The Texas Watershed Steward Program - Watershed Planningwatershedplanning.tamu.edu/media/136446/5. tws... · The Texas Watershed Steward Program A WATERRESOURCE TRAINING CURRICULUM

The Texas Watershed Steward Program

A WATER RESOURCE TRAINING CURRICULUM

Nikki Dictson, Jennifer Peterson, Mark McFarland, Ward Ling, Diane Boellstorff, and Lisa KordosTexas AgriLife Extension Service

Texas Watershed Coordinator Roundtable January 25, 2011

TWS PROGRAM GOALS

1. Increase citizen awareness, understanding, and knowledge of the nature and function of watersheds, potential impairments, and watershed protection strategies.

2. Empower and inspire individuals to take leadership roles involving community water issues.

3. Enhance stakeholder involvement in local watershed protection planning initiatives (WPP/TMDL).

TWS EDUCATIONAL TRAINING

• 1-day training (8 hours)– Reach a broader audience– Stimulate initial interest and

involvement

• Interactive ‘stations’– Enviroscape– NPS containers– Rainfall simulator– WQ monitoring equipment– Macroinvertebrate ID– Google Earth…

INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPATION

• FREE (for now, anyways)

• Educational credits:– 7 AICP CM hours (planners)– 7 TBPE CPEs (engineers)– 7 CCA CEUs (soil & water

management)– 7 SBEC CPEs (teachers)– 3 TFMA (floodplain mgr)– 3 TDA CEUs (general)

• Lots of free stuff…

26 completed workshops

12 planned through 2011

UPCOMING TWS WORKSHOPSWatershed Type Date City County

Cibolo Creek, Lower Other 1/27/2011 Panna Maria Karnes

Adams/Cow Bayous TMDL 3/24/2011 Orange Orange

Carters/Burton Creek TMDL 3/29/2011 College Station Brazos

San Antonio Bay Other April 2011 Victoria VictoriaUrban Watersheds in City of Temple Other May 2011 Temple Bell

Lower Nueces River WPP June 2011 Bluntzer Nueces

Leona River Other July 2011 Uvalde Uvalde

Pecos River 1 WPPAugust

2011 Pecos Reeves

Pecos River 2 WPPAugust

2011 Sheffield Pecos

Concho River WPPSeptember

2011 San Angelo Tom Green

Cedar Bayou WPPOctober

2011 Baytown HarrisUrban Watersheds in City of Dallas Other Dallas Dallas

Future Watersheds• Colorado River • Dickinson Bayou • Lower San Antonio River • Onion Creek/Barton Springs • Armand Bayou • Atascosa River • Chocolate Bayou• Copano Bay & Mission &

Aransas Rivers • Double Bayou • Highland Bayou

• Leon River 2 • Richland-Chambers

Reservoir • Colorado River Watch

Network • Urban Watersheds in City of

San Antonio • Lampasas River 2 • Upper San Marcos River • Oso Creek/Bay

ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND MATERIALS

• Online version of TWS is live– Available at http://tws.tamu.edu/online-course

THE TEXAS WATERSHED STEWARDPROGRAM

http://tws.tamu.edu

Nikki DictsonTexas AgriLife Extension Service

Tel: [email protected]