PS 65-10 - Healthy watershed approach to managing streams in a dynamic world for resistance and resiliency: Role of science, stakeholders, education and partnerships

Friday, August 16, 2019
Exhibit Hall, Kentucky International Convention Center

ABSTRACT WITHDRAWN

T.L. Arsuffi, Llano River Field Station, Texas Tech University, Junction, TX and K. Wagner, Water Resources Center, Ok Statee University, Stillwater, OK
T.L. Arsuffi, Texas Tech University; K. Wagner, Ok Statee University

Background/Question/Methods

Resistance and resilience are 2 critical components of ecosystem stability associated with disturbance. Watershed, a productive scale to evaluate streams to perturbations due to aquifer withdrawals, invasive species, loss of riparian habitat and land management practices. Such disturbances affect stream flow and water quality and threaten the health of the watershed. The Texas Hill Country, considered one of the worlds, “last great ecosystems” is understudied and under multiple threats. The Llano River, a clear spring-fed perennial river, supports a unique ecosystem and provides constant critical flows downstream to the Colorado River and Highland Lakes/Austin, especially during drought. To manage and maintain the ecological integrity and using a partnership approach, TTU Llano River Field Station, Texas A&M WRI, TPWD are working with the Llano Watershed Alliance et al. to develop and implement a Healthy Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) through a grant from the TSSWCB and the U.S. EPA. Our scientific approach characterizes the complexity of the Upper Llano watershed ecosystem to understand structural and functional attributes of the watershed to gain insight to resistant and resilience characteristics through an integrated assessment of the landscape/biotic condition, chemical/physical parameters, critical watershed functional attributes and water yield from implementation of best management practices (BMPs).

Results/Conclusions

The WPP uses a stakeholder process for decision-making on wildlife concerns; economics of BMPs; landowner interest/cooperation; types of treatment measures needed/recommended; and implementation schedule. Watershed education components include public workshops (well owner, stewardship, hogs, invasives etc.) and curriculum for K-12 students. In fall 2016, the plan was formally accepted by the U.S. EPA, is now in implementation phase and represents a strategic systems approach to conserving healthy watersheds in a 5-county area of 50K people, and impacts water quantity/quality downstream to City of Austin, with 1M people. In addition to the ecosystem science produced, BMPs and solutions, project funding has directly engaged more than 25,000 students and citizens through workshops, outreach, and active involvement in design and implementation. LRFS was involved in many engagement efforts prior to the WPP, but that plan and process provided the focus that sewed together those many efforts and address challenges: 1) public skepticism of government in a rural conservative region, 2) gaining trust, 3) communicating goals, 4) enlisting participation, 5) incorporating sustainability and 6) effective science communication. Agency partnerships, stakeholder/landowner involvement and education should be considered resistance and resilience components of watersheds that promote stability by increasing capacity to absorb disturbances.