Lone Star Healthy Streams Program

A Lone Star Healthy Streams Program (Agricultural Water Conservation) is planned for June 3 at the Mansfield Park Rec Center, 2886 Hwy 16 N in Bandera. This event is part of the Water Workshops that Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District are partnering on.  Additional program sponsors include Bandera Electric Cooperative Inc., the Rancher’s and Landowners Association of Texas and Hill Country Alliance.

The Lone Star Healthy Streams program aims to educate Texas livestock producers and landowners on how to best protect Texas waterways from bacterial contamination associated with livestock production and feral hogs, said Matt Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist in College Station.

The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and end by 3 p.m. A catered lunch will be provided and 3 hours of CEU credit (2 general, 1 IPM) will offered to those with a pesticide applicators license. A highlight of this program will include a Riparian Health Field Visit with Sky Lewey, Public Education Associate with the Nueces River Authority.  Cost of the program is $15. To RSVP for the workshop, call 830-796-3839 or contact the Bandera County Extension Office at 830-796-7755.

Water quality management agencies across the state and local stakeholders are helping combat bacteria pollution through management strategies and watershed plans that help restore water quality, Brown said. Currently, about 300 Texas water bodies do not comply with state water quality standards established for E. coli bacteria. By participating in this workshop, livestock producers and landowners can learn specific conservation practices that can help improve and protect the quality of Texas water bodies, he said.

“Workshop presentations will focus on basic watershed function, water quality and specific best management practices that can be implemented to help minimize bacterial contamination originating from beef cattle and feral hogs,” said Sam Womble, AgriLife Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Bandera County.

The Lone Star Healthy Streams program is funded through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the EPA.

 

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