Project Goals/Objectives: This project will provide agricultural producers in the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks watershed with an opportunity to participate in water quality educational activities and receive technical and financial assistance for the development of Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs) and implementation of best management practices (BMPs).This project provides funding to support implementation of recommended agricultural management measures identified for action in the WPP during the first 3 years of the 10- year implementation schedule. To achieve this goal, the Comal-Guadalupe SWCD #306 willhire one District Technician who will provide technical assistance to agricultural producers in developing and implementing WQMPs and Prescribed Grazing Plans in the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed. WQMPs are developed according to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. Once the WQMP is developed, it will be sent to the Wharton Regional office for technical review and certification. Upon certification of the WQMP, the District Technician will work with the landowners to implement the BMPs prescribed in the WQMP.
Project Background:In 2007, the TSSWCB Regional Watershed Coordination Steering Committee, using established criteria, ranked Geronimo Creek in the top 3 watersheds for WPP development. The TSSWCB project 08-06 entitled Development of a Watershed Protection Plan for Geronimo Creek started in June 2008. The project included water quality data monitoring, water quality modeling and WPP development. The WPP development was a stakeholder driven process led by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Department of Soil and Crop Sciences with vital support from the GBRA. The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership Steering Committee includes local officials, land and business owners and citizens and is supported by state and federal agency partners. With technical assistance from project staff, the Steering Committee identified issues that are of particular importance to the surrounding communities, contributed information on land use and activities that was helpful in identifying potential sources of bacteria and nutrients, and guided development of the WPP. TSSWCB Project 11-06 entitled Water Quality Monitoring in the Geronimo Creek Watershed and Facilitation of the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership provided funding to continue stakeholder meetings in order to complete development of the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks WPP which was approved and signed by the Steering Committee in August of 2012 and accepted by EPA in September of 2012.
Project Location: Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed in Guadalupe and Comal Counties.
Project Participants: TSSWCB and Comal-Guadalupe SWCD #306
Project Costs: Federal ($155,973); Non-Federal ($0); Total ($155,973)
Project Workplan: 13-05, Final report