The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI)’s Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Education Program is hosting two free workshops in March for area residents interested in land and water stewardship.
The riparian program will have one workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 3 in Lampasas for area residents in the Lampasas River watershed. The workshop’s morning session will be at the Texas Farm Bureau, 1793 N. U.S. Highway 281. The afternoon session will include a walk and presentations along the river.
The workshop is co-presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Research at Blackland Research Center, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Lampasas County and the Lampasas Watershed Partnership. The partnership consists of area residents and other stakeholders from across the watershed.
A second workshop is set for March 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Edna for area residents in the Lavaca River Basin watershed.The morning session will be at the Jackson County Extension Office, 411 N Wells St. The afternoon session will include a walk and presentations along the river.
The workshop is co-hosted by TWRI, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority and AgriLife Extension office in Jackson County.
“We are able to offer these two workshops without cost thanks to program funding provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Nikki Dictson, TWRI Extension program specialist and coordinator in College Station.
Dictson said the workshops will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones, as well as the benefits and economic impacts from proper functioning riparian systems. A riparian zone is the land area adjacent to the bank of a stream, creek, bayou or river.
Dictson said workshop topics include riparian and watershed management principles, water quality, riparian vegetation, hindrances to healthy riparian areas, stream processes, management practices and discussion of local resources.
“The goal of the workshops 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,” Dictson said.
Attendees must RSVP by March 26 for the March 29 workshop in Edna.
Participants will receive a certificate of completion and appropriate continuing education unit certificates at the conclusion of the training. The riparian education program is managed by TWRI. For more information, contact Dictson or visit texasriparian.org or the program’s Facebook page.
