Texas Waters Specialist

Through this program, we want to develop a corps ofCreek 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 is highly encouraged 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: a study group is highly encouraged to read TW 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 2025 (2026 flyer coming soon)

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 (TMN see below) - 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.Texas Water Specialist Service box
  • 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 

2026 Texas Waters Webinars

  • Tuesday, January 13 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • Exploring Native Aquatic Plants: Identification, Benefits, and Installation 
    • Ryan O’Hanlon, co-founder & lead aquatic horticulturist at Stonefly Aquatic Nursery LLC
    • Register
  • Tuesday, February 24 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • The Creek in My Backyard – A Guide to Understanding Stream Regulations in Texas
    • Beth Bendik & Sue Reilly & Alaya Keane, Aquatic Resource Permitting and Consultation Program Leader & Conservation Ecologists at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Inland Fisheries
    • Register
  • Thursday, March 12 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • Duck Walk: A Birder’s Improbable Path to Hunting as Conservation
    • Margie Crisp - Naturalist, writer, and artist 
    • Register
  • April TBD @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • Topic: Climate and Hydrologic Processes
    • Jay Banner
    • Registration Coming Soon
  • Tuesday, May 12 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • River Systems Impacted by Floods
    • Patrick Ireland & Mitch Nisbet, District Biologists at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Inland Fisheries (San Marcos / Austin and San Antonio Districts)
    • Register
  • Tuesday, June 16 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • How the Texas Litter Database Supports Conservation Action
    • Kirsten Sorensen, Senior Program Manager, Research and Cleanups at Keep Texas Beautiful
    • Register
  • Wednesday, July 15 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • Conservation Opportunity Areas in Texas
    • Jennifer Marrugo, Ecologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Wildlife Division
    • Register
  • Wednesday, August 12 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT
    • Investing in Texas' Water Future
    • Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Policy at Texas 2036
    • Register 

Past Webinars

 

Texas Waters program is supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Sport Fish Restoration Program funds.

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