What Is Texas Stream Team?
Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working together to collect information about the natural resources of Texas and to ensure the information is available to all Texans. Volunteers are trained to collect quality-assured information that can be used to make environmentally sound decisions. Established in 1991 as Texas Watch, Texas Stream Team is administered through a cooperative partnership between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Currently, over 400 Texas Stream Team volunteers collect water quality data on lakes, rivers, and streams. Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water. If you are interested in the Texas Stream Team program or to become a certified Water Quality Monitor in the H-GAC Region, please contact Justin Degrate, Texas Stream Team Coordinator: justin.degrate@h-gac.com.
Upcoming Texas Stream Team Certified Water Monitoring Training
To be notified of the next Texas Stream Team training, please e-mail Justin Degrate at:
justin.degrate@h-gac.com or call (832) 681-2579.
Certification
Participants in Texas Stream Team are certified at various levels depending on their environmental monitoring activities. Participants must complete a monitoring plan before training begins to specify their environmental goals and concerns. Texas Stream Team staff offer guidance in this process and provide the appropriate training so volunteers can effectively monitor the environment to achieve their goals. Get the details on becoming a certified volunteer water quality monitor.
Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water. Volunteers are asked to monitor their site(s) monthly at the same time of day each month, for a two year commitment. Monitoring takes approximately one to two hours.
Training Phase I:
Training Phase II:
Training Phase III: |
Hands-on training in a classroom setting
Provides volunteers the opportunity to conduct the monitoring procedures in the field
Conducted as a one-on-one session with a trainer and each volunteer at their monitoring site |
Please email stream.team@h-gac.com if you would like to schedule a training in your area.
Stream Team Resources
The following links are resources for current Texas Stream Team volunteers:
Data Sheet (DOC) 71K
Resources for Educators
Stream Team Newsletters
Cheat Sheet (PDF) 41K
Monitoring Videos
Texas Stream Team Water Quality Manual (PDF) 9M
Divided version of Manual for download:
Texas Stream Team Water Quality Manual 2010 part1 (p. 1-17)
Texas Stream Team Water Quality Manual 2010 part2 (p. 18-41)
Texas Stream Team Water Quality Manual 2010 part3 (p. 42-57, p58 is blank)
Texas Stream Team Water Quality Manual 2010 part4 (p. 59-76)