Texas Waters Specialist
Through this program, we want to develop a corps of
well-informed volunteer specialists who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of aquatic resources and aquatic habitats within their communities for the state of Texas. Questions? Please direct them to Melissa Felty, Conservation Education Manager, ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov
Certification Requirements
Accumulate a combination of at least 8 hours of Advanced Training (AT) utilizing the Texas Waters curriculum in the following:
- Attend Texas Waters live webinars (registration links and recorded webinars below)
- General public: recorded webinars can be viewed individually for AT
- Master Naturalist: a small discussion group must be formed to view recorded webinars for AT
- Read Texas Waters: Exploring Water and Watersheds (TW) curriculum
- General public: Read chapters and complete Chapter quizzes (below)
- Master Naturalist: Form a study group to read chapters. Use the "Questions to Consider" or Chapter quizzes (below) to guide your study and discussion
- Attend Texas Waters Day event, watershed-based sessions, and/or field trips at the Texas Master Naturalist Annual meeting
- Other approved aquatic or watershed learning activities or trainings (Limit- up to 4 hours)
Approved advanced training topics and agencies examples can be found here.
Texas Waters Specialist and Webinar Flyer 2022
Annual Renewal Requirements
Participate in at least 10 hours of volunteer services in water, aquatic habitats, and watersheds.
Projects should be pre-approved. Approved volunteer service opportunity topics and agencies examples can be found here.
Getting Started and Reporting Hours
There is no formal application process. Whether you are a Texas Master Naturalist or obtaining certification as General Public, follow the steps below. There currently is no time limit to obtain Advanced Training for initial certification.
General Public
Follow this Texas Waters Specialist - Volunteer Registration and Reporting Guide PDF
Texas Master Naturalists
Hours required to obtain certification and for community service are not on top of existing chapter requirements; instead, can be counted toward your annual chapter requirements
Advanced Training
- Request from Chapter VMS coordinator the "AT:TX Waters Certification Training" opportunity
- Enter eligible AT using "AT:TX Waters Certification Training" and describe with some detail the AT
Volunteer Service
- Can be obtained concurrent to obtaining TWS certification
- For example: after receiving training from an approved training source (TPWD, CoCoRaHS, AgriLife, Texas Stream Team, etc.), a volunteer can use those skills in volunteer service while obtaining their 8 AT hours.
- Enter service hours as per Chapter policy.
- Click on the shown box ONLY for volunteer service hours that are aquatic/watershed related.
- If you do not see this box and have entered TWS AT hours, contact ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov
Curriculum Chapter Quizzes
A score of 100% is required; the quizzes can be taken more than once. Results are saved, therefore, no need to send an email of completion.
Up to 1 hour per TW chapter is eligible for AT. Master Naturalist: per policy, quizzes may not be approved for Chapter AT but will count toward TWS certification using "AT:TX Waters Certification Training" opportunity.
