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Texas Stream Team
Texas Stream Team Mission
Expand understanding and awareness of water quality and nonpoint source
pollution issues across Texas
Texas Stream Team Strategy
Education, data collection, and
community action
Facilitation of environmental stewardship
Empowering a statewide network of concerned volunteers and partners
Foster a collaborative effort to promote a healthy and safe environment
Primary Focus
Nonpoint Source PollutionGenerate information that supports and enhances decision makingEncourage behavioral change
Overview
Background
Program overview
Relevance to TMDL and WPPs
Volunteer Monitoring Background
1969 Save Our Streams Izaak Walton League- 1922
1980’s Clear, Clean ColoradoLCRA Colorado River WatchPecos River Fish KillsTWC Task Force
1990Clean Lakes Grant- Texas Watch Begins
I
Background
1991-1998 TWC/TNRCC Program
Program: Data Collection,Water Quality Education, Community Action
Intergovernmental Task Force On Monitoring Water Quality
1992-1995 USEPA and USGSCreate an integrated, nationwide monitoring strategyIntegrate VEM in existing and planned monitoring programs1997 National Water Quality Monitoring Council
Volunteer Monitoring Nationwide
Volunteer Monitoring Nationwide
ITFM Volunteer Monitoring Recommendations
Establish links between volunteers and planning agencies
Develop consistent quality assurance guidanceDevelop standardized field methodsImplement a national training programDocument volunteer data in water quality data systemsEncourage volunteer participation on water-monitoring teams
Transition
1998-1999
Prioritization of Agency Resources
State Legislature-Imposed Staffing Cap
Background
1999-Present Collaborative PartnershipEPA, TCEQ, Texas State, RSI
Funding: 319Program: NPS/Watershed Education,
Data CollectionPartners: CRP, Municipalities, Schools,
NGO’s
The River Systems Institute is
Dedicated to:Interdisciplinary Research, Service, Policy, and EducationThe Sustainability of Freshwater ResourcesThe Natural Systems of Rivers
Aquarena Center- Scientific Diving Program
Texas Stream Team Rebrand
Other Texas Watch organizationsName is barrier to building trustTexas Stream Team captures mission and strategy
Program Overview
Volunteer Monitoring
Watershed Education
Special Projects
Facilitation of Public Input
Why Volunteer Monitoring?
More LocationsMore FrequentlyWhere stakeholders are concernedTeaches “conventional” approach to assessing water resource issues
Three-Phase Training
Data Collection
Core ProgramDOpHConductivityTemperatureSecchi DepthE. coli
E. coli Method
Coliscan Easygel- Micrology LaboratoriesPurpose:
to determine baseline conditionsto identify potential sources of contamination
Repeated high counts reported to local and state authorities
Quality Assurance
TCEQ and EPA approved Quality Assurance Project Plan
Data submitted to Texas Stream Team database
Data Use
Education Local decision-making Research Screening Problem identification
Website and Data Viewer
Watershed Education Workshops
2007 Activity- Stream Team
36 Volunteer Monitor Training Sessions771 Certified Monitors500 General Science Students
Lab Instructor Certification
35 NPS/Watershed Education Sessions1425 Participants
17 Presentations at Aquarena Center638 Participants
2007 Activity- Aquarena Center
20 Staff trained in Stream Team Program77 Park Tours 3rd Quarter
4646 Participants63, 781 park visitors- January 1-November 3030,000 students
Regional and Statewide Meetings
Companion Programs
Texas Stream Team Monitoring Curriculum
Conducting a Watershed Survey and Curriculum
Data Interpretation Guide and Curriculum
Teacher Training
Teaching Environmental SciencesMaster Science Teacher CertificationLearning Urban Watersheds
Environmental Literacy MetricNominal-terminologyFunctional- systemsOperational- response behaviors
Project Aquatic Wild, Amphibian Watch
Facilitating Public Participation
Public Participation Process
Clean Rivers ProgramSteering Committee Public Input ProcessCoordinated Monitoring Meetings
305b/303d Public Comment PeriodTMDL /WPP Stakeholder Meetings
http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
September 18- December 18, 2008
The North American Secchi Dip-In
June 28 - July 20, 2008
http://dipin.kent.edu/
Geographic Focus
StatewideTMDL/ WPP/ Special Project AreasArroyo Colorado, Oso/Petronila Creeks, Orange County, Gilliland Creek, Guadalupe Basin- Plum Creek, Cypress CreekLaredo and Nuevo LaredoTexas State University
San Marcos River
Arroyo Colorado WPP
Focus on DO and Bacteria monitoring31 Monitors Certified5 sites sending data
~ 12 sites identified 1 Regional Meeting
September 22, 2007 24 participantsOpportunity to showcase details of plan/implementation
Arroyo Colorado Partners
Arroyo Colorado PartnershipMaster NaturalistsTexas State Technical CollegeUniversity of Texas at BrownsvilleIdea Preparatory AcademyLos Caminos Del RioInternational Museum of Arts and Sciences
Oso and Petronila Creeks
Focus on Bacteria exposure and solid wasteBays Roundtable on Bacteria and Solid Waste, November 10, 2007
12 ParticipantsEducation Outreach at 2 schools
300 studentsTeacher Extravaganza- Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
200 teachers and educators
Oso and Petronila Partners
Coastal Bend Council of GovernmentsHarte InstituteTexas A&M Corpus ChristiSouth Texas Colonia Initiative Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries ProgramCoastal Bend Bays Foundation
Orange County
Focus on Bacteria sampling 20 individuals certified
Emphasis on teachers1 Regional Meeting- West Orange
12 ParticipantsIn-depth program on TMDL
Orange County Partners
Sabine River AuthorityShangri-La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Orange, Texas
Stark FoundationHurricane Rita- 30,000 trees lostLEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified education centerStream Team Certified in August 2008
Relevance to TMDL and WPP Programs
Forum for teaching science, NPS, watershed concepts, TMDLs and WPPs On-going effort- schools, NGO’sDraws in local partnersHands-on work can begin nowLeadership training through Trainer and QAO CertificationCan connect volunteers and partners to state and national efforts
Stakeholder Involvement- the Next Generation
St. Stephen’s Middle SchoolCypress Creek
Mark Your Calendar
July 19 Volunteer and Partner Recognition Event
Spring 2009 Statewide Meeting
Texas Stream Team
Texas Stream Team Phone Contact:1-877-506-1401
Texas Stream Team Email:[email protected]
Texas Stream Team Web Site:http://txstreamteam.rivers.txstate.edu/
