You have a great chance to learn the latest information on how to help your creeks and river be healthy water systems. On Tuesday, January 24, at 6pm at the Blanco Library, Steve Nelle will be presenting a free program on healthy creeks and rivers. Steve is a recently retired Wildlife Biologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service where he served for 35 years in Central, South, and West Texas, helping private landowners plan and carry out comprehensive range-wildlife-watershed management on ranches. In the last 12 years he has taken a special interest in creeks and rivers and riparian areas. He says that although Texans love their creeks and rivers, most people do not really understand much about them. The body of knowledge about riparian areas—the area of land that runs right along the water and up from the banks—is relatively new and this area’s importance to healthy bodies of water is not yet widely known.

Nelle has received training from some of the very best riparian experts in the country and has been trying to bring the message of healthy functional creeks to Texas landowners and policy makers. He has learned that a functional riparian area provides great benefits not only to the landowner but to everyone downstream. A functional riparian will help dissipate the energy of floodwaters, protect banks, reduce erosion, recharge aquifers and help to sustain base flow during dry times. As the population of Texas continues to grow, and more demands are placed on creeks, rivers and the finite water supply, landowners and citizens alike need to understand how to protect and restore riparian areas for the benefit of all Texans.

Would you like more water on your land, more productive grazing area, and a healthier Blanco River? If you are a landowner, lover of the Blanco River, FFA member or supporter, County Commissioner or other public official with responsibility for lands with creeks or rivers, don’t miss this important presentation. Be at the Blanco Library at 6pm, Tuesday, January 24, to learn what you can do to help our area creeks and rivers.