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Make a Difference!
Be a part of the Clean Rivers Program Steering Committee:
A primary element of CRP is the involvement of the public. NRA depends on public involvement and input from stakeholders to assist in understanding the needs of the basins and the areas of concern. Therefore, NRA works with stakeholders to address concerns within each basin and set water quality monitoring priorities. Historically, NRA has worked with a steering committee, which, as defined in the Texas Clean Rivers Act, is a group of diverse stakeholders representing a variety interests in water quality. Due to its large area of CRP responsibility, NRA has recently split its steering committee into three subgroups: Upper Nueces River Basin, Lower Nueces River and Nueces Coastal Basins, and the Arroyo-Colorado. The reasoning behind the split was to focus more on each individual basin's needs and allow each basin to be better represented throughout the NRA and CRP process. Each basin subgroup has representatives from municipalities, state and federal agencies, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, industrial and agricultural interests, and educational institutes. Each year, NRA facilitates steering committee meetings, which are intended to bring the steering committee members together to discuss water quality and other related issues of each basin as well as NRA's management of CRP. NRA uses input from these meetings to help develop its CRP program.
The steering committee process is important because it provides NRA with new ideas for work plans and allows NRA to focus on the needs and interests of the stakeholders of the basins. Such ideas have included: increased education, more public outreach, additional special studies, expanded routine and systematic monitoring, and increased targeted monitoring.
In addition to the steering committee process, NRA utilizes environmental education as a component of its public outreach. This approach has been key to NRA's success in informing the public about the issues and concerns facing its basins.
To become a part of the Clean Rivers Steering Committee, you may do so by submitting a form via phone/fax , or online.
The Nueces River Authority is establishing the Clean Rivers Program Steering Committee for FY 2004-06. You have participated in the past or have indicated an interest in future participation.
Please confirm your participation by returning the attached form by mail or fax,
or by completing this form online .
We are actively promoting membership and will appreciate any recommendations you might have for additional new members.
 Membership
Membership Guidelines specify the steering committee should include stakeholder volunteers from across the Nueces River Authority’s area of responsibility (Nueces River Basin, San Antonio-Nueces Coastal Basin, and Nueces-Rio Grade Coastal Basin) representing the following groups:
 Private citizens
Fee-payers (identified in Texas Water Code TWC 26.0135(h)
Political subdivisions (including local, regional, and state officials)
State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Other appropriate state agencies including: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
Texas Water Development Board, Texas General Land Office, Texas Department of
Health, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Railroad Commission and Texas
Department of Transportation.
Other entities interested in water quality matters including: Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality regional staff, business and industry, agriculture,
environmental and other public interest groups.
Role
The steering committee serves as the focus for public input and assists with:
Creation of specific achievable water quality objectives and basin priorities
Review and development of work plans and allocation of resources
Development, review and approval of major reports
Establishing monitoring priorities and developing monitoring plans
Identification of priority problem areas and development of actions to address these problems and pollutant sources
Goals
The CRP Long Term Action Plan for Fiscal Years 2006-2010 established CRP goals for the steering committees to support and enhance public participation by:
Improving awareness of water quality, water resource, and pollutant source issues
Increasing opportunities for citizens to identify pressing issues and concerns, and contributing ideas to the CRP process
Expanding the public’s role in water quality management issues
Click Steering Committee Meetings for maps and agendas.
Upper Nueces Basin
Lower Nueces Basin and Coastal Basins
Lower Nueces - Rio Grande Coastal Basin
Water Body Segments within our area of responsibility for fy2006
Please contact me by phone at 830-278-6810 or by email at slewey@nueces-ra.org if you have any questions.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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