DALLAS — The Texas Water Resources Institute, or TWRI, will host an Urban Best Management Practices for Watershed Planning Training May 30 in Dallas for watershed coordinators and water professionals.
The training will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas, 17360 Coit Road.
Coordinators said the training is part of TWRI’s Texas Watershed Planning Program, designed for individuals interested in or responsible for watershed protection and restoration. This includes employees and volunteers with federal, state, county and local agencies; soil and water conservation districts; universities; consulting firms; non-governmental organizations; and watershed groups.
The training costs $50 and includes all materials, lunch and a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Registration is required by May 24. Register online at http://bit.ly/2WAvtL9 or by email to nathan.glavy@ag.tamu.edu. Also contact Glavy for more information on the training.
Nathan Glavy, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist at TWRI, College Station, said urban best management practices are measures that help reduce the volume and pollutants carried by surface stormwater runoff into rivers and lakes.
“This course will cover typical urban management measures used in watershed planning,” he said.
Dr. Fouad Jaber, AgriLife Extension program specialist at the Dallas center, will discuss green infrastructure for stormwater and low-impact development, or LID.
“LID refers to practices such as bio-retention, green roofs, rainwater harvesting and permeable pavement that manage stormwater in an urbanized setting in a way that minimizes environmental impact while increasing cost-effectiveness and sustainability, he said.
Staff from the city of Dallas will cover how they use ordinances to prevent and control pollution as well as encourage implementation.
David Batts, director of system solutions at EcoServices, will discuss effective ways to promote LID to get land developer buy-in, including its benefits and providing examples of multifunctional design and maintenance requirements.
Training will also include a tour of LID and green infrastructure at the Dallas AgriLife Center.
Glavy suggested participants dress casually and comfortably as they will be walking in the field in the afternoon for the LID tour.
The Texas Watershed Planning Program is managed by TWRI and is funded through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Contacts: Nathan Glavy, 979-458-5915, nathan.glavy@ag.tamu.edu.
Dr. Fouad Jaber, 972-952-9672, Fouad.Jaber@ag.tamu.edu