Watershed Protection Plan - Lower Rio Grande Valley Development ...

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
• Conducting water quality and nonpoint source
pollution conferences and workshops
• Developing partnerships with local governments
with jurisdiction over Urbanized Areas, as defi ned
in Phase II TPDES storm water regulations for
small MS4s, for cooperation and assistance in
E&O activities included in individual SWMPs.
• Conduct periodic telephone research (as was
conducted to assist in the formulation of this
Plan) to assess the penetration and reach of the
awareness campaign.
• Conduct periodic interviews with stakeholders
and ACW Partnership members to assess their
satisfaction with the campaign, their sense
of how it is penetrating in their demographic
sector and to ask for suggestions for changes or
improvements.
• Integrate audience and stakeholder suggestions
to improve message production and delivery
and add new data to the ongoing programs to
continuously shape the messages and tactics to
match the audience’s level of awareness.
Strategy 7 – Establish Volunteer Monitoring
Programs on the Arroyo Colorado and
Associated Drainages
Volunteer monitoring is a proven strategy for
increasing public awareness of water quality issues.
The Texas Watch Program is the leading volunteer
monitoring program in Texas. In coordination with
the ACW Partnership, Texas Watch will increase
awareness, understanding and involvement in
watershed and nonpoint source pollution prevention,
control, and management practices through
engagement and participation of volunteers, teachers,
students, partners, government agencies, businesses,
planning agencies and the general public. To
accomplish this, the Texas Watch will plan, coordinate
and implement public participation activities including:
• Supporting and promoting volunteer
environmental monitoring activities
Texas Watch will emphasize data collection efforts
by volunteers to help identify baseline environmental
conditions, identify potential nonpoint source pollution
problems, and contribute to local decision making and
watershed planning activities at the watershed. Texas
Watch will also provide assistance to schools, groups,
organizations, agencies, and individuals interested
in developing watershed education programs which
include nonpoint source pollution and watershed
protection education and water quality monitoring
programs. An explanation of the TCEQ’s Clean Rivers
and TMDL Programs and the value of stakeholder
participation (including data collection) will also be
included as part of all Texas Watch presentations and
coordination efforts.
Objectives:
Texas Watch will work with existing and new
Partners and volunteers to support watershed/NPS
education through water quality monitoring on 10 sites.
Emphasis will be placed on the importance of
ongoing data collection efforts and the value of
volunteer stakeholder participation.
Based on available resources, Texas Watch may
also provide ongoing support to active volunteer
monitors in an effort to decrease attrition and increase
volunteer data submittal. This will include monitoring
group development activities such as identifying funding
sources for equipment, coordinating with trainers
and trainers-in-training, and pro-actively supporting
volunteer monitors. Texas Watch will provide priority
support to individuals and partners who support the
Texas Watch Project Objectives, including submission
of data.
Texas Watch will maintain certifi cation through
the Texas Education Agency’s Texas Environmental
Education Advisory Committee (TEEAC), the State
Board of Education (SBEC) or Continuing Professional
Education (CPE), which will provide teachers the
option of receiving certifi cation credit of nine hours for
completion of Texas Watch certifi cation training.
January 2007 101 Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan