AgriLife Extension’s Swanson appointed to TCEQ Irrigation Advisory Council

Media contact: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]

COLLEGE STATION – Charles Swanson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service irrigation specialist, has been appointed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Irrigation Advisory Council.

Swanson is part of a nine-member council consisting of six irrigation license holders and three public, non-licensed members. He will serve a six-year term on the council, which provides advice to the commission and staff on matters relating to irrigation and the state irrigation licensing program. There are more than 8,000 irrigation license holders in Texas.

Swanson has been a licensed irrigator for over 10 years. As a specialist with AgriLife Extension, Swanson has conducted more than 200 short courses for over 4,000 licensed irrigation professionals. These short courses have provided over 39,000 hours of state required continuing education for licensing renewals.

Swanson is currently the chairman of the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers Turf and Landscape Irrigation Committee. The committee takes a leadership role in working with industry associations and government entities in the development of Landscape Irrigation Standards. In 2018, Swanson was named the Texas Section of the American Society of Biological Engineers Member of the Year.

As an extension specialist for landscape irrigation, Swanson also manages the Smart Irrigation Laboratory in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University in College Station where he conducts testing and assists with product development for irrigation manufacturers.  

Swanson also oversees the daily operation of the Texas Evapotranspiration Network and the WaterMyYard Program.