Texas Watch promotes World Monitoring Day, water quality

SAN MARCOS — Volunteers from across Texas will participate in a statewide water sampling and education initiative held in conjunction with World Monitoring Day 2003 on October 18.

Texas Watch, a volunteer environmental monitoring program supported by Texas State University-San Marcos, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is coordinating Texas’ education and monitoring efforts. Volunteer monitors across the state will sample surface and ground water for important environmental information. These results, along with professional water quality sampling efforts, will help realistically portray the health of rivers, streams, and reservoirs.

“ Texas’ budget deficit of an estimated $9.9 billion could impact funds designated to protect our natural resources,” said Jason Pinchback, volunteer coordinator for Texas Watch. “The volunteers involved in Texas Watch are taking the responsibility for preserving a sustainable and viable future for our planet. This is an important educational effort, and we hope to gather some very significant data in the process.”

Last year more than 75,000 volunteers nationwide participated and monitored 5,150 sites. This year more than 1,500 Texas citizens are expected to participate, and approximately 150 sites will be surveyed in the state. Photos and monitoring results may be viewed online through the Texas Watch web site, http://www.texaswatch.geo.txstate.edu.

Texas Watch facilitates environmental stewardship by empowering a statewide network of concerned volunteers, partners and institutions in a collaborative effort to promote a healthy and safe environment through environmental education, data collection and community action.

Contact: Jason Pinchback at (877) 506-1401