Proctor Lake water quality training set for Jan. 30 in De Leon
Event introduces Proctor Lake watershed and how residents can help with planning, management
A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on the Proctor Lake watershed water quality will be held on Jan. 30 in DeLeon.
The free event will be held at the De Leon City Auditorium, 125 S. Texas St., from 1-5 p.m. and is open to anyone interested in improving the region’s water quality.
The 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 Texas Water Resources Institute.
Participants must pre-register by visiting the Texas Watershed website at https://tx.ag/TWSWorkshopDeLeon or by calling 979-321-5935.
“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, Kuitu said.
Helping improve water quality in the Proctor Lake watershed
The workshop will include a discussion on watershed systems and types and sources of water pollution. There also will be a group discussion on community-driven watershed protection and management and an overview of water quality relating to watershed management at the local level.
The public is encouraged to attend and learn about water quality management and how they may become involved in maintaining the water quality of Proctor Lake 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.
Light refreshments will be provided. Attendees 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.
Two Dairy Outreach Program Area, DOPA, credits will be offered. Further CEUs will include four hours in 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.
Funding for this effort is provided through a federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) 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 at 979-321-5935, michael.kuitu@ag.tamu.edu; or Michael Berry, AgriLife Extension agent in Comanche County, at 325-356-2539, mwberry@ag.tamu.edu.
For more information on the Proctor Lake watershed, visit https://proctorlake.twri.tamu.edu/ or contact Duncan Kikoyo, Ph.D., research specialist at TWRI, at 979-314-2364, duncan.kikoyo@ag.tamu.edu.
