A Texas Watershed Steward online workshop on water quality related to the Lampasas River will be held from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 28.
The workshop will be free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region.
The event will be presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board in cooperation with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership.
“This workshop is designed to help watershed residents learn about their water resources and how they may become involved in local watershed protection and management activities,” said Michael Kuitu, AgriLife Extension program specialist and coordinator for the Texas Watershed Steward program, Bryan-College Station.
Workshop content and registration
The workshop will include a discussion on watershed systems, along with types and sources of water pollution. There also will be a group discussion on community-driven watershed protection and management.
“There will be an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas with an emphasis on area water quality,” said Heath Lusty, AgriLife Extension agent for Lampasas County. “It will address local water resources but will be applicable to all waters in the region.”
To attend, participants must preregister online or contact Kuitu at 979-862-4457.
Importance of protecting Lampasas River watershed area
Surface water in the Lampasas River is a critical source of water in the area, said Lisa Prcin, a research associate with AgriLife Research in Temple.
Surface water in the Lampasas River is a critical source of water in the area, said Lisa Prcin, a research associate with AgriLife Research in Temple.
“Stakeholders need to be armed with the knowledge to protect and restore water quality in the watershed,” Prcin said.
She said a watershed protection plan developed for the Lampasas River will also be discussed. The plan includes several best management practices to reduce pollution in the watershed and potentially lower the bacteria levels in the Lampasas River.
Continuing education credits
Workshop attendees will receive a copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook and are eligible to earn a certificate of completion. The Texas Watershed Steward program offers continuing education for multiple professional disciplines. However, the quantity of continuing education offered does vary for select disciplines, depending on whether one attends in person or virtually.
For those who attend in person, four hours of continuing education is offered for the following professional disciplines: soil and water management for certified crop advisers; professional engineers; certified teachers; professional geoscientists; certified landscape architects; certified floodplain managers; and each of the following Texas Commission on Environmental Quality occupational licensees: wastewater system operators, public water system operators, on-site sewage facility installers and landscape irrigators.
The American Institute of Certified Planners will offer four certification maintenance credits and 1.5 credits in law.
In addition, three general continuing education units are offered to in-person attendees for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders, and two credits are offered for nutrient management specialists.
Contact Kuitu for inquiries regarding professional continuing education afforded to virtual attendees.
“Participating in the Texas Watershed Steward program is a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference in your watershed,” Lusty said.
Funding for this effort is provided through a federal Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information on the Texas Watershed Steward program, contact Kuitu or Lusty. Lusty can be reached at the AgriLife Extension office for Lampasas County at 512-556-8271.
For information on watershed protection efforts for the Lampasas River watershed, contact Prcin at 254-774-6008.
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