It turns out “River Authority” is a loaded name and lots of folks assume we handle everything that happens on or near the Brazos. From flood control to fish kills to docks and development, we’re explaining what we don’t do — and pointing you to the right place when it’s not us. So, tune in to see which sites you should bookmark when you want to skip a phone call to find out who oversees something. Or call us at 888-922-6272, and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction, whether it’s us or not.

Unpacking the Brazos River is a podcast by the Brazos River Authority. 

 
Here’s a quick recap of some of the agencies discussed during the episode and what they do:

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality:
  • Issues and manages water rights and permits
  • Oversees the Brazos Watermaster Program, which ensures each permit holder only takes their allowed amount of water and reports usage regularly
  • Handles pollution reports, fish kill reports, algae concerns, and dumping complaints
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Owns/operates eight reservoirs in the BRA Water Supply System, and many other reservoirs not in that system 
  • Handles flood control on these federal reservoirs 
• City of Waco
  • Owns and manages Lake Waco and Lake Brazos as water supplies for Waco and surrounding areas
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
  • Enforces fishing regulations and issues sand & gravel permits for any work done on the riverbed (like erosion control or dock construction)
  • Game wardens handle overfishing, illegal motorized vehicles in riverbeds, or other state-law violations on the river
• County Sheriff’s Office
  • Can respond to suspicious or illegal activity on the river 
• FEMA
  • Provides floodplain information and maps for property owners concerned about flooding risks

Go here to read an article on this topic if you don't have time to listen to the podcast.

Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas for podcast episodes you’d like to hear about at information@brazos.org.

Host: Charlie L. Shugart, BRA assistant public information officer.

Guests: Judi Pierce, BRA public information officer, Candice Sheridan, BRA public information coordinator

Intro music: Clay Sellers, BRA lab analyst. 

About us: 

The Brazos River Authority was created by the Texas Legislature in 1929 and was the first state agency in the United States created specifically for the purpose of developing and managing the water resources of an entire river basin. Today, the BRA's staff of 284 develop and distribute water supplies, provide water and wastewater treatment, monitor water quality, and pursue water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the BRA is entirely self-supporting. The BRA maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves.
 
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