Leon River watershed workshop set for Sept. 7

Participants must sign up by Sept. 1 for the free event

The Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, will host a free Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Education Program from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in Gatesville for area residents interested in land and water stewardship in the Leon River watershed.

The morning session will be at the M.J. Hanna Ranch, 500 Hanna Ranch Road, Gatesville. The afternoon session will include a walk and presentations along the river.

All attendees must RSVP online or by email to Clare.Entwistle@ag.tamu.edu by Sept. 1. The program will include a lunchtime presentation. A catered lunch is being offered for $15 or participants may select to bring their own lunch.

The workshop is co-hosted locally by the Natural Resources Institute, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Coryell County, Texas Riparian Association and TWRI.

The Leon River watershed

The Leon River, a 190-mile stream in north Central Texas, is the focus of watershed planning efforts by stakeholders.

“Stakeholders recognize successful implementation of a watershed protection plan requires implementing a variety of management strategies,” said Andy James, AgriLife Extension program coordinator and Leon River watershed coordinator. “The riparian and stream workshop is an educational event supporting this effort.”

Clare Escamilla, TWRI research associate, San Antonio, said the workshop will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones as well as the benefits and economic impacts from proper functioning riparian systems.

“Riparian areas — the green vegetated land area adjacent to the bank of a stream, creek, bayou, river or lake — are unique and important ecosystems that provide many benefits including habitat and forage,” Escamilla said. “The goal of the workshop is for participants to better understand riparian and watershed processes, the benefits of healthy riparian areas and what resources are available to prevent degradation while improving water quality.”

Workshop presentations will be given by representatives of TWRI, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service,  AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Riparian Association.

Escamilla said they are able to offer the workshop without cost thanks to program funding provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Continuing education opportunities

Robert Ferguson, AgriLife Extension agent for Coryell County, said participants will receive a certificate of completion and appropriate continuing education unit certificates at the conclusion of the training.

The workshop offers many types of continuing education units, including three units — two general and one integrated pest management — for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders. Foresters and professional loggers can receive six hours from the Texas Forestry Association and six hours from the Society of American Foresters. It offers one unit from TWRI, seven credits from Texas Floodplain Management Association, seven hours for Certified Crop Advisors, and six hours for Texas Nutrient Management Planning specialists. The program may also be used for continuing education units for professional engineers.

The riparian education program is managed by the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

For more information, contact Escamilla, visit http://texasriparian.org or go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TexasRiparianAssociation.

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