Land Stewardship & Water Resource Protection in Big Elm Creek Watershed set for September 17 in Temple

Milam County, TX - Residents can bring soil samples for testing, learn best practices, earn continuing education units and enjoy lunch all included in participation.
The Lone Star Healthy Streams program and invited speakers will offer a FREE land stewardship and water resource protection education for residents in the Big Elm Creek Watershed on September 17th in Temple. The Big Elm Creek watershed covers 305 square miles in Central Texas across Bell, Milam, Falls, and McLennan counties. Any residents with rural lands interested in land and water resource management are encouraged to attend.

Event information

The event will offer free soil testing, technical and financial assistance along with educational training on land and water stewardship.
The free event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Blackland Research and Extension Center, 720 East Blackland Road, Temple. Lunch will be included.

“The Lone Star Healthy Streams education component aims to increase awareness of surface water pollution in rural watersheds,” said Leanne Jackson, AgriLife Extension program specialist and LSHS coordinator, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station. “It promotes land and water stewardship and encourages implementation of proven best management practices.”

In addition, this event will include guest speakers on principles of land stewardship, soil health, and participants will have opportunity to build out an operation specific management plan.
Please RSVP to the Bell County AgriLife office for Megan Cline at 254-933-5305 or
meagan.cline@ag.tamu.edu

On the agenda
The September education meeting will offer one General Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units.
The topics to be covered include:

• Watersheds, water quality and grazing livestock best management practices — Jackson
• Big Elm Creek Watershed Protection Plan update — Matt Stellbauer, Texas Water Resources Institute watershed coordinator, Bryan-College Station.
• Principles of Land Stewardship and Building a Management Plan – Chase Brooks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program specialist, Bryan-College Station.
  
• Water & Soil Quality & Conservation — Brian Kock, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board,Wharton.

Soil Sampling Instructions

The LSHS program will also cover the cost of two soil samples per attendee. Soil sample testing should be from pasture, hay or rangeland areas. Soil sampling instructions are found on the soil submittal form at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory website or ask any AgriLife Extension county agent for guidance. Soil samples should be brought to the education meeting at Blackland Research and Extension Center, 720 East Blackland Road, Temple. Samples will be transported to the lab courtesy of LSHS.

For more information, contact Megan Cline at meagan.cline@ag.tamu.edu or 254-933-5305, or Jackson at leanne.jackson@ag.tamu.edu or 979-321-5950, or Matt Stellbaurer at Matt.Stellbauer@ag.tamu.edu or 979-314-8115, or Josh Evans at joshua.evans@ag.tamu.edu or 254-697-7045

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides equal opportunities in its programs and employment to all persons, regardless
of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.