Monitor the Water

To the Editor:

In light of the TCEQ’s decision to decline public hearings regarding permit changes for the Fayette Power Project (FPP), I propose that the TCEQ or the FPP fund a comprehensive environmental monitoring program. This initiative should be administered by Texas A&M University and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), utilizing TPWD’s expertise in monitoring toxins in wildlife and waterways.

To ensure effective oversight, the program must target Cedar Creek, the primary drainage vector for wastewater and cooling return flows before they enter the Colorado River. Monitoring should focus on coal combustion residuals (CCRs)—specifically selenium, arsenic, boron, and sulfates—which often accumulate in sediments even when water column levels appear normal.

The proposed monitoring should follow a two-phase approach: Phase 1: Establish a benchmark using a Control-Impact design across four locations: upstream of the discharge (Site A), immediately downstream of the discharge canal (Site B), the confluence of Cedar Creek and the Colorado River (Site C), and the Colorado River upstream of that confluence (Site D).

Phase 2: Implement specific protocols, including testing the top 5–10 cm of the creek bed for heavy metals, utilizing real-time probes and lab analysis for the water column, and assessing aquatic macroinvertebrates to identify long-term toxicity.

Without a structured program, we risk permanent harm to downstream lands and waters. We must utilize public rights-of-way and navigable waterways to collect this critical safety data. As this is ultimately a matter of funding, I suggest that HB 500 funds be considered as a potential source for this essential work.