The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, Hays County, and the Texas Riparian Association will host a free Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Education Program on Oct. 28 in Wimberley.
The program, which is for area residents interested in land and water stewardship in the Cypress Creek and Blanco River watersheds, will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Attendees must RSVP by Oct. 21. The morning session will take place at the Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12. The afternoon session will include a walk and presentations along Cypress Creek.
“Riparian education workshops motivate informed landowners and local residents to adopt and support practices to better manage riparian and stream ecosystems,” said Alexander Neal, TWRI program specialist, College Station. “Not only are water quality and quantity directly benefitted by the proper management, protection and restoration of these critical areas, but also enhanced are the soundness of stream banks, fish communities and aquatic habitats, just to name a few.”
Focus on Cypress Creek
Water quality improvement efforts by stakeholders in the Cypress Creek and Blanco River watersheds is the focus.
“Stakeholders recognizing successful water quality improvement requires implementing a variety of management strategies,” said Jonas Rosenthal, Hays County watershed coordinator, San Marcos. “The riparian and stream workshop is an educational event supporting this effort.”
Neal said the workshop will outline the nature and function of stream and riparian zones as well as the benefits and economic impacts from properly functioning riparian systems.
“Riparian areas – the green vegetated land areas adjacent to the bank of a stream, creek, bayou, river or lake – are unique and important ecosystems that provide many benefits including habitat and forage,” Neal said. “The goal of the workshop is for participants to better understand riparian and watershed processes, the benefits of healthy riparian areas and what resources are available to prevent degradation while improving water quality.”
About the workshop
Workshop presentations will be given by representatives of TWRI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas Riparian Association.
The workshop is free thanks to program funding provided through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CEUs offered
The workshop will offer the following continuing education units:
- Three for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders — two general and one integrated pest management.
- Foresters and professional loggers can receive six hours from the Texas Forestry Association, six and a half hours from the Society of American Foresters, and eight hours from the International Society of Arboriculture.
- Seven hours from the Texas Floodplain Management Association.
- Seven hours for certified crop advisers.
- Six hours for Texas Nutrient Management Planning specialists.
- The program may also be used for continuing education units for professional engineers and architects.
The riparian education program is managed by TWRI, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research unit that combines expertise across The Texas A&M University System.
For more information, contact Neal or visit texasriparian.org or facebook.com/TexasRiparianAssociation.
