A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality related to the San Jacinto River will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on April 4.
The workshop will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Montgomery County, located at 9020 Airport Road in Conroe.
The workshop is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region. To attend, participants must preregister at the Texas Watershed Steward website or by calling 979-862-4457
The event will be presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board in cooperation with the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
“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. “Once registered, additional meeting information will be provided.”
Helping improve water quality in the San Jacinto River watershed
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, plus an overview of water quality as it relates to watershed management at the local level.
The public is encouraged to attend and learn not only about water quality management, but also how to become involved in maintaining the water quality of the San Jacinto River through best management practices. Though the workshop will provide an emphasis on local water resources, the information is applicable to all waters throughout the region.
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.
Continuing education opportunities
The Texas Watershed Steward program offers continuing education units, CEUs, for multiple professional disciplines. However, the quantity of continuing education offered may vary for select disciplines.
For attendees of the workshop, four hours of continuing education are offered for the following professional disciplines: soil and water management for certified crop advisers, professional engineers, certified teachers, professional geoscientists and certified floodplain managers. American Institute of Certified Planners are eligible for four certification maintenance and one law hours. Four CEUs are also offered for 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.
In addition, three general CEUs 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 attendees, contact Kuitu at 979-862-4457 or michael.kuitu@ag.tamu.edu.
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 Brandon Gregson at 936-539-7822, brandon.gregson@ag.tamu.edu.
For more information on the San Jacinto River watershed, contact Justin Bower at 713-499-6653, Justin.Bower@h-gac.com, or Rachel Windham at 713-993-2497, rachel.windham@h-gac.com.
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