Texas Stream Team Texas Stream Team Mission Expand understanding - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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 Pollution � Generate information that supports and enhances decision making � Encourage 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 Colorado � LCRA Colorado River Watch � Pecos River Fish Kills � TWC Task Force � 1990 � Clean 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 USGS � Create an integrated, nationwide monitoring strategy � Integrate VEM in existing and planned monitoring programs � 1997 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 guidance � Develop standardized field methods � Implement a national training program � Document volunteer data in water quality data systems � Encourage volunteer participation on water- monitoring teams

Transition � 1998-1999 � Prioritization of Agency Resources � State Legislature-Imposed Staffing Cap

Background � 1999-Present Collaborative Partnership EPA, TCEQ, Texas State, RSI � Funding: 319 � Program: NPS/Watershed Education, Data Collection Partners: CRP, Municipalities, Schools, NGO’s

The River Systems Institute is Dedicated to: � Interdisciplinary Research, Service, Policy, and Education � The Sustainability of Freshwater Resources � The Natural Systems of Rivers

Aquarena Center- Scientific Diving Program

Glass Bottom Boat Tours

Environmental Education Tours

Texas Stream Team Rebrand � Other Texas Watch organizations � Name is barrier to building trust � Texas Stream Team captures mission and strategy

Program Overview � Volunteer Monitoring � Watershed Education � Special Projects � Facilitation of Public Input

Why Volunteer Monitoring? � More Locations � More Frequently � Where stakeholders are concerned � Teaches “conventional” approach to assessing water resource issues

Three-Phase Training

Data Collection � Core Program � DO � pH � Conductivity � Temperature � Secchi Depth � E. coli

E. coli Method � Coliscan Easygel- Micrology Laboratories � Purpose: � to determine baseline conditions � to 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 Sessions � 771 Certified Monitors � 500 General Science Students � Lab Instructor Certification � 35 NPS/Watershed Education Sessions � 1425 Participants � 17 Presentations at Aquarena Center � 638 Participants

2007 Activity- Aquarena Center � 20 Staff trained in Stream Team Program � 77 Park Tours 3 rd Quarter � 4646 Participants � 63, 781 park visitors- January 1-November 30 � 30,000 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 Sciences � Master Science Teacher Certification � Learning Urban Watersheds � Environmental Literacy Metric � Nominal-terminology � Functional- systems � Operational- response behaviors � Project Aquatic Wild, Amphibian Watch

Facilitating Public Participation

Public Participation Process � Clean Rivers Program � Steering Committee Public Input Process � Coordinated Monitoring Meetings � 305b/303d Public Comment Period � TMDL /WPP Stakeholder Meetings

September 18- December 18, 2008 http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org

The North American Secchi Dip-In June 28 - July 20, 2008 http://dipin.kent.edu/

Geographic Focus � Statewide � TMDL/ WPP/ Special Project Areas Arroyo Colorado, Oso/Petronila Creeks, Orange County, Gilliland Creek, Guadalupe Basin- Plum Creek, Cypress Creek � Laredo and Nuevo Laredo � Texas State University � San Marcos River

Arroyo Colorado WPP � Focus on DO and Bacteria monitoring � 31 Monitors Certified � 5 sites sending data � ~ 12 sites identified � 1 Regional Meeting � September 22, 2007 � 24 participants � Opportunity to showcase details of plan/implementation

Arroyo Colorado Partners � Arroyo Colorado Partnership � Master Naturalists � Texas State Technical College � University of Texas at Brownsville � Idea Preparatory Academy � Los Caminos Del Rio � International Museum of Arts and Sciences

Oso and Petronila Creeks � Focus on Bacteria exposure and solid waste � Bays Roundtable on Bacteria and Solid Waste, November 10, 2007 � 12 Participants � Education Outreach at 2 schools � 300 students � Teacher Extravaganza- Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History � 200 teachers and educators

Oso and Petronila Partners � Coastal Bend Council of Governments � Harte Institute � Texas A&M Corpus Christi � South Texas Colonia Initiative � Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program � Coastal Bend Bays Foundation

Orange County � Focus on Bacteria sampling � 20 individuals certified � Emphasis on teachers � 1 Regional Meeting- West Orange � 12 Participants � In-depth program on TMDL

Orange County Partners � Sabine River Authority � Shangri-La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Orange, Texas � Stark Foundation � Hurricane Rita- 30,000 trees lost � LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified education center � Stream 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’s � Draws in local partners � Hands-on work can begin now � Leadership training through Trainer and QAO Certification � Can connect volunteers and partners to state and national efforts

Stakeholder Involvement- the Next Generation

St. Stephen’s Middle School Cypress 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: em20@txstate.edu � Texas Stream Team Web Site: http://txstreamteam.rivers.txstate.edu/