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
