A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality related to Possum Kingdom Lake will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 5 in Graford. A virtual attendance option will also be available for those unable to attend in person.
The event will be presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
The workshop will be held at the Possum Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, located at 362 Farm-to-Market Road 2353.
“The workshop is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region,” said Jason Westbrook, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Palo Pinto County.
All participants must preregister at https://tx.ag/TWSRegister or by calling 979-862-4457. Once registered, additional meeting information will be provided.
“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.
Light refreshments will be provided. Attendees of the workshop will receive a copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook and are eligible to earn a certificate of completion.
Improving water quality in the Possum Kingdom Lake watershed
Though the workshop will emphasize local water resources, the information remains applicable to all waters throughout the region.
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 and it will provide an overview of water quality as it relates to watershed management at the local level.
“Possum Kingdom Lake is an important resource of high-quality water, but like any surface water it is susceptible to pollution from runoff,” said Tiffany Malzahn, Brazos River Authority Environmental and Compliance Manager, Waco. “Therefore, the public is encouraged to attend and learn not only about water quality management, but also how they may become involved in maintaining Possum Kingdom Lake’s water quality through best management practices.”
Continuing education opportunities
The Texas Watershed Steward program offers continuing education units for multiple professional disciplines. However, the quantity of continuing education offered may 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. American Institute of Certified Planners will offer four Certification Maintenance and one and a half law credits.
In addition, three general continuing education units are offered for Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license holders, and two credits are offered for nutrient management specialists. For questions regarding professional continuing education afforded to virtual attendees, contact Kuitu.
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, and to preregister, contact Kuitu at 979-862-4457, michael.kuitu@ag.tamu.edu; or Westbrook at 940-659-1228, jason.westbrook@ag.tamu.edu.
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