How Does the Clean Rivers Program Work?
In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Clean Rivers Act in response to growing concerns that water resource issues were not being addressed in a holistic manner. The legislation requires that assessments for each river basin in Texas be conducted using an approach that integrates management of water quality within a river basin or watershed. To fund the program, the TCEQ assesses a fee from permit holders for water use and wastewater discharges. The TCEQ implements the Program by contracting with 15 partner agencies—12 river authorities, one water district, one federal agency, and one council of government—to monitor and assess water quality in the 23 river and coastal basins of Texas. Each river or coastal basin is assigned to one of the partner agencies.
