Project Goals/Objectives: The goal of this project is to develop a training program to equip local stakeholders with watershed-based planning knowledge and educate them on common WPP management measures to better serve as WPP implementation project advocates. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service currently delivers a suite of water related education programs that are key components of implementing management measures within WPPs. These programs include: 1) Texas Watershed Stewards, 2) Texas Well Owner Network, 3) Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters, 4) Texas Riparian Education, and 5) Lone Star Healthy Streams. Combining materials from all these programs makes for an in-depth, comprehensive education curriculum that can be used to educate volunteers on watershed management and implementation. Ultimately, the successful development of the TWRI Volunteer Training program will result in volunteers trained in the major principles of watershed protection planning and implementation and serve as additional resources for Watershed Coordinators. Additionally, this program may result in interest for future WPP development in areas with impaired waterbodies that are not currently covered by WPPs and create the initial WPP workgroups in those watersheds.
Project Location: Statewide
Project Partners: TSSWCB, TAMU Department of Soil & Crop Science, TAMU Department of Bio & Ag Engineering, TAMU NRI, and TAMU Department of HORT science.
Total Costs: $250,870 (Federal); $116,345 (Non-Federal); $367,215 (Total)
Project Workplan: 21-06