Another permit requirement of the County is to monitor construction activities. This includes the unincorporated area. Ensuring proper measures are in place to keep pollution at construction sites from entering our waterways.
Construction Site Disturbances & Pollutants
If you are here to report a concern about a construction site, please call our stormwater hotline at 940-349-2990.
Construction sites that are disturbing more than 5 acres of land are required to get a permit from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). A part of their permit is to have a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in place to describe how they will reduce the risk of stormwater pollution. Those sites that disturb more than 1 acre, but less than 5 acres, are required to post a site notice and have an SWPPP in place before beginning construction. The County will be conducting inspections at these construction sites to help ensure they are following the proper procedures and their SWPPPs.
The major pollutant from a construction site is sediment. Sediments can clog drainage systems which can cause flooding upstream, cover optimal breeding grounds for aquatic organisms, and fill in channels and lakes.
Flooding, Water & Fish Populations
Floods can be dangerous and can cause large amounts of property damage. When optimal breeding areas are removed, the populations of aquatic organisms will decline, meaning it is harder to catch fish because there are fewer fish. This can also lead to population displacement, this occurs when conditions in the area change. Fish such as Crappie and Bass are replaced with less sensitive fish like Carp and Gar.
The filling in of our waterways is a major concern. It changes how water flows, which can also lead to floods, but it also leaves less room in our lakes to store water. This can lead to higher prices for water as less water is available to a growing public, or the sediment has to be removed.
Storm Drainage Systems
Construction debris also causes problems for storm drainage systems. Unused wood, containers of all types, wrappings, and various other trash is often carried by the wind, and sometimes by employees into storm drainage systems. This type of pollution causes a broad range of problems once the items get into our waterways.