Focus on watershed health and best management practices for small acreage properties, feral hogs and a feature on rainwater harvesting.
A Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop will be held on June 24th at the Wimberly Community Center – Johnson Hall (14068 Ranch Rd 12 Wimberley).
The free event is open to the public and will run from 8:00 a.m. to Noon with a light refreshments for all attendees.
Workshop content will focus on watershed health, water quality, and conservation strategies. Professionals will discuss best management practices for grazing livestock and feral hogs in watersheds throughout Hays County. There will be an in depth look at rainwater harvesting both through discussion and on site display.
The workshop is offered as an educational component of the Blanco-Cypress Watershed Protection Plan in collaboration with Hays County Parks and Natural Resources, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB).
Program focus
The workshop will discuss watershed function, water quality, rainwater harvest, and best-management practices to reduce bacterial contamination. Area focus will be on conservation strategies for small acreage properties, management of grazing livestock and feral hogs.
“The goal of the Lone Star Healthy Streams program is to protect Texas waterways from bacterial contamination originating from livestock, wildlife, and invasive species that may pose a serious health risk to Texans,” said Leanne Wiley, AgriLife Extension program specialist and Lone Star Healthy Streams coordinator, Bryan-College Station. “The aim is to increase awareness of non-point source pollution, provide education materials to Texas producers and landowners, and encourage implementation.”
Protecting the Watershed
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Hays County Parks and Natural Resources, and TSSWCB advocate for best management practices that will have a positive impact on the watersheds throughout Hays County. In addition to the sessions on livestock and feral hog management, Jonas Rosenthal, the Watershed Coordinator, will share an update on the Blanco-Cypress Watershed Protection Plan and status of other watersheds in the county. It will include a brief background on the project, as well as current water quality monitoring data.
Funding for this effort is provided through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) nonpoint source grant administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on the workshop, contact Wiley at 979-321-5950 or leanne.wiley@ag.tamu.edu; or Jonas Rosenthal, Watershed Coordinator, at 512 557 5911 or jonas.rosenthal@hayscountytx.gov or Aaron McCoy, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Hays County, at 512-393-2120 or aaron.mccoy@ag.tamu.edu
The Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District, in conjunction with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, is excited to announce a new Feral Hog Trap Loan Program available to Caldwell County landowners.
To participate in the program, landowners must:
- Be the landowner
- Be located in Caldwell County
- Complete an interest form to join the waitlist for available traps
- Submit a refundable deposit to ensure responsible trap use
- Provide their own bait
- Agree to follow provided guidelines for safe, humane, and effective trapping techniques
Traps are available on a first-come, first-served basis. During the 3-month loan, landowners are provided with a Pig Brig Trap system, all necessary hardware, and game camera. Loan participants will also receive educational materials for safe, humane, and effective trapping.
Join us for a Kick-Off Event on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Luling Foundation (523 S. Mulberry Street, Luling, Texas, 78648). The event will feature a live trap set-up, demonstration, and more.
Landowners can find the interest form and more program information at https://plumcreekwatershed.org/water-quality/feral-hog-program/. For more information, contact Ashley Colburn of Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District at (512)398-4176 x3 or ashley.massie@tx.nacdnet.net.
Funding for this effort is provided by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District.
[Caldwell County, Texas] – The Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District, in conjunction with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, is excited to announce a new Feral Hog Trap Loan Program available to Caldwell County landowners.
Feral hogs are an invasive species that cause extensive damage to crops, pastures, and fences. They also contribute to soil erosion, and increased levels of bacteria in local waterways like Plum Creek. This trap loan program is designed to give landowners the tools and support they need in managing destructive feral hog populations.
“GBRA is proud to be part of this effort to help decrease feral hog populations in Caldwell County and improve water quality in the Plum Creek Watershed,” announces Nathan Pence, GBRA’s Executive Manager of Environmental Science.
To participate in the program, landowners must:
- Be the landowner
- Be located in Caldwell County
- Complete an interest form to join the waitlist for available traps
- Submit a refundable deposit to ensure responsible trap use
- Provide their own bait
- Agree to follow provided guidelines for safe, humane, and effective trapping techniques
Traps are available on a first-come, first-served basis. During the 3-month loan, landowners are provided with a Pig Brig Trap system, all necessary hardware, and game camera. Loan participants will also receive educational materials for safe, humane, and effective trapping.
Join us for a Kick-Off Event on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Luling Foundation (523 S. Mulberry Street, Luling, Texas, 78648). The event will feature a live trap set-up, demonstration, and more.
Landowners can find the interest form and more program information at https://plumcreekwatershed.org/water-quality/feral-hog-program/. For more information, contact Ashley Colburn of Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District at (512)398-4176 x3 or ashley.massie@tx.nacdnet.net.
Funding for this effort is provided by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District.
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This educational program provides well owners the opportunity to have their well water samples tested for common contaminants including fecal coliform, E. coli bacteria, nitrates, and high salinity. An explanation and management practices will be discussed on April 8th.
Meet Sierra Murray, our new Watershed Coordinator! Sierra joined the Plum Creek Watershed Partnership in January to support our mission of restoring and protecting water quality in Plum Creek. With a degree in Agricultural Science & Leadership from Angelo State University, Sierra brings valuable experience from her previous roles and a deep passion for environmental stewardship; she is excited to channel that passion into her work at Plum Creek! Feel free to contact Sierra with any watershed questions or just to say hi!
smurray@GBRA.org | (830) 557-7358