![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Texas Summary: 2006 Swimming Season
May 2007
- Introduction
- 2006 Summary Results
- For More Information
- Print version (PDF) of this document (202 K, 2 pages, About PDF)
- Raw data (MS-Excel) for Texas (367 K)
Introduction
Figure 1. Texas coastal counties with 2006 monitored beach data.
The BEACH Act of 2000 requires that coastal and Great Lakes states and territories report to EPA on beach monitoring and notification data for their coast recreation waters. The BEACH Act defines coastal recreation waters as the Great Lakes and coastal waters (including coastal estuaries) that states, territories, and authorized tribes officially recognize or designate for swimming, bathing, surfing, or similar activities in the water.
This fact sheet summarizes beach monitoring and notification data submitted to EPA by the state of Texas for the 2006 swimming season.
The Texas Beach Watch Program collects water samples from 167 stations along the Texas coast in Aransas, Brazoria, Cameron, Galveston, Jefferson, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces and San Patricio counties. The Texas General Land Office contracts with universities, local governments and laboratories to collect the samples and test them for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria. Samples are collected and tested weekly from May through September (the peak beach season) and every other week from October through April. In addition, weekly samples are collected during the month of March to coincide with Spring Break and the increased number of tourists.
Water quality conditions at beaches being sampled under the Texas Beach Watch Program can be obtained at Texas Beach Watch Program 
. The information on the Beach Watch Web site is updated each time sample results are entered into the database and visitors to the site may use the interactive map tool to check results from specific sampling locations, determine when samples were collected and whether an advisory has been recommended.
| County | Total Beaches | Monitored | Not Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aransas | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| Brazoria | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Calhoun | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Cameron | 12 | 9 | 3 |
| Chambers | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Galveston | 36 | 24 | 12 |
| Harris | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Jefferson | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Kleberg | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Matagorda | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| Nueces | 42 | 17 | 25 |
| Refugio | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| San Patricio | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Willacy | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Totals | 168 | 62 | 106 |
2006 Summary Results
How many beaches had notification actions?
Figure 2: Monitored beaches with and without notification actions in 2006.
When bacteria levels exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's criteria of 104 colony-forming units per 100 ml of water, advisories are recommended and local government officials may choose to post advisory signs at the public beach access area. In addition, the water at that beach must be sampled every 24 hours until bacteria levels fall below the EPA's criteria. Of the 62 coastal beaches that were monitored in 2006, 50, or 81 percent, had at least one advisory during the 2006 season (Figure 2).
How many notification actions were reported and how long were they?
Figure 3: Beach notification actions by duration.
A total of 250 beach notification actions were reported in the 2006 swimming season. Actions were of relatively short duration, however. Figure 3 presents breakdowns of action durations.
What percentage of days were beaches under a notification action?
Figure 4: Beach days with and without notification actions.
For the Texas 2006 swimming season, EPA determined there were a total of 10,218 beach days associated with the 62 monitored beaches. Actions were reported on 575 of those days or about 6 percent of the time (Figure 4).
How do 2006 results compare to previous years?
Beginning in 2003, states are required to submit data to EPA under the BEACH Act for beaches which are in coastal and Great Lakes waters. Table 2 compares 2006 data with data reported in previous years.
| Year | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of monitored beaches | 48 | 57 | 62 |
| Number of beaches affected by notification actions | 48 | 40 | 50 |
| Percentage of beaches affected by notification actions | 100% | 70% | 81% |
For More Information
General information about beaches | Texas Beach Watch Program or by contacting the Beach Watch Coordinator at beachwatch@glo.state.tx.us, or by calling the Texas General Land Office at 1-(800) 998-4GLO.
You can also see the Earth911 Beach Water Quality site for TX .
