PEARLAND – The Texas Water Resources Institute’s Urban Riparian and Stream Restoration Program will host a workshop from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 23 in Pearland for professionals interested in conducting stream restoration projects around the South Houston area.
Registration is $100 and includes all training materials, lunch and a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Attendees are encouraged to register early as the workshop is limited to 40 people.
The morning session will be at the John Hargrove Environmental Nature Center, 5800 Magnolia St. The afternoon session will be outdoors along Mary’s Creek, where participants will learn stream surveying techniques.
The Texas Water Resources Institute will present an urban riparian and stream restoration workshop April 23 in Pearland. (Texas Water Resources Institute photo by Ed Rhodes)
The workshop is being co-hosted by the Texas Community Watershed Partners, the City of Pearland, Houston Advanced Research Center, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Brazoria County and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas.
Attendees must register by April 19 to Clare Entwistle, institute research associate, San Antonio, at 210-277-0292, ext. 205, or clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu. Online registration is at http://bit.ly/2uwOTV0.
Dr. Fouad Jaber, AgriLife Extension program specialist in Dallas, said riparian and stream degradation is a major threat to water quality, in-stream habitat, terrestrial wildlife, aquatic species and overall stream health.
“Proper management, protection and restoration of these riparian areas will improve water quality, lower in-stream temperatures, improve aquatic habitat and ultimately improve macrobenthos and fish community integrity,” he said.
Jaber said the goal of the workshop is for participants to better understand urban stream functions and impacts of development on urban streams.
“The workshop will show attendees how to recognize healthy versus degraded stream systems, assess and classify a stream using the Bank Erosion Hazard Index and comprehend differences between natural and traditional restoration techniques,” he said.
Workshop presentations will be given by representatives of the Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas Community Watershed Partnership and the Houston Advanced Research Center.
Entwistle said the institute is able to offer the workshop at a reduced cost thanks to program funding provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Information on continuing education units and credits is available at the online registration site.
For more information, contact Entwistle, visit http://texasriparian.org or go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TexasRiparianAssociation.
The urban riparian stream education program is managed by the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
-30-
Contacts: Clare Entwistle, 210-277-0292, x205, clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Fouad Jaber, 972-952-9672, Fouad.Jaber@ag.tamu.edu
Ongoing project through Under Our Wings incorporates sewing skills with military appreciation Texas 4-H… Read More
Inaugural program includes leaders from across Texas A&M AgriLife A new Texas A&M AgriLife program,… Read More
Jorge Arreola Vargas inspires students with hands-on learning At Texas A&M University, Jorge Arreola Vargas,… Read More
Agribusiness graduate Meredith Neely ’02 chairs council committed to supporting the College and students In… Read More
Texas 4-H program director shares the positive impact of volunteers Throughout National Volunteer Month, the… Read More
Awareness week focuses on importance of forest and water stewardship in Texas The Texas Soil… Read More