Monitor's Corner Volume 2020, Issue 1: February 2020 · Printed Field Guides The Cornell Lab of...
6
Volume 2020, Issue 1: February 2020 Monitor's Corner Skills Check: Wildlife and Field Observations Field Observations may not require chemical reagents or specific testing protocols, but often they can be the first indicator that something might be wrong at a monitoring site or need further investigation. Since monitors see their site at about the same time of day each month, they are familiar with what creatures might be observed there. Listing the animals you notice can be a helpful record at your site, even if it is a generic description (wading birds, ducks, small fish, jumping fish, etc.). Conversely, if you suddenly notice a lack of the animals you typically see, that is another very helpful observation to note in the comments of your field sheet - it could indicate a change in the environment that is not picked up by the chemical tests you perform. If you want to brush up on animal identification, there are several great sources in print and online such as: Printed Field Guides The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Online Guide TPWD Freshwater Fishes Found in Texas webpage As always you can review videos for other monitoring procedures on the Texas Stream Team YouTube page. YouTube Review Safety Briefing: Cold Weather Caution Also, make sure you are familiar with the signs of hypothermia: shivering
Transcript of Monitor's Corner Volume 2020, Issue 1: February 2020 · Printed Field Guides The Cornell Lab of...
Volume 2020, Issue 1: February 2020
Monitor's CornerSkills Check: Wildlife and FieldObservations
Field Observations may not requirechemical reagents or specific testingprotocols, but often they can be the firstindicator that something might be wrong ata monitoring site or need furtherinvestigation.
Since monitors see their site at about thesame time of day each month, they arefamiliar with what creatures might beobserved there. Listing the animals younotice can be a helpful record at your site,even if it is a generic description (wadingbirds, ducks, small fish, jumping fish, etc.).
Conversely, if you suddenly notice a lack ofthe animals you typically see, that isanother very helpful observation to note inthe comments of your field sheet - it couldindicate a change in the environment that isnot picked up by the chemical tests youperform.
If you want to brush up on animalidentification, there are several greatsources in print and online such as:
Printed Field GuidesThe Cornell Lab of OrnithologyOnline GuideTPWD Freshwater Fishes Found inTexas webpage
As always you can review videos for othermonitoring procedures on the TexasStream Team YouTube page.
YouTube Review
Safety Briefing: Cold WeatherCaution
Also, make sure you are familiar with thesigns of hypothermia:
shivering
Winter weather in Texas varies. Sometimesday-by-day, and sometimes hour-by-hour.In the summer, you might check theweather conditions for storms, but youpretty much know it is going to be hot. Inthe winter though, you will want to pay extraattention to the forecast as coldertemperatures present safety risks -especially if you get wet.
Hypothermia is possible even in mildtemperatures in the 60's with wind chillsand wet clothing. Be sure to check theforecast and dress appropriately to bothkeep your core temperature warm enoughand to block any potential wind or rain.
While hydration is just as important in thewinter as the summer, if you plan tomonitor on a particularly cold day, youmight also consider swapping out the waterbottle for a warmer drink like hot chocolate.
slurred speech or mumblingslow, shallow breathingweak pulseclumsiness or loss ofcoordinationdrowsiness or low energyconfusion
Tech Insider has an illustrative video onYouTube that you can watch if you want tolearn more about what Hypothermia doesto your body.
YouTube Video
Technical Territory: QualityAssurance Sessions
Per the Texas Stream Team Core WaterQuality Citizen Scientist Manual, "TexasStream Team recommends that citizenscientists attend one QC session per yearafter successful completion of their PhaseIII Training." The QC sessions "aredesigned to ensure that data collected bythe citizen scientists accurately representenvironmental conditions at the time ofmonitoring."
Monitors in the H-GAC network will haveseveral options to complete a QC trainingwith a Texas Stream Team trainer or QAO:
Attend a scheduled QC session,dates to be announced for later in2020Schedule a QC session duringPhase I or II of an H-GAC TexasStream Team training courseIndividual QC checks at a monitoringsite might be possible but can't beguaranteed
All monitors should plan to attend one QCsession per year. QC sessions and Phase Iand II trainings will be scheduled indifferent parts of the region throughout theyear to provide options for all monitors.
Monitor Resources
View Your Data On The WRIMThe Water Resources InformationMap (WRIM) displays H-GAC's CleanRivers Program and Texas StreamTeam water quality data. Anadvanced tab allows for improvedsearch functionality by specific site.Texas Stream Team data is updatedon the 15th of each month. Pleasecheck out your site and [email protected] if you findany issues.
Visit the WRIMReport Pollution with GBANThe Galveston Bay Action Network(GBAN) makes it easy to reportpollution using a laptop, desktop, ormobile device. Download the mobileapp or visit the Galveston BayFoundation website.
Visit GBAN online
TWPD Kills & SpillsTexas Parks and WildlifeDepartment's Kills and Spill Team(KAST) investigates fish and wildlifekills resulting from pollution andnatural events. To report a Kill or Spillcall (512) 389-4848.
Learn More
Meadows Center PublicationsThe Meadows Center for Water andthe Environment puts out severalnewsletter publications that might beof interest to Texas Stream Teamvolunteers.
Learn More
State-Wide Texas Stream TeamDataMapThe Meadows Center for Water andthe Environment is working on a newmap to display water quality datacollected since the start of theprogram in 1991.
View DataMap
Texas Stream Team CommunityForumThe Meadows Center is working tocreate a new Community Forum forTexas Stream Team monitors. Theforum is a source of program newsfrom across the state.
