The Texas Water Resources Institute, TWRI, will host a stakeholder meeting for the Medina River below Medina Diversion Lake Watershed Protection Plan March 4 in Castroville.
The free, public meeting will be 1-3:30 p.m. at the Braden Keller Community Center, 1410 Amelia St.
This meeting will focus on strategies for managing urban stormwater runoff and engaging the development community in protecting the watershed.
The Medina River watershed is experiencing rapid population growth, changing historical land uses in the region and increasing the potential for pollution from stormwater runoff, said TWRI Program Specialist Tina Hendon. Projections indicate a significant increase in bacteria loading from urban sources if proactive measures are not taken.
Collaborating towards urban stormwater runoff solutions
"Increases in urban development require a proactive approach to stormwater management," she said. "This meeting will bring together key stakeholders to discuss solutions for protecting water quality in the Medina River watershed."
San Antonio River Authority staff will present existing programs and tools for urban stormwater management. Landscape Ecologist Lee Marlowe and Senior Engineer Mikel Wilkins will highlight their work on low-impact development, green infrastructure, demonstration projects, developer training and outreach initiatives.
A panel discussion will follow, offering perspectives of local officials and the development community on the challenges of balancing economic development with environmental stewardship in managing urban stormwater.
The public meeting will provide:
· Education on existing programs and tools for urban stormwater management.
· Dialogue on engaging the development community to incorporate water quality practices into developments and to become involved in the Medina River Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) implementation.
· Resources to facilitate the adoption of practices and programs that support urban stormwater management and improve water quality.
"Addressing stormwater runoff is crucial for the Medina River WPP," said Hendon. "Collaboration is key to mitigating impacts and supporting a healthy watershed."
The institute is coordinating this project with the San Antonio River Authority, to collaborate with local stakeholders to develop a plan to address water quality issues. Funding for this effort is provided through a federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
TWRI is a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that brings together expertise from across The Texas A&M University System.
For more information, contact Hendon at Tina.Hendon@ag.tamu.edu or 979-314-2472. Read more about the watershed at medina.twri.tamu.edu.
