Medina River watershed meeting set on March 4 in Castroville

The Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, will host a stakeholder meeting for the Medina River below Medina Diversion Lake Watershed Protection Plan on March 4 in Castroville.

The free, public meeting will be from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Braden Keller Community Center, 1410 Amelia St.

The meeting will focus on strategies to manage urban stormwater runoff and engage the development community in protecting the watershed.

“The Medina River watershed is experiencing rapid population growth, changing historical land uses in the region and increasing the potential for pollution from stormwater runoff,” said Tina Hendon, TWRI program specialist, Bryan-College Station. “Projections indicate a significant increase in bacteria loading from urban sources if proactive measures are not taken.”

Collaborating toward urban stormwater runoff solutions

The session will bring together key stakeholders to discuss solutions for protecting water quality in the Medina River watershed, Hendon said. 

“Increases in urban development require a proactive approach to stormwater management,” she said. 

San Antonio River Authority staff will present existing programs and tools for urban stormwater management. Landscape ecologist Lee Marlowe and senior engineer Mikel Wilkins will highlight their work on low-impact development, green infrastructure, demonstration projects, developer training and outreach initiatives.

A panel discussion will follow, offering perspectives of local officials and the development community on the challenges of balancing economic development with environmental stewardship in managing urban stormwater.

The meeting will provide:

• Education on existing programs and tools for urban stormwater management. 
• Dialogue on engaging the community to incorporate water quality practices into developments and to become involved in the Medina River Watershed Protection Plan implementation. 
• Resources to facilitate the adoption of practices and programs that support urban stormwater management and improve water quality.

“Addressing stormwater runoff is crucial for the Medina River Watershed Protection Plan,” Hendon said. “Collaboration is key to mitigating impacts and supporting a healthy watershed.”

TWRI is coordinating this project with the San Antonio River Authority to collaborate with local stakeholders to develop a plan to address water quality issues. 

Funding for this effort is provided through a federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. 

TWRI is a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that brings together expertise from across The Texas A&M University System. 

For more information, contact Hendon at [email protected] or 979-314-2472. Read more about the watershed at medina.twri.tamu.edu.