Environmental Master Plan

Was on display until August 21, 2020, 12:00 AM

In 2019, the City of Fort Worth developed its first Environmental Master Plan in support of the city's pursuit of improved environmental performance.

Environmental Master Plan(PDF, 14MB)

What is an Environmental Master Plan?

An environmental master plan is a set of long-range strategies to protect human health and the environment in Fort Worth


Why does the city need an Environmental Master Plan?

Environmental planning guides the city’s programs and services to safeguard community resources and protect human health, safety, and the environment.

The city is developing an Environmental Master Plan to guide and improve environmental programs and services. Your input is needed to create this plan.

What problems are addressed in an Environmental Master Plan?

Once completed, the city’s Environmental Master Plan will outline strategies and concepts to safeguard Fort Worth residents and visitors against:

  • Outdoor air pollution.
  • Water pollution in local creeks, lakes and the Trinity River.
  • Contaminated soil.
  • Groundwater pollution.
  • Contaminated properties.
  • Litter and aquatic trash.
  • Improperly-managed hazardous materials and spills.

Key plan objectives

  1. Minimize Fort Worth’s contribution to air pollution and carefully monitor key air contaminants to promote a safe city.
  2. Improve surface water quality and minimize the impact of the urban environment on local bodies of water.
  3. Create and maintain a safe, clean and attractive city through litter abatement programs, blight control and hazardous materials management.
  4. Assess program resources and needs to support resource acquisition and asset allocation.

Environmental Plan background

Environmental problems are not new to communities across the nation. The City of Fort Worth provides environmental programs and services to protect the community, human health, safety and the environment. The city is developing the Environmental Master Plan to determine the resources needed for current and future environmental programs, as well as to develop strategies for program development to ensure that the community remains protected as the city continues to grow.

In the mid-1990s, the Fort Worth City Council created the Environmental Fund to assist the community with the costs of environmental pollution control. This fund provides the financial resources to maintain our environmental programs and services.

Environmental programs and services are designed to address:

  • Air pollution.
  • Surface water pollution.
  • Soil and groundwater pollution.
  • Hazardous materials in buildings.
  • Groundwater pollution.
  • Abandoned property cleanup.
  • Environmentally-hazardous materials.
  • Litter and aquatic trash.
  • Hazardous material emergency spill response.

Programs and services also provide for:

  • Municipal environmental compliance with federal and state regulations.
  • Environmental compliance outreach and technical compliance education.
  • Environmental inspections and audits.
  • Environmental cleanup projects and site remediation.
  • Protection of waters in local creeks, lakes and the Trinity River.

Environmental programs must expand and advance to properly protect the community as the population of Fort Worth grows, development increases, and regulatory requirements change. The Environmental Master Plan will ensure that the city continues to provide high-quality services to Fort worth residents and make the best use of the Environmental Fund.

Environmental Plan stakeholder meeting