1. A Community-Based Approach to
Watershed Conservation in Texas
Gary Garrett, Megan Bean, Timothy Birdsong and Ryan McGillicuddy

2. Watershed Conservation Program - Develop partnerships to conserve aquatic, riparian and upland habitats essential to environmentally and economically healthy watersheds that benefit the natural resources of the state
Promote awareness and stewardship of habitats
Organize community involvement in local habitat conservation projects
Establish local conservation partnerships and leverage available resources
Provide technical guidance and planning assistance

4. Guadalupe bass restoration
Broodstock collection for genetic analysis and development of a restoration plan for the headwaters region
Conservation stockings (> 475,000 in three years)
Fish community and habitat analysis in the North Llano, South Llano, and upper mainstem

5. South Llano Watershed Alliance
Partners
South Llano Watershed Alliance

6. Conservation Strategies
Maintain intact, healthy habitats
Restore degraded habitats
Ameliorate effects of invasive species
Pedernales
Conduct research to fill critical information gaps
Provide coordination and adaptive management 6

7. Protect and maintain intact, healthy habitats
Develop a Watershed Conservation Plan for the upper Llano River Watershed
Encourage & support stewardship of natural resources
Provide guidance on Best Management Practices

8. Watershed Conservation Workshops

9. Paddling Trails

10. Restore Habitats
Mapping and assessment of instream and riparian habitats in the Llano River
Aquatic community and habitat use assessment in the Llano River
Instream and riparian habitat restoration

11. Mapping and assessment
UAV = high resolution multispectral aerial imagery (≤ 25 cm pixel resolution)

12. 20 June 2012
herbicides Glyphosate (AquaNeat) and Imazamox (Clearcast
30 September 2013

16. Oasis Pipeline Fire
April 2011

17. Fire Ecology & Restoration Workshop

19. Watershed LIP - implement on-the-ground conservation projects to restore and enhance the ecological function of selected watersheds
restore riparian areas
reduce soil erosion and runoff
increase infiltration and aquifer recharge
improve water quality in streams and enhance spring flows
enhance habitat for both aquatic and terrestrial species

20. Projects on 17 ranches & 53,000 acres of the Llano River Watershed.
restore 2,000 acres of riparian, spring and upland habitats
directly affects >35 miles of the Llano River and tributaries.
Projects are underway on 17 ranches, encompassing 52,808 acres of the Llano River Watershed.  Active restoration projects aim to restore 1,926 acres of riparian, spring and upland habitats (to support spring recharge), directly affecting more than 35 miles of the Llano River and tributaries.

21. Bottom line: This is not a single species project, but by taking a system approach we accomplish the most good for that one species. Cant be done without community involvement. They can’t do it without us, but we can’t do it without them.
“…the Guadalupe bass is a living testament to the sparkling purity of our state’s freshwater tributaries…”