Uvalde-area residents invited to free Rainwater Reveille event April 22

March 21, 2012

By: Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu

UVALDE – The first Rainwater Reveille event will be held from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on April 22 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1619 Garner Field Road in Uvalde.

The event is free and open to the public. It is presented by Texas AgriLife Research in conjunction with the Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation District, Uvalde County Underground Water Conservation District and the Nueces River Authority.

“The Rainwater Reveille, like the name implies, is a call to wake up and hear the raindrops,” said Dr. Susan Cooper, an AgriLife Research wildlife scientist at the center and event co-organizer. “There will be fun and educational activities for the entire family centered around rainwater harvesting and water conservation.”

Cooper said AgriLife Research and the Nueces River Authority have a grant from the Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation District to encourage the use of harvested rainwater for landscaping. She said event displays and activities will include rainwater harvesting demonstrations and a rainwater garden, along with opportunities to visit information booths and meet event mascot, Bob the Raindrop.

“AgriLife will showcase a  commercial-size rainwater harvesting system and a house-size system that feeds into a demonstration garden, along with a drip-irrigation demonstration and plots with drought-tolerant plants,” she said.

She added that the Nueces River Authority will provide games for children, as well as demonstration models of rainwater harvesting and a landscape model of a rainwater-catchment basin.

“We have held many educational events related to water conservation, but we are excited to be  involved in Rainwater Reveille,” said Victoria Herndon, educational assistant with the Nueces River Authority.  “We hope those attending the event will enjoy themselves while learning more about groundwater use and conservation in both rural and urban areas.”

“There also will be entertainment by the Sahawe Indian Dancers at 2 p.m., who will perform on the  front lawn of the center,” Cooper said.

The First State Bank of Uvalde will provide bottled water and refreshments, and students from South West Texas Junior College will assist with the event.

For more information, contact Cooper at 830-278-9151 or s-cooper@tamu.edu, or Herndon at 830-278-6810 or vherndon@nueces-ra.org.

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