The Texas well Owner Network will present a workshop for private well owners Dec. 9 in Brenham. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
The Mill Creek Watershed Partnership will host a free workshop for private water well owners from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Washington County Fair Grounds Sales Facility, 1305 E. Blue Bell Road in Brenham.
The Texas Well Owner Network is offering this half-day workshop to help private water well owners become familiar with groundwater resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment.
Participants can bring well-water samples to the training for screening at a cost of $10 per sample, due when samples are turned in. Samples will be screened for nitrates, total dissolved solids and bacteria.
Well owners can pick up sample containers from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Washington County, 1305 E. Blue Bell Road, Suite 104, Brenham, or at the AgriLife Extension office in Austin County, 800 E. Wendt St., Bellville.
“Participants do not have to bring a water sample in order to attend; however, if they want their well-water sample analyzed, they must attend the workshop,” said Ward Ling, AgriLife Extension watershed coordinator for the Mill Creek watershed.
Register for the workshop at http://twon.tamu.edu/training/ or by calling 979-845-1461.
Ling said Mill Creek does not meet the contact recreation standard. For that reason, the Mill Creek Partnership was formed and the Mill Creek Watershed Protection Plan developed.
“The plan is a proactive, sustainable, voluntary and locally driven watershed protection plan,” Ling said. “The end goal is to improve and protect water quality in the creek.”
The watershed protection plan, as well as other project information can be found at http://millcreek.tamu.edu/.
Mill Creek is formed by two branches, the east and west forks of Mill Creek in southwest Washington County, which unite near Bellville in Austin County to form the main stem. The 256,000-acre watershed contains cropland, rangeland, forest and developed land.
While undeveloped or agricultural land dominates the watershed, there are a few incorporated areas, which include Bellville, the largest city in the watershed area, as well as Burton and Industry. Small portions of Brenham and New Ulm also lie within the watershed boundary.
A Clean Water Act grant was provided to AgriLife Extension by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate the development of this watershed protection plan.
For more information on the Mill Creek Watershed Protection Plan or other programs, contact Ling at 979-845-6980 or Wling@tamu.edu.
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