Please see the attached for a link to a recent Wimberley Valley Water Talks presentation.

4.6.11 Wimberley Valley Water Talks Presentation

For those of you who missed it, Aqua Texas President Bob Laughman recently submitted a Letter to the Editor to the Wimberley View.

Click here to read the letter, which ran on October 20, 2010.

This recent op-ed in the New York Times discusses America’s aging infrastructure as it relates to water.

It is an interesting read, and is applicable throughout Texas.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/opinion/26herbert.html

Have you ever wanted to learn more about rainwater collection?

Texas A&M University System AgriLIFE, in conjunction with Texas Tech University in Junction, is sponsoring a training camp for Texans interested in learning how to harvest rainwater.

The course runs from Aug. 16 – 20, and will be held at the Texas Tech University Junction campus.

“This camp is a five-day intensive educational course for those interested in expanding their knowledge of rainwater harvesting and rain catchment systems while getting lots of practical, real-life experience with the construction and installation of these systems,” said Billy Kniffen, AgriLife Extension water resource specialist and the lead instructor for the camp.

The course will include tours of rainwater harvesting systems ranging in size from 50 to 250,000 gallons, 12 hours of hands-on construction experience and 20 hours of 300-level American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association classes. There are additional evening opportunities to “train the trainer” in which participants will learn how to develop, plan for, execute, and evaluate a successful training program on rainwater harvesting.

The cost of the five day course is $790 and includes all meals and training materials. On-campus lodging is available at the additional cost of $60 for the entire course.

To register for Rainwater Harvesting Training Camp, go to http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu and enter “Rainwater Harvesting” into the search field.

For more information on the program, go to http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu or contact Brent Clayton at 979-845-4116 or jbclayton@ag.tamu.edu.

Few issues inspire more passion in Texas and are more critical to our way of life than water. As one of the fastest growing counties in the fastest growing state, Hays County – and the Wimberley Valley in particular – is continually faced with water challenges.  Small and large water users, water service providers and public officials must communicate to share valuable information and work together toward our common goal of preserving and sustaining the Wimberley Valley.

In February 2010, the Wimberley Valley Water Talks committee convened for the first time.  Consisting of representatives from Aqua Texas, Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, City of Woodcreek, City of Wimberley, Hays County Commissioners Court, Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, Wimberley Volunteer Fire Department, Woodcreek Property Owners Association, Wimberley Springs Community Association, Oak Orchard Enclave, Wimberley Independent School District and Wimberley Water Supply, the committee meets monthly.  Among the first items of discussion was the need for better lines of communication between the many diverse parties in the region.

This blog was created to begin an online dialogue about water quality, quantity, conservation and recycling.  The objective is to provide an open forum to share community concerns, receive accurate, timely information about water and sewer service, exchange ideas and determine how we can work together as a community to address the Wimberley Valley’s current and future water needs.