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Watershed Planning and Implementation

Monitoring and Data Analysis in Texas State Parks and other Target Areas

A part of the Geography and Water (GAW) Project

Project Description

Introduction

Location

Purpose & Outcomes

Partners & Sources

Resources

 

 

 

Citizen monitoring and data analysis activities target impaired watersheds with on-going Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) planning and implementation programs. Statewide citizen monitoring, data analysis, and information sharing through outreach forums are coordinated by Texas Stream Team. This project’s monitoring and education programs emphasize bacteria sampling and education and targets Estero Llano Grande, Mustang Island, Sea Rim, and Guadalupe River State parks. Adjacent locations near target areas are also included with this project’s sampling activities when monitoring interests and watercourse interconnectedness are demonstrated. The Texas Stream Team program, through its association with the Meadows Center and Texas State University engage established Texas Stream Team and university partner networks, new monitors trained through this project, previously trained volunteers, and the Initiative for Watershed Excellence (see Task 2) to support and enhance this project’s activities. These activities will not overlap with Texas Stream Team efforts funded under its TCEQ 319 grant.

 

Principal Investigator: Andrew Sansom, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Co-Principal Investigators: 

Jason Pinchback, Program Manager, Texas Stream Team

Dr. Julie Tuason, Education Coordinator, Texas Stream Team

Heidi Moltz and Josh Oyer, Texas Stream Team Volunteer Coordinators

Duration: 9/1/2006- 9/1/2010

Location

Sea Rim State Park, Guadalupe River State Park, Estero Llano Grande State Park, and Mustang Island, as well as the Meadows Center at Texas State University, Texas Stream Team at Aquarena Center, and facilities at or near monitoring locations.

Purpose of Project

Efforts of this project aim to develop a more thorough understanding of water quality conditions and to share this information with interested stakeholders. Monitoring groups will be identified and trained to collect water quality information under Texas Stream Team’s quality assurance protection plan. This project supports and enhances Texas Stream Team data collection and outreach in areas identified as high priority by Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Outcomes

Task 1.1: Monitoring Programs

  • Conduct or coordinate a minimum of six monitoring workshops or equivalent volunteer support visits
  • Measure of success results
  • Summary of monitoring training activities

Task 1.2: Communication with Stakeholders

  • Produce copies of all data summary materials
  • Eight outreach presentations, four at State Parks
  • Produce and summarize exit surveys

Project Partners & Collaborators

Texas Stream Team, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, member institutions of the Texas State University System, the Meadows Center, Lamar University in Beaumont, Lamar State College in Orange, Coastal Bend Partners of Corpus Christi (Texas A&M Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, the Coastal Bend Council of Governments, and the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation), and the University of Texas in Brownsville.

Funding Sources

Funding for direct costs associated with this project is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, National Resources Conservation Service, Texas Water Development Board, and the National Science Foundation.

Resources

  • Geography and Water Quarterly Reports 1-10, May 2007-June 2010