Texas Watershed Steward program offers new online course

COLLEGE STATION — The Texas Watershed Steward program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service now has an online course to supplement existing in-person workshops designed to educate Texas citizens and industry on water issues statewide.

“I’m excited about this program because TWS provides so many benefits for the citizens of Texas to ensure we are properly managing our water resources,” said Michael Kuitu, AgriLife Extension  program specialist, College Station. “Adding an updated online course enhances accessibility to these benefits. The great thing about this program is it’s not exclusively reserved for any one particular audience but rather is applicable to everyone.”

He said a video explaining the Texas Watershed Steward program and its goals can be viewed at https://youtu.be/XdO9TcbPN0s.

“Texas Watershed Stewards is a free educational program that is administered statewide as either a day or half-day in-person workshop,” he said. “But now with the new online course, TWS materials can be accessed by interested participants at any time.”

Kuitu said the mission of Texas Watershed Stewards is to improve the quality of Texas’ water resources by educating and informing local stakeholders  about their  watershed and potential impairments and steps to help improve and protect their water quality.

“One goal of the TWS program is to promote healthy watersheds by increasing citizen awareness, understanding and knowledge about the nature and function of watersheds, potential impairments, and watershed protection strategies to minimize nonpoint source pollution,” he said.

Kuitu said while continuing education credits are only offered at in-person workshops, the online course offers  people from around the world unparalleled electronic access to TWS program materials.

“A for-credit version of the course is available as a means for employers and educators to have employees and students earn a certificate of completion remotely,” Kuitu added.

To learn more about the Texas Watershed Steward program and to view a list of upcoming in- person courses or to access the online course, go to http://tws.tamu.edu/.