all things trinity, all things conservation - richland-chambers
DESCRIPTION
Introductory presentation for explaining the concept and goals of the Cooperative Conservation in the Trinity River Basin project. Challenges that face the Trinity basin are addressed and Trinity Waters is promoted as the voice for conservation in the basin.TRANSCRIPT
All Things Trinity, All Things Conservation
Trinity Key Points
– Connects D/FW to Houston
– Supplies water to ~40% of Texas population
– 8 million people in the basin
– 512 miles long
– 1,983 miles of tributaries
– 18,000 square miles (7% of Texas)
Texas’ Projected Growth
The Challenges
• Rapidly increasing population
• Poor water quality
• Habitat loss
• Declining wildlife populations
• Reduced recreational opportunities
Water Quality
• 2010 Water Quality
Inventory and CWA 303(d) List
– 37 segments “impaired”
– 67 segments of concern
– 4 segments delisted
from 303(d)
– 7 segments added
– 27 of 37 impaired segments
due to bacteria
Trinity River Basin Restoration Initiative
• Governor’s 2006 Announcement
• Improve water quality by habitat restoration
• Build capacity of Trinity Waters
• Foster natural resources conservation culture
Middle Trinity Basin
Purpose • Landowners at the
forefront
– Neighbor working with neighbor
– Proactive stance can prevent future, unnecessary regulation
– Magnify conservation dollars
– Develop resource management leadership
Mission
Improve the quality of life, economic sustainability and ecological integrity of areas associated with the
Trinity River Basin through a coalition of local communities, NGOs and stewards of private and
public lands.
Goals • Establish cooperative conservation partnerships
among landowners, NGOs, and agencies
• Foster a cooperative natural resources culture
Goals
• Restore and conserve
wildlife habitat
– Increase wildlife populations
– Greater recreational opportunities
• Improve water resources
– Allow for land-water interactions
– Reduce pollutants
Tasks • Enhanced communication and data accessibility
• Deliver information to the public and work with land managers to restore habitat
Delivering Information to Landowners and the Public
• Website
– Landowner Library with over 400 natural resource publications and links
– Highlights projects, news, and events within the Trinity River Basin
Delivering Information to Landowners and the Public
• Educational Programs
– Watershed Management
– Water Quality
– Habitat Restoration
– Livestock & Wildlife Management
– Feral Hog Control
Delivering Information to Landowners and the Public
• Youth Education
– T.W.A.’s Learning Across New Dimensions in Science (L.A.N.D.S.)
– Wide assortment of teachers and natural resource partners
– Outdoor classrooms to teach students the value of natural resource conservation
Delivering Information to Landowners and the Public
• Educational Materials
– Publications
– Internet, e-mail, personal communication
– Landowner Groups and other Conservation Organizations
Delivering Information to Landowners and the Public
• Social Media
Facebook Twitter
Scoop.it! Wild Wonderings Blog
Photos
WFSC Extension
Trinity River Information Management System (TRIMS)
• Accessible
• Interactive
• Watershed scale (local to regional)
• Soils, vegetation, elevation, stream data
• Restoration potential
trims.tamu.edu
Conservation Example
• 50% cost share with USFWS
• 200 acres of wetlands and bottomland hardwoods
• 400 acres of cropland seeded to native prairie
Johnston Family Properties
A Strategic Approach to Bobwhite Recovery
in the Western Trinity River Basin
Jay Whiteside Technical Guidance Biologist
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Conservation Example
Conservation Example
• Empowering people to enhance water resources on their land
• Education and financial incentives
• Riparian buffers
Water As A CropTM
Photo courtesy of Sand County Foundation
Conservation Example
• Joint project with NRCS and local SWCDs announced May 2012
• $5.4 million in financial assistance for 60 contracts
• Conservation practices that benefit water quality and soil health
Chambers Creek Water Quality Initiative
What Can I Do?
• Set conservation goals for your land
• Contact TPWD Biologists, County Extension Agents, NRCS for guidance
• Get involved with your neighbors (WMAs), Trinity Waters and other conservation groups (T.W.A.)
Restoration of the Trinity Basin is a Common Link Between Urban and Rural Texans
Partners • NGO’s
– Texas Wildlife Association
– Sand County Foundation
– Ducks Unlimited
– Houston Wilderness
• State Agencies
– Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
– TPWD
– Texas A&M IRNR
– TWRI
– TSSWCB
– TRA
• Federal Agencies
– NRCS
– U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Funding by
Contacts Ken Klaveness
Executive Director, Trinity Waters
[email protected] or 214-454-4000
Blake Alldredge
AgriLife Extension Associate
[email protected] or 979-845-0916