Since 2000, landowners in the Trinity River Basin have been working together to promote conservation activities and joining with neighbors in this effort. The Governor’s 2006 announcement supporting the Trinity River Restoration Initiative brought attention to these efforts and led to support from numerous agencies and organizations. The Texas Wildlife Association became an official partner in 2007 and joined with Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation in the mission, planning activities, and operations of the two organizations. In June of 2011, the Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation was renamed Trinity Waters and Ken Klaveness was hired on as the new Executive Director in July of 2011.
Ongoing projects that are gaining ground as far as the number of those involved include the Western Navarro Bobwhite Restoration Initiative led by a TPWD biologist and the Sand County Foundation's Water As A Crop riparian management project, both located in Navarro County.
Since Blake Alldredge was hired as the Extension Associate charged with education and outreach in the Trinity River Basin on June 1, he and the Cooperative Conservation project team have had several accomplishments worth noting:
1. Developed a 1-pager to highlight the purpose of the Cooperative Conservation project and the role of Trinity Waters in the basin.
2. Worked with folks at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources to develop the new Trinity Waters website which was launched July 18. We have had great success in pushing out this website, but more work needs to be done. Tell everyone you know!! There are resources in here for landowners who manage livestock and wildlife, those interested in water resources, educators, economics, habitat management, feral hog control, and more!
3. We have started planning educational programs for landowners explaining the purpose and plan of the Cooperative Conservation project as well as the role of Trinity Waters in the basin.
4. Blake began writing a publication with a Masters student in the Texas A&M wildlife department on native grassland restoration in the Trinity River Basin. This publication will explain how native grasslands are vital habitat to wildlife species such as quail and other grassland birds, and how it enhances water quality more than bermudagrass.
6. News release on Sand County Foundation’s Water As A Crop project.
7. News release on the Trinity Waters website launch. This news release was sent to various agencies and organizations to place on their website in order to promote the website.
8. Trinity Waters Facebook and Twitter accounts are updated daily with new content to maximize social media impact. Visit our pages to "like" us or "follow" us!
There is alot more work to be done in the Trinity River Basin, but this provides a soild foundation to build upon as we increase involvement among neighbors to work together for conservation.