Monitoring Group Spotlight: Presidio River Rangers - Big Bend Conservation Alliance
Monitoring Group Spotlight: Presidio River Rangers
Educators across the state partner with Texas Stream Team to provide their students with hands-on, locally-focused education opportunities that translates science into conservation action. By teaching students how to measure what is happening in the environment around them, Texas Stream Team helps teachers effectively present the abstract concepts of biology, chemistry, and ecology. With a broader understanding of water quality issues, students are better prepared to understand and help address environmental issues in their communities.
The Big Bend Conservation Alliance’s (BBCA) Presidio River Ranger program is an excellent example of how Texas Stream Team can be used as a teaching tool to inspire and empower the next generation of conservation leaders. We spoke with BBCA’s Presidio Community Connector, Elvira Hermosillo, to hear how the Texas Stream Team partnership is helping them engage students in the environment and protect water quality throughout the Big Bend region.
When did BBCA become a Texas Stream Team partner? And, how many members are currently involved?
The Big Bend Conservation Alliance (BBCA) became a partner earlier this year as part of our efforts to reboot the Presidio River Ranger program. The Presidio River Rangers was originally created by a beloved high school teacher, Patt Sims, to engage students in the environment, outdoor activities, and help preserve natural resources for future generations.
In the latest generation of the program, BBCA is collaborating with the Lucy Rede Franco Middle School principal Rogelio Zubia, science teacher Danica Romanban, former science teacher Belinda Dolino and there are four Presidio River Rangers - Victor Carrasco, Clinette Gaizon, Santiago Ramirez, and Aidan Sanamiego.
Why was it important for BBCA to establish a partnership with Texas Stream Team to begin water quality monitoring in the Big Bend region of Texas?
Shared data is of critical importance to the field — we were excited for this partnership not only because it provides a framework that is easily adoptable, but the data goes to a publicly accessible repository for the benefit of everyone.
What is the most surprising finding your group has made?
It’s been interesting to see that the data remains pretty consistent at every testing. We have only been monitoring for three months and it reassures us we’re performing the tests correctly. We are curious to find out how the river changes with the seasons, especially as temperatures reach extreme highs here in the desert.
From your perspective, how has BBCA’s involvement with Texas Stream Team impacted the community?
We are monitoring an international river, one of the most prominent in the state. It’s a source of life for numerous communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Our livelihood is directly connected to the health of the river and our group is helping other monitoring agencies keep an eye on it.
What advice do you have for those who are interested in joining Texas Stream Team??
Start by selecting a spot you would like to monitor and find out how to get access to it. Sometimes it’s on private land and you need permission from the owner or it’s managed by government agencies. Give yourself enough time to figure out if the area is accessible or whether you need to consider other options.
What advice do you have for those who are interested in creating a Texas Stream Team monitoring group?
The advantage of working with schools is that you get a constant stream of members. The group gets repopulated every year and existing members instruct new ones. It helps create sustainability and prolongs the life of the program.
What do you wish other people knew about BBCA’s partnership with Texas Stream Team?
We are the only active monitoring group in Far West Texas. We’re honored to bring this program back to Presidio ISD and carry-on Mrs. Sims’ legacy with new generations of students. Our goal is to inspire environmental stewardship at both the middle and high school levels.
To learn more about BBCA's Presidio River Ranger program, visit https://www.bigbendconservationalliance.org/projects/presidio-river-rangers.