Texas Waters Specialist

Through this program, we want to develop a corps of Creek 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

TPWD Aquatic Photo Contest

Complete the Aquatic Photo Contest Form and submit photos to ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov to qualify. Prizes will be awarded to Best Overall photo and top photo in each category.

Aquatic Flyer Contest Flyer PDF (includes QR Code to contest form)

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.

Reporting Hours

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

2022 Texas Waters Webinars

Tuesday, January 18 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - 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 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Register

Lake Livingston’s Restoration Project: 8 Years, 13+ Partners with Scott Ball, Heartwood Master Naturalist, & Scooter Langley, Lee College TDCJ Ellis Unit Horticulture Program

Thursday, March 10 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Register

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 - Register

Aquatic Ecosystem Services: Benefits and Value to the Environment and Humans with Melissa Felty, Conservation Education Manager at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Thursday, May 12 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Register

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 - Register

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 - Register

Forestry Best Management Practices and Their Effectiveness with Donna Work, Biologist IV atTexas A&M Forest Service

Thursday, August 11 @ 6:30-7:30 PM CT - Register

They Live Here, Too: Wildlife Habitat Restoration as Water Supply Protection with Katie Myers & Michelle Wood-Ramirez, Watershed Coordinators at Tarrant Regional Water District

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 Recorded Webinar, 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