TR-510 Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Education Program Final Report 2018
Authors: Nikki Dictson, Auburn University, Texas Riparian Association; Clare Entwistle, Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas Riparian Association; Nathan Glavy, Destiny Russell, Texas Water Resources Institute; Hughes Simpson, Texas A&M Forest Service
The State of Texas has more than 191,000 miles of rivers and streams that comprise corridors of great economic, social, cultural, and environmental value. Riparian degradation is a major threat to water quality, in-stream habitat, terrestrial wildlife, aquatic species, and overall stream health. The Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Education Program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB). The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) coordinated and partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, TSSWCB, EPA, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS), TTU Llano River Field Station (TTU-LRFS), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Texas State University-River Systems Institute to conduct the Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem training project. The project supports the Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program’s goal of protecting and restoring water quality. It provides training to land owners, land managers, water and natural resource professionals, and the general public in impaired watersheds through the help of local partners. Only a portion of the attendees responded if they owned or managed land for a total of over 97,846 acres impacted by this project, which does not include the improvements made by professional staff, who in their jobs are impacting even more land management across Texas.