With over 5.5 million residents, the Trinity is the most populated river basin in Texas. From its headwaters north of the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex to its outlet into the Galveston Bay, the 512 mile river and its 1,983 mile of major tributaries drain an area of over 11.5 million acres. The Trinity River Basin supports primary water needs for over 20% of the state's population.
The impacts of increased development and changes of land use in this area have placed many of the natural resources in this basin at risk. These changes impact water quality, flood control, wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, groundwater availability, and other important services that are essential for maintaining quality of life and economic prosperity throughout a major portion of rural and urban areas in Texas.
The Trinity River Basin Environmental Restoration Initiative is a major environmental initiative whose mission is to improve the quality of life, economic sustainability and ecological integrity of areas associated with the Trinity River Basin through a coalition of local communities, NGOs and stewards of private and public lands. This will be accomplished through strong science, clear policy and effective outreach for the Trinity River Basin.
"Starting today, the State of Texas is pursuing a new environmental restoration initiative for the Trinity River by leveraging federal dollars for projects that improve water quality, hydrology, wetland restoration, hardwood reforestation, wildlife habitat and voluntary landowner stewardship.""If Texans all along the Trinity River band together to fully protect its water quality and restore the river to its more pristine past, it will have a dramatic impact on birds and wildlife, ecotourism, and water quality."