The riparian education program, managed by Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), will be co-hosting free riparian and stream ecosystem trainings in September 2021 with the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI), the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Riparian Association (TRA).
Event details
- Leon River training: September 7, 2021, at the M.J. Hanna Ranch, 500 Hanna Ranch Road in Gatesville, TX. RSVP is required by September 1, 2021.
- Angelina River training: September 22, 2021, at the Rose Garden Center at 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler, TX. RSVP is required by September 15, 2021.
RSVP online through the marketplace or by email to clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu.
Dress is casual and comfortable for outdoor weather at the stream during the afternoon. A catered lunch is available for $15, or participants may select to bring their own lunch. Attendees can pay for lunch by credit card using the online link or by cash at the door.
These trainings are free because they are funded through a Clean Water Act grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
About the trainings
These one-day trainings include both indoor classroom presentations and outdoor stream walks. Instructors are experts from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas A&M Forest Service, NRI, TRA and TWRI.
The trainings will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones and the benefits and direct impacts from healthy riparian zones. The riparian education programs will cover an introduction to riparian principles, watershed processes, basic hydrology, erosion/deposition principles and riparian vegetation, as well as potential causes of degradation and possible resulting impairment(s) and available local resources, including technical assistance and tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation.
The goal is for participants to better understand riparian and watershed processes, the benefits that healthy riparian areas provide and the tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation and improve water quality. At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion and appropriate professional development hours/continuing education hours.
More Information
For more information, visit the training event pages (linked above) or contact Clare Escamilla at 210-277-0292 x205 or clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu.
Trainings for the fall will be available soon for RSVP and will include locations in Lampasas, Cat Spring and New Braunfels.
For information on future programs, join the listserv or follow TWRI and TRA on Facebook.