Texas Water curriculum, Download PDF or request a hard copy by sending your name and full address to ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov
- Chapter One: Texas Aquatic Habitats and the Species They Support
- Chapter Two: The Characteristics, Components and Value of Healthy Watershed Ecosystems
- Chapter Three: The Watershed’s Role as a Natural System
- Chapter Four: Ecosystem Services
- Chapter Five: The Ecological Significance of Natural Flow Regimes
- Chapter Six: The Role and Function of Wetlands and Estuarine Systems
- Chapter Seven: Natural Instruments of Watershed Change
- Chapter Eight: Human Caused Instruments of Watershed Change
- Chapter Nine: Texas Water Law and Planning
2022 Texas Waters Webinars
- Tuesday, January 18 - Recorded webinar; Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (map of karst locations), City of Austin Watershed Protection (Karst lessons, virtual tours of caves), Jacob's Well Exploration Project, USGS Karst aquifers (conceptual model with saline layer)
Karst: The Role of Water in Shaping the Texas Hill Country with Tom Jones, Hays County Master Naturalist and retired Geologist and Hydrogeologist
- Tuesday, February 15 - Recorded webinar, Scott and Scooter's PowerPoint, Friends of Lake Livingston, Texan by Nature FoLL Conservation Wrangler, American water-willow (Justicia americana) USDA factsheet, Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) USDA factsheet, Lake Livingston Conservation video, Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoir Collaboration video
Lake Livingston’s Restoration Project: 8 Years, 13+ Partners with Scott Ball, Heartwood Master Naturalist, & Scooter Langley, Lee College TDCJ Ellis Unit Horticulture Program
TWDB's Water Conservation Programs and Resources with Shae Luther, Water Education Specialist & Kyla Peterson, Natural Resources Specialist/Team Lead - Ag Conservation & Josh Sendejar, Water Conservation Specialist at Texas Water Development Board
- Wednesday, April 20 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded webinar, Houston Wilderness webpage, Houston Wilderness Ecosystem Services (ES) Primer PDF, ES of Regional Native Trees PDF, Davey National Tree Benefit Calculator
Ecosystem Services in the Greater Houston Region: Case study analysis and recommendations for policy initiatives with Deborah January-Bevers, President at Houston Wilderness
- Tuesday, May 10 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded webinar, Brian's PowerPoint, Texas Watershed Stewardship program, Texas Stream Team, Texas Clean Rivers Program, Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA)
Managing Agricultural Nonpoint Source Water Pollution in Texas with Brian Koch, Regional Watershed Coordinator at Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board
- Wednesday, June 15 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded Webinar, Allison's PowerPoint (coming soon), TPWD's Artificial Reef Program, Gulf of Mexico Alliance, NOAA Coral Reef Watch, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) in Texas
Artificial Reef Program: Diving into Science with Allison Baldwin, Artificial Reef Technician at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Tuesday, July 12 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded Webinar, Donna's PowerPoint, Texas A&M Forest Service Water Resources (includes publications, app links, trainings, and much more), TFS BMPs, TFS BMP Monitoring, TFS Best Management Practices Guide, EPA How's My Water
Forestry Best Management Practices and Their Effectiveness with Donna Work, Biologist IV at Texas A&M Forest Service
- Thursday, August 11 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded webinar, TRWD Watershed Protection Plans, TRWD Rainscapes StoryMaps, USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Programs, Water Is Awesome (native plants & water conservation tips), TPWD GIS maps (ecosystem analysis, seagrass, artificial reefs, watershed viewer, etc.)
They Live Here, Too: Wildlife Habitat Restoration as Water Supply Protection with Katie Myers & Michelle Wood-Ramirez, Watershed Coordinators at Tarrant Regional Water District
- Thursday, September 22 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Recorded webinar, Teri's PowerPoint, The Woodlands Township Water Conservation, Installing Storm Drain Markers video, Motives and Organization's Roles of Citizen Science in Texas article, Citizen Scientists' Motivations article, Texas Living Waters Project publications, TCEQ NPS program, Galveston Bay report card, UN Freshwater Strategic Priorities
How One Community is Tackling Their Water Quality Issues with Teri MacArthur, Environmental Education Specialist at The Woodlands Township-Environmental Services Department
Past Webinars
