RIPARIAN WORKSHOPS FOR LANDOWNERS AND DECISION MAKERS

Riparian Workshops

for Landowners and Land Decision Makers

by Nueces River Authority Riparian Landowners’ Network

March 18th and

May 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, 2011

How do creeks and rivers work? Why do they move? Are floods bad? Is gravel natural?

What keeps rivers flowing during drought?

How can riparian function enhance wildlife habitat and sustain water on your land?

LEARN from leading experts the hows and whys of rivers and riparian function. Participants will learn basic riparian dynamics: the interaction of hydrology - vegetation - erosion/deposition. This information has been successfully used in many locations to promote cooperative riparian management among landowners. Leading riparian experts ‐ Kenneth Mayben, James Smith and Steve Nelle team teach these 1/2 classroom 1/2 field workshops that are sure to change the way you look at creeks and rivers forever.


Spring 2011 Riparian Workshop Schedule
 
Friday, March 18, 2011 – 9am-4pm - Independence Creek/Pecos River
Host: Texas Nature Conservancy
Register: Rachael Ranft to register rranft@TNC.org 512-968-6800

Monday, May 2, 2011 – 8:30am-4pm - San Marcos River in San Marcos
Hosts: Agri-life/San Marcos River Foundation/TPWD
Register: Nikki Dictson to register n-dictson@tamu.edu 979.458.3478

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 – 8:30am-4pm - San Felipe Creek
Host: City of Del Rio
Register: Jackie Robinson to register jrobinson@cityofdelrio.com 830-774-8638)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Frio River near Rio Frio
Hosts: Friends of Garner Park and Dawn Bell
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

Thursday, May 5, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Nueces River and Bird Springs Creek
Host: Open V Ranch
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

Friday, May 6, 2011 – 8am-4pm – Lower Nueces River near San Patricio de Hibernia
Hosts: Dougherty Historical Foundation and San Patricio County
Register: Nueces River Authority 830-278-6810 or slewey@nueces-ra.org

There is no registration fee. Registration will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, space is limited. If you register, your participation is expected. Contact Sky Lewey slewey@nueces-ra.org 830-278-6810 for more information. Additional information, including directions to workshop locations will be sent to those who register.

The Riparian Landowners’ Network is a project of the Nueces River Authority, created to raise awareness and cultivate understanding among riparian landowners about the relationship between healthy riparian areas and abundant clean water in the Nueces Basin. Participation in the network is completely voluntary and comes with no conditions. Since 2007 the Network has held 30 riparian workshops reaching 655 landowners and decision makers who influence 1.578 million acres of land. Riparian understanding is spreading and the demand for this information is growing across Texas. Funding for the project has come from The Dixon Water Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, Shield-Ayres Foundation, Save the Laja, The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, The John and Florence Newman Foundation, Yates Cattle and Conservation, Stewards of the Nueces, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and private contributions with guidance from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and cooperation from interested, local soil and water conservation districts. The Riparian Network will host its final workshops in 2011 unless additional funding is found.

PLATEAU AT THE TEXAS EXPERIENCE AT THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO

Plateau is proudly displaying our turkey feeder and wildlife water table at the Texas Experience exhibit at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo which is held February 2-20 at the Freeman Coliseum. The Texas Experience is a combined effort between Agrilife Extension, TWA, TPWD, and Texas Master Naturalists. Last year 130,000 people visited the Texas Experience.

Plateau product at the Texas Experience at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

FREE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR IN SAN ANTONIO TONIGHT (FEB 15)

The following seminar is from 6-8pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com

February 15, 2011
Bexar County
Bass Pro Shop
17907 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78257

FREE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SEMINAR IN BUFFALO, TEXAS ON FEBRUARY 8

The following seminar is from 6-8pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact Kameron at (888) 289-9409 or email kbain@plateauwildlife.com

February 8, 2011
Leon County
Buffalo Community Center
942 Hill St.
Buffalo, TX 76520

BIRDY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Texas has been arctic blasted and will continue to be for the next couple of days. While we can dust off our once-a-year winter coats and dig to the bottom of the drawer for a scarf, how do our wild feathered friends survive the cold?

Our Plateau wildlife biologists report that Ashe Juniper (cedar) actually provides excellent thermal cover for birds and other wildlife during cold weather -- a perfect reminder that low shrub cover or brush piles are important in wildlife management. (Also, on the other side of the weather coin, in Texas, where heat is a more common problem than cold, this cover also works well as shading to keep wildlife cool).

 The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great article on how birds survive the winter. Did you know that some birds can lower their body temperature at night and enter regulated hypothermia, saving significant amounts of energy? Or that by fluffing their plumage, they trap air and create an insulating layer? For those of us with bird baths, should we be boiling water to pour on frozen baths? Get the bare bird facts here.

Fluffed plumage adds insulation during the cold of winter. Photo by Lee Kothmann.