River's current needs snag net of state entitites

TSCRA Daily News Update, June 19, 2008

River's current needs snag net of state entities

One river and 5.5 million people - it's a relationship that could dry up, except for a coalition of state agencies and private citizens banding together with mutual interests.

"AgriLife Extension is glad to partner with the others because we share a common interest in conservation and stewardship of our natural resources," said Dr. Ed Smith, Texas AgriLifeExtension Service director.

"With more than 5.5 million people depending on the water from the Trinity and with the importance of its ecological systems, our agency serves a vital role in educating the public about ways to take care of this river," Smith said.

Smith spoke at a Trinity River Basin Conservation Foundation gathering Wednesday at the Rosewood Ranch in Seagoville.

The event, with a keynote address by Gov. Rick Perry, raised money for the foundation which "promotes the creation, restoration and maintenance of natural habitat in the Trinity River Basin to enhance the outdoor recreational opportunities for people in Texas," according to its bylaws.

The Trinity River supplies water for about 40 percent the state's population, Smith noted. AgriLife Extension is uniquely suited for this effort to conserve the Trinity, he pointed out, because its primary role is in adult education, and it maintains offices with agents in every county to expedite teaching communities and individuals.

In addition to the human aspects, partners on the project agree that the ecosystem is also important to sustain.

"Rivers are the lifeblood of Texas for people and for wildlife and the environment, which is why the Trinity River corridor conservation initiative holds so much promise and is so important," said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director.

"Here we have a rare chance to explore coordinated conservation up and down an entire river basin linking our state's two largest urban areas," Smith noted. "Grassroots involvement of private landowners along the Trinity's banks is critical to enhance the quality and quantity of water for people and wildlife."

"The Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation represents an umbrella effort to bring together all parties involved and to raise money and secure needed resources, and we wish them all success," said Smith.

That network is vital in the educational process, he said, based on these facts from the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, another partner in the project:

– More than 5.5 million residents live in the Trinity River Basin, making it the most populated river basin in Texas.

– From its headwaters north of Dallas-Fort Worth to its outlet into the Galveston Bay, the river is 512 miles long.

– More than 1,980 miles of major tributaries drain from more than 11.5 million acres.

– The Trinity River Basin supports primary water needs for more than 20 percent of the state's population.

AgriLife Extension's educational role is enhanced in the Trinity River project because its agents have access to the latest developments from other partners, Smith noted, such as the renewable natural resources institute, the state's parks and wildlife department, soil and water conservation board, commission on environmental quality, and water development board.

They also work with the Trinity River Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the conservation foundation and the Texas Wildlife Association.

For more information, see http://trinityriverbasin.tamu.edu or the video at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/video/?video=river.flv.