- February 27, 2017 “The characteristics, components and value of healthy Watershed Ecosystems", with Megan Bean, TPWD, View Recorded Webinar, Megan's PowerPoint
- April 18, 2017 "The Ecological Significance of Natural Flow Regimes", with Kevin Mayes, TPWD. View Recorded Webinar, Kevin's PowerPoint
- June 22, 2017 "Instruments of Watershed Change", with Nikki Dictson, Extension Program Specialist with the Texas Water Resources Institute. View Recorded Webinar, Nikki's PowerPoint
- August 22, 2017 "Texas Water Law and Planning", with Cindy Loeffler, Chief, Water Resources Branch, TPWD. View Recorded Webinar, Cindy's Presentation
- December 19, 2017 "Aquatic Invasive Species" with Monica McGarrity, TPWD, View Recorded Webinar, Monica's PowerPoint
- February 15, 2018 "Urban Stream/Bayou Management/Challenges" with Mateo Scoggins, City of Austin Watershed Protection, View Recorded Webinar, Mateo's PowerPoint
- February 27, 2018 "Groundwater/Surface Water and Freshwater Inflow" with Andy Sansom, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Recorded Webinar, Andy's PowerPoint
- April 10, 2018 "Guadalupe Bass/Small Mouth Bass Introduction/Removal" (Chapter 1) with Gordon Linam, TPWD, Recorded Webinar, Gordon's Presentation
- May 29, 2018 "Groundwater and Surface Water Rights" (Chapter 9) with Robert Mace, PhD,
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Associate Director, and Chief Water Policy Officer, Recorded Webinar, Robert's PowerPoint - June 26, 2018 "Texas Water Entities" (Chapter 9) with Cindy Loeffler, TPWD, Recorded Webinar, Cindy's PowerPoint
- August 7, 2018 "Coastal Ecology and Issues" (Chapters 1, 2, 6, 7, 8) with Holly Grand, TPWD, Recorded Webinar, Holly's PowerPoint
- August 28, 2018 "Our Changing Climate and the Impact on Texas' Fish, Wildlife, and Habitats (Texas Waters Chapter 8)" with Katharine Hayhoe, PhD, Texas Tech University Climate Scientist, Recorded Webinar (re-recorded by Dr. Hayhoe), resources provided by Katharine: NOAA's Climate at a Glance; Fourth US National Climate Assessment; Third US National Climate Assessment; Skeptical Science; PBS Digital Series, Global Weirding; Katharine's website
- January 16, 2019 - "ABCs of Apple Snails and eDNA" with Romi Burks, Biology Professor, Southwestern University Romi's PowerPoint
- February 26, 2019 - "Recovering America's Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647)" with Kelly Simon, Urban Wildlife Biologist, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Kelly's PowerPoint
- March 19, 2019 - "Senate Bill 2: Instream Flow Study on the San Antonio River" with Gordon Linam, Stream Ecologist, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Gordon's PowerPoint
- April 23, 2019 - "The Reilly Elementary School Stormwater Retrofit: Water as a Resource and Education Tool" with Staryn Wagner, Environmental Scientist, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department & Amy Grossman, Landscape Architect Associate, Austin Parks and Recreation Department Recorded Webinar, Staryn and Amy's PowerPoint, Passive Rainwater Harvesting System Information
- May 21, 2019 – "Biological Monitoring Using Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators of Water Quality in a Stream Ecosystem" with Archis Grubh, Aquatic Biologist, TPWD Recorded Webinar (audio only), Archis's PowerPoint, Archis's Management Project Video Clip
- Aquatic Science Education Apps
- June 18, 2019 - "Freshwater Mussels: Assessing the Status and Distribution of Unionids within the Tributaries of East Austin" with Liz Johnston, Environmental Program Coordinator, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department Recorded Webinar, Liz's PowerPoint
- July 16, 2019 - "The Importance of Playas in Texas High Plaines" with Don Kahl, Migratory Game Bird Specialist, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Don's PowerPoint
- August 20, 2019 - "Devils River: A multi-disciplinary approach to saving one of the last great wild rivers in Texas" with Sarah Robertson, Aquatic Biologist, River Studies Program, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Sarah's PowerPoint
- January 14, 2020 - "One Water: Managing Water Resources to Sustain Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems" with Cindy Loeffler, P.E., Water Resources Branch Chief, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Cindy's PowerPoint
- February 12, 2020 - "New Tools for Environmental Flow Information" with Kevin Mayes, Natural Resources Specialist, TPWD; Instream Flow Council-Resources (Scroll down to Texas) link to Environmental Tools, Recorded Webinar, Kevin's PowerPoint
- March 18, 2020 - "CoCoRaHs" with Bill Runyon CoCoRaHs-Texas State Coordinator, Retired, National Weather Service CoCoRaHS newsletter (Scroll down to Texas) The Crowd and the Cloud video (Click on CoCoRaHS to the left) Recorded Webinar, Bill's PowerPoint.
