Watershed Texas

Today we have a special guest blog for you by Emily Seldomridge and Jennifer Walker. They are both part of the Texas Living Waters Project.

There’s no better time to reevaluate your outdoor water use than during Smart Irrigation Month. As the month draws to a close, temperatures remain on the rise, but your water use doesn’t need to follow suit. In Texas, outdoor water use, particularly lawn watering, accounts for almost one third of annual residential water use, and can be much higher during hot, dry summers. Instead of following this trend, let’s learn from the drought and continue to limit outdoor watering to no more than twice per week. This commonsense water saving strategy can result in significant water savings.

Continue Reading »

The Texas Coastal Watershed Program (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension/Texas Sea Grant) seeks a part time WaterSmart Program Assistant. The Successful candidate will: Organize volunteer workdays, recruit and supervise volunteers, work with volunteers in the field to install and maintain WaterSmart landscapes. Plan and execute outreach events including informational booths and presentations. Work as part of the project team to create short “how to” videos on landscaping, outdoor water conservation, and water quality topics. Manage the WaterSmart Program social media program to share information and raise awareness of projects and WaterSmart landscaping principles. Assist with workshop planning, preparation and execution.  Perform other job related duties as required. Bachelor’s degree or higher in horticulture, biology, natural resources, landscape architecture, agriculture or related field required or equivalent combination of training and experience. Skills & Abilities: Excellent English language verbal and written communication skills; Excellent communications and public speaking; Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others; Ability to supervise and direct small groups of volunteers; excellent computer skills including utilization of Word, basic web page management and editing, and social media platforms; Knowledge of gardening, irrigation, and native plants; Knowledge of organic landscaping practices, irrigation installation, rain water harvesting and rain gardens. Direct inquiries to: cyork@tamu.edu.

The Texas Coastal Watershed Program will host visitors and volunteers at the wetland plant nursery from 9am to 12pm, as part of the Exploration Green Earth Day. Have some muddy fun for a good cause! Join TCWP staff as we demonstrate how to propagate plants in the wetland plant nursery, then it’s your turn to get new plants potted up. When you are ready to take a break, try our wetland scavenger hunt and see the range of plants and aquatic animals that call the nursery home.

See other activities planned for the event, from a cyclo-cross biking exhibition to geocaching.

The nursery is near 1801 Neptune Lane, Clear Lake City (Houston) 77062. Park along the street near the bridge (from which you can see the nursery) and take the northeast trail.