City of Beaumont Stream Gage Installation Project

The City of Beaumont is advancing efforts to redirect its treated wastewater away from discharge into Cooper’s Creek and instead utilize it for beneficial purposes, as part of a broader initiative to enhance water sustainability and reduce environmental impacts. This effort is grounded in the findings of the Cooper’s Creek and San Timoteo Creek Habitat Characterization and Sustainability Report, which outlined the need to minimize recycled water discharges while safeguarding riparian habitat. To support this transition, the city is implementing a baseline monitoring program that includes the installation of four new high-frequency stream gages along Cooper’s Creek and San Timoteo Creek. These gages will continuously collect critical data on stream stage, flow rates, water temperature, and specific conductance to better understand surface water dynamics, detect responses to wastewater discharges and storm events, and clarify the interplay between groundwater and surface water downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. The data gathered through this monitoring initiative will inform the development and refinement of an Adaptive Management and Mitigation Plan aimed at ensuring ecological health as wastewater flows are reduced. By establishing a robust, real-time monitoring network, the city aims to make evidence-based decisions that balance water reuse goals with the protection of riparian ecosystems. The project is strategically positioned to provide long-term insights into hydrologic patterns and will serve as a foundational tool for future water management strategies in the region. The initiative is led by the Director of Water Reclamation, Thaxton Van Belle, and is being pursued under the City of Beaumont’s broader water sustainability objectives.