2009-10-22

Watershed training offered in Seguin in November

Contributed

The Texas Watershed Steward Program will host a free workshop from 8 am to 4 pm Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Annex Building, 905 Nolan Street, in Seguin.

Sponsored by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the GBRA, the workshop addresses the fundamentals of watershed systems, water quality regulations and monitoring, watershed improvement methods, enhancing watershed functions and community-driven water resource management.

“The Texas Watershed Steward Program is for anyone interested in water quality issues and who may want to become more directly involved in watershed protection and management in their area,” said Jennifer Peterson, AgriLife Extension program specialist in College Station.

This workshop is being held in support of on-going watershed management activities for the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks watershed in Comal and Guadalupe counties.

Geronimo Creek has been identified as having elevated bacteria concentrations and Alligator Creek has nutrient, specifically nitrogen, enrichment concerns.

Because these issues threaten recreational opportunities and overall stream health, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board has sponsored efforts to collect water quality data and work with local residents and property owners to better understand the watershed and to develop a watershed protection plan.

“The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board has sponsored 16 of these workshops statewide over the past two years, empowering over 900 citizens and landowners to take leadership roles managing community water resources,” said Pamela Casebolt, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board project manager.

Along with instruction and training, workshop participants will receive a copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Curriculum Handbook and a certificate of completion.

In addition, the program will provide seven Certified Crop Advisor CEUs in Soil and Water Management, seven Texas Board of Professional Engineers CPEs for professional engineers, seven State Board for Educator Certification CPEs in Science, three Texas Department of Agriculture CEUs for pesticide applicator license holders, three Texas Floodplain Management Association CECs for Certified Floodplain Managers and seven American Institute of Certified Planners CM hours for certified planners.

Although there is no charge for participating in the workshop, pre-registration is required to ensure availability of materials. Organizers will provide lunch.

To register, visit the Texas Watershed Steward website at http://tws.tamu.edu or contact Peterson at 979-862-8072 or jlpeterson@ag.tamu.edu.

More information is also available at http://www.tsswcb.state.tx.us/managementprogram/txwsp or by contacting Casebolt at 254-773-2250, Ext. 247 or pcasebolt@tsswcb.state.tx.us.

For more information about Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board programs in the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks watershed, contact Loren Henley at 254-773-2250, Ext. 240 or lhenley@tsswcb.state.tx.us.