Texas Waters Specialist

The Texas Waters Specialist program aims to develop a corps of well-informed volunteer specialists who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of aquatic resources and aquatic habitats within their communities for the state of Texas. The TPWD Conservaion Education Manager is Melissa Felty, ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov

The Hill Country Chapter Texas Waters Coordinator is Deb Youngblood, texaswaters@hillcountrytmn.org

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Water Specialist information page is located athttps://tpwd.texas.gov/education/water-education/texaswatersprogram/texaswatersspecialist

Current Activity

AT25-024 Texas Waters Specialist, Curriculum Study Group

Dates and times for the next Study Group will be found here.

Take a look at what is on the Advanced Training Calendar. The following ATs qualify for Texas Waters Certification:

AT25-039
04/09/2025, 6:30-7:30 PM CT
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-039 Webinar Texas Freshwater Mussels, Presenter: Matt Johnson (AT=1h)
Register

AT25-170
4/16/2025, 6:30p-8:00p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-170 Webinar We all Live in a Watershed, Presenter: Celina Gauthier Lowrey (AT=1.5h)
Cost: No charge
Register

AT25-169
4/17/2025,·6:00 – 7:30p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-169, Nature-Based Solutions for Hill Country Water Challenges, Kerrville, Presenter: Marisa Bruno (AT=1.5h)
Reservations

AT25-150
April 18·10:00am–12:00p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-150 Creek Critters, San Antonio (Medina River Natural Area), Presenter: Rubi Jaimes (AT=2h)

AT25-039
05/14/2025, 6:30-7:30p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-039 Webinar Dark Waters, Strange Creatures: Amazing Life in Texas Groundwater, Presenter: Dr. Benjamin Hutchins (AT=1h)
Register

AT25-039
06/17/2025, 6:30-7:30p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-039 Webinar Texas WET (Water Education Training) Course: New (Online) Advanced Training Course for Master Volunteers, Presenter: Kelly (Hibbeler) Albus (AT=1h)
Register

AT25-039
07/TBD/2025, 6:30-7:30p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-039 Webinar Impacts of Urban Water Supplies and Water Demand, Presenter: Betsy Marsh (AT=1h)
Register: Coming Soon

AT25-039
08/TBD/2025, 6:30-7:30p
Texas Waters Specialists use: AT: TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT25-039 Webinar One Water: Future of Water in Texas, Presenter: Robert Mace (AT=1h)
Register: Coming Soon

Anytime
https://aquiferalliance.org/water-wonks-series/
Watch any videos from this series and enter in VMS for TWS AT credit
AT-VMS: AT TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT24-077 Webinar GEAA Water Wonks Lecture Series: Add title as posted, add presenter (AT=1h)

Anytime
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/water-education/texaswatersprogram/texaswatersspecialist
Watch any videos from this series and enter in VMS for TWS AT credit
AT-VMS: AT TX Waters Certification Training (Enter AT#, Class Title as posted, Location, and Presenter)
AT24-077 Webinar Texas Waters Webinars: Add title as posted, add presenter (AT=1h)

Anytime
San Antonio – Standard Core Water Quality Community Scientist Training. This training is provided by the Texas Stream Team. Use the link below to see the calendar and sign up for a class to become a river water quality monitor.
https://teamup.com/ksos37y3n9acgt5pk5
Be sure to read up on the training before you go: https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu/leadership/texasstreamteam.html

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Need Texas Waters Specialist Service Hours? Check out these opportunities:

As always, any work you do to create healthy habitats counts for Texas Waters Specialist Service. That means that work in pollinator gardens located in riparian areas count. Improvements to aquatic habitats also qualify. Just remember that when you enter your service in VMS you will need to scroll down and check the block for Texas Waters Specialist.

Roadside Cleanup
When trash gets thrown on any road, anywhere, the trash will eventually end up in the river. We want our rivers to be clear of trash. So, be who you are and pick up trash. You can do it for an hour or two or more. You can do it as often as the roadside needs. Use the cross county code for Roadside Cleanup: CC-06-A Roadside and Riparian Cleanup **Note the location of the cleanup in report

River Cleanup
UGRA heads up a River Cleanup in July on the Guadalupe River. Start looking for details in the May-June timeframe.

Home Projects
If you are planning to install a rainwater harvesting system on your property or your neighbor’s property, the time you spend planning, shopping and executing counts towards Texas Waters Specialist Service. While it does not qualify for TMN Service, it does for TWS and you enter it the hours in the same way: go to to VMS, enter the date and time and describe your service. Use this code to report your service:

CC-01-B-FR TWS Home Project: describe your project

And remember, if you are creating a rainwater catchment system in Kerr County, you can go to UGRA to request reimbursement for up to $500. You will have to fill out a form and present your receipts.

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