The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership will host a Low-Impact Development Workshop from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Dec. 1 at the Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, 1865 U.S. Highway 90 E. in Seguin. The free workshop is presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
“With the increasing population growth and development in the area, it is important to continue raising public awareness about the impact of nonpoint source pollution and educate local residents and decision makers about sustainable practices to protect water quality,” said Evgenia Spears, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension watershed coordinator for Geronimo and Alligator creeks.
Onsite registration begins at 8 a.m. Attendees must preregister to reserve a seat. To register and for more information, contact Spears at 979-845-2862 or Geronimo.Alligator@ag.tamu.edu.
Spears said there will be a combination of in-class presentations and outdoor demonstrations. Three hours of American Institute of Certified Planner credits will be available to those attending.
Fouad Jaber, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist in integrated water resources management, Dallas, will explain how different smart-growth techniques can help mitigate the harmful effects of urbanization on stormwater volume and water quality.
Workshop topics
The workshop will include many topics of interest to local stakeholders. Highlights include linking land use with water quality and community character and how to reduce runoff volume through the installation of low impact development, LID, practices. Permeable pavement, rain gardens, vegetated swales and curbless streets are all examples of LID, which can be effective at improving water quality. Participants will have the opportunity to view examples of LID in person, as well as a landscaping demonstration area comparing xeriscaping with St. Augustine, Bermuda, zoysia and buffalo grasses.
This workshop is funded by a Clean Water Act provided to AgriLife Extension by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the Geronimo and Alligator Watershed Protection Plan.
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