Visit the Forum
Upcoming EventsTexas Stream Team Core WaterQuality Trainings
H-GAC and the Bayou PreservationAssociation will host a Texas StreamTeam Core Water Quality MonitoringTraining on Saturday, February 15, 2020from 9-4 , at the Houston Audubon Raptorand Education Center in Houston.
Learn More
Parks and Natural Areas Summit and Awards CeremonyFriday, February 14, 9:00 a.m. to noon
The Parks and Natural Area Summit and Awards Ceremony will take place at H-GACConference Room B, Second Floor, and will feature presentations on concepts in equity inparks planning and on-the-ground examples of equity in parks planning by Katie Coyne(Asakura Robinson) and Claire Hempel (Design Workshop). The event will also include theannual Parks and Natural Area Awards recognition ceremony.
Registration is requested. For more information contact Andrea Tantillo at 832-681-2507.
Registration Opens for Artist Boat's Beautify the Bucket CompetitionMonday, February 10 to Tuesday, March 10
Registration for Artist Boat's Spring 2020 Beautify the Bucket Competition opens February10. Beautify the Bucket is a public art competition to encourage beach goers to throw theirtrash "in the can not the sand." Trash barrels for beautification are limited so make sure toregister soon. There is a $20 registration fee.
Beautify the Bucket will be held on Saturday, April 18, at Menard Park in Galveston.
NatureFest at Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature CenterSaturday, March 7, 9:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m.
Nature lovers of all ages are invited to discover local environmental organizations, outdooractivities, native plants, and wildlife at the 16th Annual NatureFest. The free family eventincludes pontoon boat tours, guided walks, live animals, and a catch-and-release fishingtank.
Galveston Bay Foundation's Houston Oyster FestivalSaturday, April 4, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Galveston Bay Foundation's inaugural Oyster Festival is a day of food, fun and fundraisingthat marks its Oyster Shell Recycling Program's expansion into the Inner Loop of Houston.The event will be held at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, Houston, TX 77007.Chefs at the festival will prepare oyster dishes and attendees will have the opportunity tovote for their favorite restaurant.
All proceeds will directly fund the Oyster Shell Recycling Program. For more informationvisit the Galveston Bay Foundation website.
Galveston Bay Foundation's Bay Day FestivalSaturday, May 16, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Galveston Bay Foundation's annual Bay Day Festival transforms the KemahBoardwalk into a fun, educational, environmental atmosphere complete with all things wet,furry, scaly, feathery, muddy and more that define Galveston Bay. Bay Day Festival is freeto attend.
Learn more at the Galveston Bay Foundation's website.
Get More Involved With Partners
Adopt-a-BeachArtist BoatBayou Land ConservancyBayou Preservation AssociationBuffalo Bayou PartnershipCypress Creek Flood Control CoalitionExploration Green ConservancyFriends of the River San BernardGalveston Bay Estuary ProgramGalveston Bay FoundationH-GAC Clean Waters InitiativeKeep American BeautifulKeep Texas BeautifulTake Care of TexasTurtle Island Restoration Network
Partner NewsSave the Date: Trash Bash 2020
Join us for the 27th annual River, Lakes,Bays 'N Bayous Trash Bash on Saturday,March 28, 2020! The theme for this year is"Bring 20 Friends, Fill 20 Bags , so getyour groups together and help us clean ourarea waterways during the largest single-day waterway cleanup in Texas.
More Information
News From The RegionClean Rivers Program
2019 Basin Highlights ReportNow AvailableEach year the Clean Rivers Programproduces a report outlining the state ofwater quality in the region that is submittedto the Texas Commission on EnvironmentalQuality. The Basin Highlights Reportsinclude the status and trends of waterquality, as well as a brief overview of theprevious year's activities. The 2019 BasinHighlights Report is available in aninteractive online format and as a plain-textPDF.
Contact Todd Running at 713-993-4549 for more information about the Clean RiversProgram.
Total Maximum Daily Load Projects
TMDL I-Plans that have been completed orare in progress in the region can be viewedon H-GAC's interactive online map, alongwith other watershed-based plans. CurrentTMDL projects include the Chocolate BayWatershed (Chocolate, Mustang and Halls
Bayous), Oyster Creek, and CaneyCreek/Linnville Bayou watersheds.
Contact Steven Johnston at 832-681-2579for information about TMDL projects.
Watershed Protection Plans
Cypress CreekThe Cypress Creek Watershed Protection Plan process is underway! The project will focuson voluntary ways to improve water quality in the Cypress Creek watershed with a focuson reducing bacteria levels, improving dissolved oxygen, and addressing otherstakeholder concerns.
Cypress Creek is a primary tributary of Lake Houston, which serves as a popularrecreation destination and drinking water source for many communities in Houston.
Contact Justin Bower at 713-499-6653 for more information about watershed protectionplans.
About the NewsletterEmail [email protected] or call 713-993-2469 with questions, comments, calendaritems, or suggestions for future H-GAC Texas Stream Team newsletters. You can alsoview previous issues of our newsletter .
Join the H-GAC Texas Stream Team mailing list.
H-GAC is the regional organization through which local governments consider issues andcooperate in solving area-wide problems. We invite you to subscribe to the Communityand Environmental Update, a monthly e-newsletter to keep you informed about the manycommunity planning, economic development, and environmental planning programs at H-GAC.
Texas Stream Team at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at TexasState University is dedicated to understanding and protecting the 191,000 miles of Texaswaterways. For more information, contact [email protected].
Houston-Galveston Area Council [email protected] www.H-GAC.com
