The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) recently awarded a Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) award to Audrey McCrary, Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) program specialist, for education efforts in the Matagorda Basin region.
The “Special Recognition for Excellence in Community Outreach” award recognized the impact of an ongoing direct-mail postcard campaign that McCrary leads, which aims to improve local engagement in best practices related to livestock management and septic system maintenance that will help protect local water quality.
“The direct mailing method allows TWRI and other conservation partners to reach watershed residents that may not be able to attend, have exposure to, or be interested in traditional watershed stakeholder meetings or educational events,” she said.
“We are thankful to H-GAC for their recognition of the merits of this unconventional approach and the encouragement it provides for the future of this program,” McCrary added. “The recognition from this award is extended to many TWRI colleagues who have provided input and guidance on this program, and the watershed coordinators and conservation partners who have worked with us to turn this experimental method into a full-fledged educational program.”
The Direct Mailing Outreach and Education Program is currently active in 14 watersheds throughout Texas.
Visit matagordabasin.tamu.edu to learn about TWRI’s work in the region, where TWRI is working with communities within Matagorda Bay Basin watersheds to address water quality concerns.
