Joe Pool Lake whole-watershed testing set for March 23-24 in Alvarado
Residents can test well water and soil, learn best practices and earn continuing education units
The Lone Star Healthy Streams, LSHS, and the Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, will combine to offer a whole-watershed approach for residents in the Joe Pool Lake Watershed on March 23-24 in Alvarado.
The event will offer free soil testing and water well screenings for $15 per sample, along with educational training on groundwater and surface water protection.
Event information
Well water samples must be dropped off from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on March 23 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Johnson County, 109 W. Chambers St., Cleburne, or at Shepard’s Valley Cowboy Church, 8901 U.S. Highway 67, Alvarado. Payment can be made by cash or check at either location.
The results and education meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shepard’s Valley Cowboy Church.
“The Texas Well Owner Network program is for Texas residents who depend on a household well for their water needs,” said Joel Pigg, AgriLife Extension program specialist and TWON coordinator, Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
“The Lone Star Healthy Streams education component aims to increase awareness of surface water pollution originating from livestock and feral hogs,” said Leanne Wiley, AgriLife Extension program specialist and LSHS coordinator, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station. “It promotes land and water stewardship and encourages implementation of proven best management practices.”
On the agenda
The March 24 education meeting will offer four Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — three in integrated pest management and one general.
The topics to be covered include:
- Watersheds, water quality and grazing livestock best management practices — Wiley.
- Joe Pool Lake Watershed Protection Plan update — Heather Firn, Trinity River Authority of Texas watershed manager, Arlington.
- Water quality management plans – Paola Ramirez, Dalworth Soil and Water Conservation District technician, Arlington.
- Feral hog management and demonstration — Jay Long, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute project coordinator, Bryan-College Station.
- Aquatic Vegetation and Pond Management – Brittany Chesser, Texas A&M AgriLife AquaExtension program specialist, Bryan-College Station.
- Weed and brush management – Justin Hale, Ignition Land Services director, Joshua.
- Sample results — Pigg.
Well water and soil sampling instructions
Attendees are asked to follow the water sample instructions available on the TWON website.
It is essential for those submitting samples to attend the follow-up meeting to receive results, learn corrective measures for identified problems and improve their understanding of private well management, Pigg said.
The LSHS program will also cover the cost of two soil samples per attendee. Soil sample testing should be from pasture or rangeland areas.
Soil samples can be dropped off on March 23 at the AgriLife Extension office in Johnson County or brought to the education meeting on March 24. No official bag is needed for drop-off; lab bags will be provided at the meeting.
Soil sampling instructions are found on the soil submittal form at the AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory website or ask any AgriLife Extension county agent for guidance.
For more information, contact Pigg at [email protected] or 979-321-5946, Wiley at [email protected] or 979-321-5950, or Firn at [email protected] or 817-467-4343.
