The Mill Creek Watershed Partnership and the Texas Water Resources Institute are co-hosting a free Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Training workshop on April 22, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Industry City Hall, located at 725 Main Street, Industry, TX 78944. The training will focus on the nature and function of streams and riparian zones, as well as the benefits and direct impacts that healthy riparian zones provide.
A riparian zone refers to the area directly bordering a creek or stream. These areas can often be identified from aerial photography as green strips of trees running through pastures, indicating the presence of a creek. The workshop will provide an in-depth introduction to riparian principles, watershed processes, basic hydrology, erosion and deposition principles, riparian vegetation identification and management, and available local resources to prevent or resolve degradation.
The training will include both indoor classroom presentations and an outdoor stream walk. Expert instructors from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will lead the sessions. The goal of the workshop is to help participants better understand riparian and watershed processes, the benefits of healthy riparian areas, and the tools that can be used to prevent or resolve degradation while improving water quality. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the training.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for nine different professional licenses and certifications:
- Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators License – 3 CEUs
- Texas Nutrient Management Planning Specialists – 6 hours
- International Society of Arboriculture – 8.25 CEUs (Certified Arborist: 2.75, Municipal Specialist: 2.75, BCMA – Science: 0.75, BCMA – Practice: 2)
- Texas Forestry Association – 6 hours
- Society of American Foresters – 6 hours
- Certified Crop Advisor – 7 CEUs (Nutrient Management: 1, Soil & Water: 1.5, IPM: 1.5, Crop Management: 2.5, Manure Management: 0.5)
- Texas Board of Architectural Examiners – Acceptable for HSW credit
- Texas Floodplain Management Association – 7 CECs
- The program may also be used for CEUs for Professional Engineers.
Participants should check with their local Master Naturalist and Master Gardener chapters to confirm if the course is approved for their area. The training is also approved for the Texas Waters Specialist certification program.
Registration is required by April 15, 2025. A catered lunch will be available for $15, which can be paid in advance by credit card or in cash on-site. Participants may also choose to bring their own lunch. Attendees are advised to dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather, as the afternoon session will involve walking along a nearby stream. For more information or questions, contact Alexander Neal at [email protected] or 979-314-2351.
This free workshop is funded through a Clean Water Act grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To stay informed about future programs, participants can join the listserv or follow the Texas Riparian Association on Facebook.
Registration information can be found HERE. The day’s agenda can be found HERE. If you would like to view the flyer you can view that HERE.
