A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality along the Shoal Creek watershed will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Cirrus Logic Soundcheck, 800 W. 6th St., in Austin.
The free event will be presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board in cooperation with the Shoal Creek Conservancy.
Lunch will be provided for workshop attendees who register by the close of business on Oct. 1 or when capacity is reached. The meal is sponsored by the Shoal Creek Conservancy.
“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 Texas Watershed Steward program coordinator.
The workshop is open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region. Preregistration is required either at the Texas Watershed Steward website or by calling 979-862-4457.
Once registered, additional meeting information will be provided, Kuitu said. Attendees will receive a copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook and are eligible to earn a certificate of completion.
Helping improve water quality in the Shoal Creek watershed
A discussion on watershed systems, along with types and sources of water pollution will be the main part of the workshop. There also will be a group discussion on community-driven watershed protection and management and an overview of water quality as it relates to watershed management at the local level.
The workshop also will show participants how they may become involved in maintaining the water quality of Shoal Creek and its tributaries through best management practices. Though the workshop will provide an emphasis on local water resources, the information remains applicable to all waters throughout the region, Kuitu said.
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.
CEUs will include four hours for soil and water management certified crop advisers, professional engineers, certified teachers, professional geoscientists and certified floodplain managers. American Institute of Certified Planners are eligible for four hours certification in maintenance and one CEU for law. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality occupational licensees will receive four CEU credits in the following disciplines: wastewater system operators, public water system operators, on-site sewage facility installers and landscape irrigators.
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 at 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 Peter Agboola at 512-854-1588 or peter.agboola@ag.tamu.edu.
For more information on the Shoal Creek watershed, contact Sierra DaSilva at sierra@shoalcreekconservancy.org.
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