Since the mid-1980's, the Authority has been involved in the improvement and protection of water quality in the Brazos River Basin. The Authority's Environmental Services conducts comprehensive watershed monitoring, analysis, and data management that provides scientific information on basin environmental conditions. This information is used to develop and implement effective watershed-based strategies to maintain and improve water quality throughout the basin.

In 2001, the Authority dedicated staff to each region of the basin to ensure focused attention on regions through the identification of issues and implementation of activities that improve or maintain water quality within an area, as well as throughout the basin.

Since 1991, the Authority has contracted with the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality to conduct the Clean Rivers Program in the Brazos River basin. Through collaborative efforts with other agencies and basin residents, the Authority identifies and evaluates water quality and watershed management issues, establishes priorities for corrective actions, and implements activities to improve or protect the Brazos River basin.

The Authority's Environmental Field team performs routine water quality monitoring at 170 locations across the Brazos River basin, including reservoirs, streams, and tributaries. The Authority's Environmental Laboratory conducts analysis on samples to determine both water quality conditions, as well as identifying pollutants of concern in the basin.

In addition to the Authority's participation in the Texas Clean Rivers Program, we are collaborative partners in numerous projects and activities designed to assess, improve, and protect the Brazos River basin.