Watershed coordinator roundtable set for April 8 in Houston
Event to focus on strategic conservation partnerships, coordinated funding benefiting water quality
Texas A&M AgriLife’s Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, will host the Spring 2026 Watershed Coordinator Roundtable on April 8 in Houston.
Conservation leaders, watershed professionals and community partners can attend to explore how collaborative conservation efforts can strengthen water quality protection across the state.
The roundtable will be held at the Tracy Gee Community Center, 3599 Westcenter Drive. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is free, but registration is required at tx.ag/April8Roundtable. An optional catered lunch is available for $20 and can be paid for online when registering or with cash at the door.
Collaborations help protect Texas waterways
“Partnerships are the backbone of successful watershed work,” said Lucas Gregory, Ph.D., TWRI associate director. “When we bring various groups together, we unlock solutions no single organization could achieve alone.”
Texas continues to advance watershed-based planning to address the complex challenges of nonpoint source pollution. More than 50 watershed protection plans have currently been accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or are under development, representing more than 16 million acres statewide.
As these efforts expand, so does the need for well‑integrated partnerships that bring together many groups capable of supporting long‑term water quality improvements, Gregory said.
The roundtable will spotlight successful models of conservation collaboration. Representatives from Texan by Nature’s Texas Water Action Collaborative and the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Partnership for Forests and Water will share real‑world examples of strategic partnerships and coordinated funding directly benefiting water quality and quantity.
“Texas has a host of committed partners,” Gregory said. “Our challenge — and our opportunity — is connecting those partners in ways that accelerate meaningful, on-the-ground improvements.”
Watershed coordinators to share lessons learned
TWRI watershed coordinators will also discuss how trust-building, shared goals and community engagement have shaped their local partnerships. The event will conclude with a panel discussion and interactive breakout sessions designed to equip participants with practical tools for identifying collaborators, strengthening relationships and expanding implementation funding in their own watersheds.
This roundtable continues TWRI’s commitment to supporting watershed coordinators and fostering the partnerships essential to protecting Texas water resources.
For more information, contact Tina Hendon, TWRI program aide, at [email protected] or 979-314-2472.
The Texas Watershed Planning Program is managed by TWRI and is funded through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. TWRI is a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that brings together expertise from across The Texas A&M University System.
