Texas Beach Watch
Texas Beach Watch is a program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO), which administers the program to monitor water quality at Texas' recreational beaches. The program monitors Texas’ recreational beaches and when bacteria levels in the water exceed the acceptable standards established by the EPA, the GLO works with local governments to issue advisories warning the public not to swim in affected waters.
Under contract with the GLO since 2004, the Coastal Studies Lab monitors 20 sites on South Padre Island and 6 sites at Boca Chica beach on a weekly basis during high tourist seasons and on a biweekly basis during low tourist seasons.
The water quality conditions at beaches being sampled under the Texas Beach Watch Program can be obtained through the interactive map found at www.TexasBeachWatch.com. The water quality information on the Texas Beach Watch site is updated each time sample results are entered into the database. Units of local government post advisory signs provided by the GLO at beach access points where the water quality exceeds acceptable bacterial levels.