The Texas A&. M AgriLife’s Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) will host the Spring 2026 Watershed Coordinator Roundtable on April 8 in Houston. The event is designed for conservation leaders, watershed professionals, and community partners to explore collaborative conservation efforts aimed at strengthening water quality protection across the state.
The roundtable will take place at the Tracy Gee Community Center, located at 3599 Westcenter Drive, Houston. Registration is free and opens at 8:30 a.m., with the program running from 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. Participants can register at tx.ag/April8Roundtable. An optional catered lunch is available for $20, payable online during registration or with cash at the door.
Collaborations Help Protect Texas Waterways
According to TWRI associate director Lucas Gregory, Ph.D., “Partnerships are the backbone of successful watershed operate,” and “When we bring various groups together, we unlock solutions no single organization could achieve alone.”
Texas is actively advancing watershed-based planning to address challenges related to nonpoint source pollution. Currently, more than 50 watershed protection plans are either accepted by the U.S. EPA or are under development, covering over 16 million acres statewide. Expanding these efforts requires well-integrated partnerships capable of supporting long-term water quality improvements.
The roundtable will feature representatives from Texan by Nature’s Texas Water Action Collaborative and the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Partnership for Forests and Water, who will share examples of successful partnerships and coordinated funding benefiting water quality and quantity.
Gregory stated, “Texas has a host of committed partners,” adding that “Our challenge — and our opportunity — is connecting those partners in ways that accelerate meaningful, on-the-ground improvements.”
Watershed Coordinators to Share Lessons Learned
TWRI watershed coordinators will discuss how trust-building, shared goals, and community engagement have shaped their local partnerships. The event will conclude with a panel discussion and interactive breakout sessions focused on providing participants with tools to identify collaborators, strengthen relationships, and secure implementation funding.
This roundtable is part of TWRI’s ongoing commitment to supporting watershed coordinators and fostering the partnerships essential for protecting Texas water resources.
For further information, contact Tina Hendon, TWRI program aide, at [email protected] or (979) 314-2472.
The Texas Watershed Planning Program is managed by TWRI and funded through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. TWRI is a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, bringing together expertise from across The Texas A&M University System.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Spring 2026 Watershed Coordinator Roundtable?
The roundtable is designed for conservation leaders, watershed professionals, and community partners to explore how collaborative conservation efforts can strengthen water quality protection across the state.
Where and when will the roundtable be held?
The roundtable will be held on April 8, 2026, at the Tracy Gee Community Center, 3599 Westcenter Drive, in Houston. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program runs from 9 a.m. To 4 p.m.
How much does it cost to attend the roundtable?
Registration is free. An optional catered lunch is available for $20, payable online or with cash at the door.
As watershed challenges grow increasingly complex, how might stronger partnerships between different organizations contribute to more effective water conservation strategies in Texas?
