Riparian, stream ecosystem workshop set for Oct. 23 in Junction

September 27, 2019

Upper Llano River. (Texas Water Resources Institute photo)

The Texas Water Resources Institute, or TWRI, will host a free Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Education Program workshop from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 23 in Junction for area residents interested in land and water stewardship in Kimble County and surrounding counties.

The morning session will be at the Texas Tech University’s Llano River Field Station, 254 Red Raider Lane. The afternoon session will include a walk and presentations along the river.

Clare Entwistle, TWRI research associate, San Antonio, said the workshop is co-hosted locally by the Texas Tech University’s Llano River Field Station and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Kimble County.

Attendees must RSVP by Oct. 14 online at Texas A&M Marketplace or to Entwistle at 210-277-0292 ext. 205 or clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu.

The program will include a lunchtime presentation. A morning coffee and pastry break and catered lunch will be provided to participants for $15.

Tom Arsuffi, director of the Llano River Field Station, said the Llano River is a spring-fed perennial river and major tributary to the Colorado River. He said the Upper Llano supports several unique plant and animal communities.

“Because of the importance of protecting and preserving this natural resource, a watershed protection plan was developed to protect the quantity and quality of the surface and groundwater in the area,” he said.

Entwistle said proper management, protection and restoration of these areas directly influences water quality and quantity, plus stabilizes stream banks and improves fish and aquatic habitats and communities.

“The goal of the workshop is for participants to better understand riparian and watershed processes, the benefits of healthy riparian areas and what resources are available to prevent degradation while improving water quality,” she said.

Entwistle said program funding is provided through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Taryn Titsworth, AgriLife Extension agent for Kimble County, said participants will receive a certificate of completion and appropriate continuing education unit certificates at the conclusion of the training.

The workshop offers many types of continuing education units, including three units — two general and one integrated pest management — for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders.

It also offers one unit from the TWRI, seven credits from Texas Floodplain Management Association, seven hours for certified crop advisors, seven hours from the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying and six hours for Texas Nutrient Management Planning specialists.

The program may also be used for continuing education units for professional engineers.

The riparian education program is managed by TWRI, which is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

For more information, contact Entwistle or visit http://texasriparian.org or go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TexasRiparianAssociation.