Award-winning watershed protection efforts benefit millions in North Texas

Collaborative initiatives to protect the watersheds of two North Texas water supply reservoirs earned the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) the 2023 Exemplary Source Water Protection Award for Large Systems from the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

NTMWD partnered with local governments, agriculture representatives, businesses, and federal agencies to develop and implement watershed protection plans for Lavon Lake and Bois d’Arc Lake, the primary water supply reservoirs in the rapidly growing region. The District provides drinking water to more than two million people in more than 70 communities across North Texas.

“The planning process for both lakes involved engaging stakeholders and characterizing the watershed to better understand water quality, changing land uses and potential pollutant loading for now and in the future,” said David Cowan, NTMWD’s watershed manager.

NTMWD’s initiatives highlight why AWWA is promoting Source Water Protection Week Sept. 24-30. The week aims to engage consumers, water utilities and environmental advocates and demonstrate that the best way to ensure high quality drinking water is to protect water sources. Access AWWA’s downloadable materials here.

Since the Lavon Lake watershed protection plan was accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2017, ongoing implementation has resulted in multiple projects and partnerships across the 492,000-acre watershed. Projects include riparian restoration, design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure, support for routine water quality monitoring, and education initiatives. 

Lavon Lake watershed also was designated as a priority watershed by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Service, resulting in additional funding for local agriculture producers to develop and implement site-specific water quality management plans on their property. 

Bois d’Arc Lake – the District’s newest water source – is a 16,641-acre reservoir constructed between 2018 and 2022. Before its completion, NTMWD worked with local partners to establish a watershed protection plan to reduce sediment, nutrients and pollutant loading. The Bois d’Arc Lake watershed protection plan was accepted by EPA in 2022.

In addition to the Bois d’Arc Lake watershed protection plan, which encourages voluntary measures to protect water quality, NTMWD developed a shoreline protection plan which is regulatory in nature.

“We have gone to great lengths to develop a comprehensive shoreline management plan (SMP) that manages shoreline development and protects water quality, including prohibitions on certain activities detrimental to water quality along the shoreline,” Cowan said. “In addition to establishing permit requirements, the Bois d’Arc Lake SMP incentivizes green stormwater infrastructure and best management practices to reduce erosion.”

Transparency and public involvement were central to the process, with all meetings open to the public and announcements sent through email, press releases and website updates.

In addition to preserving water quality, NTMWD’s source water protection programs also benefit recreation and wildlife habitats by reducing sediment, phosphorus and nutrient loads from surrounding watersheds and preventing algal blooms in reservoirs.

“Wildlife and recreation also benefit from the District’s East Fork Water Reuse Project, one of the largest constructed wetlands in North America,” said Cowan. “The project contains aquatic plants that naturally filter wastewater effluent diverted from the East Fork of the Trinity River. The 1,800-acre wetland facilitates water reuse and provides valuable habitat for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, including bald eagles.”