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The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership was formed in 2010 to restore and protect water quality in the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed due to elevated levels of bacteria and nitrate-nitrogen.
The Partnership completed a Watershed Protection Plan in 2012 and is now working toward full implementation. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform and engage local stakeholders in helping to improve and protect the quality of water in Geronimo and Alligator Creeks. For more information about the project visit our website: www.geronimocreek.org
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Homeowner Septic System Workshops November 10 in Seguin
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board will present a general 2-hour “Homeowner Maintenance of Septic Systems Course” from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 10th.
The class is free and will be held at the Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension office at 210 E. Live Oak Street in Seguin.
“The 2-hour program will provide a basic understanding of the operational and maintenance activities of conventional and aerobic septic systems,” said Ward Ling, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station.
Ling said topics covered will include treatment processes, health and safety considerations, how to inspect and maintain the system, and instruction on how activities in the home can impact the system.
“The course provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, including when to pump out a tank, and what should not go down the drain,” he said.
Seating is limited, so registration is required to reserve a seat. To register for either class, contact Ling at 979-845-6980 or wling@tamu.edu. For more information, go to http://www.geronimocreek.org/
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Surfacing effluent is a symptom of a malfunctioning septic system.
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Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership offering free area soil testing
The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership is offering free soil testing to area farmers, ranchers and homeowners, said Ward Ling, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program specialist, College Station.
“A soil test will give you the necessary information on what levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients are in your soil,” said Ling, the agency’s watershed coordinator for Geronimo and Alligator Creeks.
He said having a soil test will help area landowners determine how much, if any, fertilizer is needed, as well as what kind should be used.
“Fertilizer is expensive, costing around a dollar a pound or more, and it comes in varying types and concentrations,” Ling said. “To help make sense of all of this, you first need to test your soil to see what the nutrient content is before deciding if more is needed -- and how much.”
Ling said samples must be submitted in a soil sample bag that can be obtained at AgriLife Extension offices in Comal and Guadalupe counties.
The AgriLife Extension office for Comal County is located at 325 Resource Drive, New Braunfels. The phone number is 830-620-3440.
The AgriLife Extension office for Guadalupe County is located at 210 E. Live Oak St. in Seguin. The phone number is 830-303-3889.
Sample bags must be returned to these locations starting Oct. 15, with a deadline of Nov. 17. Lab results will be made available for pickup on Dec. 8 at the Guadalupe County Extension office. A short presentation Dec. 8 at the Guadalupe office will provide participants with information on how to interpret the lab results.
“If you are unable to attend the presentation on Dec. 8, you can contact me or the county office to obtain your results,” Ling said.
He said a short YouTube video on how to properly collect a soil sample can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT7-ERu6zYY, plus directions may be found on the back of the soil sample bag.
“It is important that people having their soil tested pay attention and follow proper directions for obtaining a soil sample,” Ling said.
Geronimo Creek and its Alligator Creek tributary, which flow through Comal and Guadalupe counties, were identified for watershed protection plan development due to concerns about high levels of nitrogen and elevated levels of bacteria, he said.
“A watershed protection plan was developed and accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2012,” Ling said. “Free soil testing is made available to area residents as a result of implementing this plan.”
For more information, contact Ling at 979-845-6980 or wling@ag.tamu.edu.
To view a copy of the plan and for more information on the partnership, go to: http://geronimocreek.org.
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Proper soil nutrition is essential to having a successful garden. My son's garden greatly benefitted from soil testing and proper fertilizer application.
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Rainwater Harvesting System is Completed!
The Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center (ILSOLC) now has a fully functioning rainwater harvesting system! The system gathers rainfall from 1,000 square feet of roof surface on the pavilion, and channels it through a gutter and piping system to be stored in a 5,000 gallon tank. From there it is pumped through an underground pipeline to the garden area.
The tank is full right now, due to some wonderful rains that fell awhile back. For each 1 inch of rainfall on the 1,000 square foot catchment area, a little over 600 gallons are collected in the tank.
Funding for the system was provided by a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, working in cooperation with the ILSOLC. Funding from the grant will also provide for construction of other Low Impact Development structures on the Learning Center property such as a rain garden, pervious pavement, and vegetated swales.
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The new rainwater harvesting system at the ILSOLC.
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Texas Watershed Stewards Workshop will be Tuesday, January 26th
The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Partnership will host a Texas Watershed Stewards Workshop on Tuesday, January 26th at the Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension office, 210 E. Live Oak, in Seguin. This free workshop will be from 8 am until noon, and is for anyone interested in learning more about how to conserve and protect water quality, and about what is being done locally to protect area creeks. In addition, an overview of ongoing Partnership activities will be presented to attendees.
To RSVP or learn more about the program, go to http://tws.tamu.edu/, or contact Ward Ling at wling@tamu.edu or 979-845-6980.
Come out and learn how you can be a part of protecting your local creeks!
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A Clean Water Act grant was provided to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Protection Plan.
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