- April 7, 2020 - "Groundwater Conservation Districts" with Natalie Ballew, Manager, Texas Water Development Board TWDB webpage, Recorded Webinar, Natalie's PowerPoint
- May 19, 2020 - "Estuaries to Edwards: Aquatic Species Research with the Texas Comptroller's Natural Resources Program" with Chelsea Jones, Senior Research Analyst, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts CPA Natural Resources Program webpage Recorded Webinar Chelsea's PowerPoint
- June 17, 2020 - "Urban Water Cycle and City of Waco Water Drop Tour" with
Nora Schell, Lake Waco Wetlands Coordinator, City of Waco-Water Utilities & Melissa L. Mullins, Environmental Education Specialist, Baylor University-Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research Recorded Webinar, Nora Schell's PowerPoint
- July 14, 2020 - "Salt Bayou Watershed Restoration: Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project" with Mike Rezsutek, Project Leader, TPWD Recorded Webinar, Mike's PowerPoint, Salt Bayou Watershed Restoration Plan
- August 13, 2020 - "River Restoration Guidelines" with Ryan McGillicuddy, Conservation Biologist, TPWD & Michelle Bertelsen, Ecologist and Land Steward, Ecosystem Design Group & John Hart Asher, MLA, Senior Environmental Designer, Ecosystem Design Group, Hill Country Restoration Design Guidelines, Recorded Webinar
- January 21, 2021 - From Micro to Macro: Shark and Fish Larvae Impacted by Microplastics, with Elise Pullen, Scientific Illustrator and TPWD VISTA & Jenna M Karr, Graduate Researcher at Center of Marine Debris Research at Hawaii Pacific University Recorded Webinar, Jenna & Elise slides, Food-grade salt research
- *Rescheduled: March 4, 2021 - Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) & Nurdle Patrol, with John O'Connell, Coordinator of MRRP at Texas Sea Grant. Recorded Webinar, John's PowerPoint, MRRP link, Nurdle Patrol, NOAA Marine Debris - Caitlin Wessel email, Recycled line to rings
- March 9, 2021 - Harmful Algae Blooms, with Brent Bellinger, Senior Environmental Scientist at City of Austin Watershed Protection. Recorded Webinar, Brent's PowerPoint, City of Austin Watershed Protection Dept, US EPA-Nutrient Pollution
- April 13, 2021 - Upper Trinity Watershed Protection Program, with Blake Alldredge, at Upper Trinity Regional Water District. Recorded Webinar, Blake's PowerPoint, UTWRD webpage, Water Calculator
- May 19, 2021 - Native American Cultural Connection to Water, with Bryant Celestine, Historic Preservation Officer at Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Recorded Webinar, Bryant's PowerPoint, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Native Giant cane Arundinaria gigantea (Rivercane/switchcane), Non-native Giant reed Arundo donax
- June 15, 2021 - Regenerative Land Management for Healthy Watersheds, with Philip Boyd, Director of Science and Communications, and Casey Wade, Vice President of Ranching Operations, at Dixon Water Foundation. Recorded Webinar, Casey's PowerPoint, Philip's PowerPoint, Dixon Water Foundation, Holistic Management International
- July 14 , 2021 - Aquatic Vegetation Management, with Brittany Chesser, Aquatic Vegetation Management Program Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Recorded Webinar, Brittany's PowerPoint, TMN Aquatic Plant photo contest, AquaPlant Diagnostic Tool
- August 18, 2021 - One Water and Water Conservation, Robert Mace, Executive Director & Chief Water Policy Officer, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. One Water Recorded Webinar, Robert's PowerPoint, US Water Alliance, Austin Water - Water Forward, Advancing One Water in Texas PDF, CLARA - Water Reuse video, Wimberly School One Water video