URBAN STREAM PROCESSES EDUCATION
Natural Resources/Aquaculture
Laura Miller
County Extension Agent-Commercial Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
FORT WORTH
Abstract
Rivers and streams are at the core of many urban areas. These waterways perform many important functions such as transporting runoff and sediments as well as providing habitat for wildlife, opportunities for outdoor recreation and moderation of city temperatures. Natural stream design helps restore and maintain these functions and minimize negative impacts of urbanization such as erosion and flooding. Maintaining or restoring riparian vegetation along urban streams can also improve surface water quality throughout a watershed by filtering non point source pollution. Over 300 professionals including municipal planners and storm water managers, professional engineers, and parks department employees participated in six day-long Texas AgriLife Extension workshops that combined classroom and hands-on activities to introduce and illustrate natural stream processes in Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas in 2009 and 2010. The majority (67%) of participants were attending their first Extension educational program. Almost every participant (99%) surveyed said that they would recommend this workshop to others. Topics included natural stream processes, classification of streams, and stream restoration options. Hands-on components included a stream demonstration, surveying a stream segment, and stream substrate analysis. Seventy -three percent (73%) of those who participated said that they planned to take action or make changes based upon what they had learned. As a result of the Extension sponsored workshops, two professional engineering firms have hosted and sponsored workshops for their employees and clients. In 2011, past participants were invited to a two day design short course, and eight individuals completed this intensive class.
Authors: Miller, L. M.
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Miller, L. M. Cea-Hort, Texas Agrilife Extension, Texas, 76101