Tatum CR 2181d Martin Creek Lake Air Monitoring Station, Tatum, Texas

Tatum CR 2181d Martin Creek Lake is an air monitoring station located at 9515 County Road 2181d in Tatum, Texas, within Rusk County. The station is part of the state's ambient air quality monitoring network, operated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). It contributes to the U.S. EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) network, which tracks criteria pollutants and other parameters to assess compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's last reported sample date is August 31, 2025, indicating recent and ongoing data collection. While specific parameters measured are not detailed, typical TCEQ stations monitor ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. The station's siting in a rural area near Martin Creek Lake provides representative background air quality data for eastern Texas, complementing urban monitors. This monitoring station supports public health protection by providing data used in air quality index reporting and regulatory compliance. Its location in a region with industrial activity (e.g., power generation and oil and gas) helps track potential impacts on local air quality. The data contributes to state implementation plans and informs community exposure assessments.

The station is situated in a mixed-use area with forested land, agriculture, and nearby industrial facilities such as power plants and oil and gas operations. Martin Creek Lake is a reservoir used for cooling at a coal-fired power plant, making air monitoring critical for assessing emissions from energy production. The region's humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters influences pollutant dispersion and secondary formation of ozone. Monitoring here helps evaluate compliance with NAAQS and supports regional air quality management under the Texas SIP.