Texas Waters Specialist Advanced Training and Volunteer Service Opportunities

Proper advanced training and volunteer service projects are the cornerstone of the Texas Waters program. There are a variety of trainings and projects in which one may participate. The advanced training and volunteer service MUST be related to water, aquatic habitats, or watersheds.

Below is a sample list of pre-approved advanced training and volunteer service opportunities in four major categories: Conservation, Ecology, Education, and Stewardship. In addition, there are listed opportunities not approved.

TPWD and other agencies provide high quality advanced training and service opportunities.  Pre-approved agencies are listed at the end of the webpage.

If an opportunity or agency is missing that should be included below or for questions regarding eligible Texas Waters Specialist hours or projects, contact TPWD’s Conservation Education Manager at ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov.

Advanced Training and Volunteer Service Opportunities

Conservation Ecology Education Stewardship

Infrastructure (smart growth, LEED, Xeriscaping, bioswales, cisterns)

Bioindicator species monitoring (currently macroinvertebrates only)

Field trips (educational not recreational)

Invasive removal (must be an aquatic habitat)

Rain gardens

Aquatic ecosystem and habitats

Texas Aquatic Science workshops

Aquatic issues (harmful algae blooms, zebra mussels)

Storm drain marking

Fluvial geomorphology

Training to provide programs (excludes Angler Education & Project WILD)

Clean ups - microplastics, nurdles, trash, etc.

(Litter pickup can be done anywhere, does not need to be an aquatic habitat)

Water/hydrologic cycle

Groundwater and surface water

Point/nonpoint pollution, runoff

Well and septic management

Karst and caves

Pond management (ornamental not included)

Water Law

Restoration (must be an aquatic habitat)

Sustainable land/agricultural management (must directly relate to watershed improvement)

Water monitoring (Texas Stream Team, CoCoRaHS)

Not Approved TWS Advanced Training

  • TPWD Angler Education and Aquatic WILD
  • Weather related (CoCoRaHS training or topics directly related to water quality are approved)
  • Wildlife related (unless species talk is a bioindicator or directly connected to water quality)
  • Oil and gas related (unless talk is fully related to water issues)
  • Recreational activities (no or little educational message connected to activity)

Not Approved TWS Service Activities

  • Trail building and maintenance NOT associated with water quality
  • Invasive species removal and control NOT associated with an aquatic habitat
  • Planting vegetation/restoration NOT associated with riparian or aquatic habitats
  • Monitor and record wildlife species (exception for macroinvertebrates)
  • Planning and presenting events, programs, and projects NOT associated with aquatic habitats or water conservation
  • Recreational activities (no or little water quality improvement connected to activity)

Approved Agencies

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Other Agencies  (Limit:4 hours)

Texas Waters live webinars

Texas Waters group discussion (webinars or curriculum)

Texas Waters quizzes

Texas Aquatic Science workshops

Texas Waters Day at TxMN Annual Meeting

Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)

City departments of water, wastewater, watershed

Colorado River Watch Network

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Field Trips to partner agencies (educational not recreational)

Friends of Lake Livingston

Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance

International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Wildlife Federation (NWF)

River Authorities

Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)

Symposiums: River or Water (educational)

TAMU AgriLife Extension: Texas Waters Resources Institute

Texas A&M Forest Service

Texas Comptroller of Public Accountants (CPA): Natural Resources Program

Texas General Land Office

Texas Litter Database (STOP)

Texas Living Waters Project

Texas Master Naturalists

Texas Stream Team

Texas Water Development Board &  Groundwater Conservation Districts

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

The Woodlands Township

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Water Efficiency Networks