The Texas Watershed Steward (TWS) program is a statewide one-day educational program designed to improve the quality of Texas’ water resources by educating and informing local stakeholders about their watershed, potential impairments, and steps that can be taken to help improve and protect water quality in their watershed.
The program is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and made possible through a Clean Water Act ยง319(h) nonpoint source grant from the TSSWCB and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The goals of the TWS program include the following:
Promote healthy watersheds by increasing citizen awareness, understanding, and knowledge about the nature and function of watersheds, potential impairments, and watershed protection strategies to minimize nonpoint source pollution
Enhance interactive learning opportunities for watershed education across Texas and establish a larger, more well-informed citizen base
Empower individuals to take leadership roles involving community and watershed-level water resource issues
Facilitate local efforts and activities to implement practices to improve water quality
Increase stakeholder involvement in watershed protection and management efforts including development and implementation of Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) by educating and organizing local citizens.
