- The
Dirty Dozen - 12 Tips to Prevent Storm Water Pollution
- Volunteer Time
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The Arroyo Colorado Partnership is as successful as its members
and continually relies on volunteers to help improve and restore
the Arroyo Colorado Watershed. Are you interested in hosting a
neighborhood clean-up or a Texas Waterway clean-up event? Or
perhaps you are involved in a local organization that is looking
for a community volunteer activity such as a storm drain marking
campaign. The Partnership is always interested in your suggestions
and help as we implement the watershed protection plan. E-mail Jaime
Flores with your ideas or interests.
- Water Quality Monitoring
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The Texas Stream Team program is part of the River Systems
Institute at Texas State University - San Marcos and is a joint
partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) and U.S. EPA Region 6. Texas Stream Team is a statewide
volunteer water quality monitoring and watershed education program
that focuses on nonpoint source pollution prevention, and the
program has been active since 1991. Efforts began in the Arroyo
Colorado in the early 1990s and were revitalized earlier this
year.
The volunteer monitoring program not only provides valuable
water quality data for use in planning but also provides an
opportunity for local citizens to participate in the implementation
process. Over 30 individuals have been trained to assess stream
health and monitor E. coli at 14 sites across the watershed.
Additional volunteer training events will be scheduled as needed.
If you are interested in becoming a water quality monitor, then
please contact
Jason Pinchback at Texas Stream Team. For more information on
Texas Stream Team, please
visit their website.
- Training and Outreach Events
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Education and outreach to the public are a key part of restoring
the Arroyo Colorado Watershed. In addition to media outlets such as
the newspaper or TV and our own publications, the Partnership
relies on individual (one-on-one) contact by you and your neighbor
to spread the word about protecting the local watershed. Are you
interested in presenting information on the Arroyo Colorado at your
next meeting or would you like someone to speak on behalf of the
partnership? Can you suggest a venue for a informational talk on
protecting the environment? Please e-mail
Jaime Flores with your ideas or interests.
- The Physical Watershed Model
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A plastic relief model of the Arroyo Colorado watershed and
portions of the South Laguna Madre HUC was built to help educate
people about the watershed and the geography of the Cameron,
Hidalgo and Willacy Counties. The physical watershed model of the
Arroyo Colorado was funded by the Nueces River Authority through
the Clean Rivers Program. It is on permanent loan to the Arroyo
Colorado Watershed Partnership and is available to all Partners.
This 3' x 7' model of the Arroyo Colorado is made of tough durable
plastic with a metal frame and used to educate people about
watershed function and how nonpoint source pollution occurs.
For more information or to check-out the model for use at an
educational event, please contact Jennifer Owen-White at Estero
Llano Grande State Park (154A Lakeview Drive, Weslaco, TX 78596),
jennifer.owen@tpwd.state.tx.us,
(956) 565-3919 x 258.
Resources for Model Check-out
- Membership Dues/Monetary Support
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Although implementation of the Arroyo Colorado watershed
protection plan is currently supported largely by federal funds,
the Partnership is working towards becoming its own entity such as
a non-profit group. As it builds up its membership and status as a
stand-alone entity, the partnership is gauging its financial
support and future. Would your organization, business or entity be
interested in supporting the Partnership on a monetary basis? Or
would you consider paying membership dues as an individual or
organization? We are interested in knowing your opinion on this
issue. Please e-mail
Jaime Flores with your thoughts or if you have other
suggestions for sustainability of the partnership, we would like to
know that too.
- Please stay in touch