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, [email protected]
The Hill Country Chapter Texas Waters Coordinator is Deb Youngblood, [email protected]
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Water Specialist information page is located athttps://tpwd.texas.gov/education/water-education/texaswatersprogram/texaswatersspecialist
Current Activity
Take a look at what is on the Advanced Training Calendar. The following ATs qualify for Texas Waters Certification:
7/13/2024: AT24-255 Standard Core, Stream Team Training-Observation and Protocol, San Marcos, Presenter: San Marcos River Rangers – get names (AT=4h)
7/17/2024: AT24-023 Texas Waters Webinars, Stewardship for birds in Aquatic & Riparian Habitats, Presenters: W. Rufus Stephens, Jan Wrede (AT=1h)
07/24/2024: AT24-077 Webinar GEAA Water Wonks Lecture Series: Integrating Stormwater Ecosystem Services Into Local Governance, Presenter: Danielle Craig (AT=1h)
The Water Wonks who present these lectures are no slouches. They really know their stuff! Join in to learn.
Looking farther ahead:
The 2025 Urban Riparian Symposium has been set for Feb. 19 – 21 in Waco. Early bird pricing and Call For Abstracts to be announced at a later date.
The biannual conference is co-hosted by the Texas Riparian Association and the Texas Water Resources Institute, showcasing presentations covering a wide variety of relevant topics, networking opportunities and field trips to highlight restoration and management practices within riparian areas. Stay tuned here for updates: https://buff.ly/3VGsgtk
![2025 Urban Riparian Symposium
2/19-25/2025](https://txmn.org/hillcountry/files/2024/07/2025_URS_save-the-date-1024x731.png)
Need Texas Waters Specialist Service Hours? Check out these opportunities:
UGRA has a Summer Water Collection program. It is easy to do and fun. You are also likely to get to do some outreach while collecting because folks always want to know what you are doing. Fun and educational! You can’t beat that. Read about it here. (You can also register at this link, too.
Are you a sun worshipper? UGRA has a great deal for you! On July 27 they’re going to meet up at Flatrock Park for the annual Guadalupe River Cleanup. The HC Chapter will likely have a table at the Eco-Fair but the folks who like to do the cleanup have already done it but that doesn’t mean you can’t go and pick up trash on July 27th. Have some fun, get a free t-shirt and do go things for the River. Register here.
As always, any work you do to create healthy habitats counts for Texas Waters Specialist Service. That means that pollinator garden work counts. 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.
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 doing this in Kerr County, you can go to UGRA to request reimbursement for up to $500. You will have to fill out a form and hang on to your receipts.
Deb Youngblood