumed the TMDL stakeholders' group as one subcommittee.

25 February 1998--2^nd TMDL Stakeholders' meeting

The assembled group discussed a watershed action plan, and what that would include. It also noted that it is the first active stakeholder group in the state.

24 June 1998--3^rd TMDL meeting

September-October 1998--CWAB Collaborative Learning exercises

To establish a common base of knowledge among participants, presentations were given by Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, Harris County Flood Control District, Texas A&M Engineering on ecosystems theory, University of Houston-Clear Lake on Clear Lake area growth, trends in industry, Harris-Galveston Area Council on Water Quality, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on habitat.

Participants were asked to describe the watershed in terms of current characteristics and suggested improvements; composite lists were created, from which the various subcommittees were later formed.

Participants also created a "rich diagram" (below) of the watershed--its issues, agencies, and relationships between them. From these plans, the Armand Bayou Watershed Working Group was later formalized.

Collaborative Learning final report

20 November 1998--1^st joint meeting of TMDL Stakeholders and CWAB

Initial process for the 309/GLO funded study of Armand Bayou (known later as the Parsons' study)

Watershed action plan:

includes clear benefits for users, near neighbors, and others

includes implementation for users, agencies, municipalities, and others

a TMDL is only a component, not the entire, plan

actions suggested in the plan would be voluntary, except for NPDES permitting requirements

Public outreach strategy was discussed and the group, through nominal group technique (NGT), prioritized the 22 items generated

Duties of the various subcommittees defined

31 March 1999--2^nd joint meeting of TMDL Stakeholders and CWAB

Presentation by selected consultant for 309 / GLO study (Parsons Engineering)

Work plan emailed out at later date

Chart of non-point source (NPS) and point source contributors within AB watershed

Armand Bayou Watershed Working Group formalized

Group structure defined

How to ensure participation of various institutions???

Next meeting: ad hoc subgroup to present suggested format

Where is best "bang for our buck"?

27 May 1999--3^rd joint meeting of TMDL Stakeholders and CWAB

ABWWG purpose: to "reach consensus on matters of common concern"

Group structure further defined, based on suggested format presented

TMDL Stakeholders' group subsumed into ABWWG Water Quality/TMDL subcommittee

Group members signed up for various subcommittees

Letter to send to groups and agencies discussed

309 study discussed

sampling begun

21 June 1999--ABWWG listserv created

18 August 1999--Water Quality subcommittee meeting

reviewed 309 raw data

"TMDLs based on few exceedances that may be natural" vs "A violation is a violation"

Pristine conditions unknown

14 December 1999-- Spencer Wetland listserv created

January 2000--plan to compile list of projects throughout watershed

17 February 2000--Steering committee meeting

Watershed action plan discussed

Develop watershed booklet with list of concerns

17 February 2000--Water Quality/TMDL subcommittee meeting

11 May 2000--Steering committee meeting

Staffing issues--coordinator?

How to build grass roots commitment

June 2000--Spencer wetland construction postponed

4 March 2003--ABWWG groupwide meeting