Daily News Update, Jan. 16, 2008

Second public comment period set for Pecos River Watershed Protection Plan

Pecos River landowners should mark their calendars now for February. That's when meeting dates are set seeking comments on the second draft of the Watershed Protection Plan for the Pecos River in Texas.
 

Will Hatler, Texas AgriLife Extension Service (formerly Texas Cooperative Extension) eco-system science and management assistant at Stephenville and the project's coordinator, said landowner involvement is imperative for the success of the voluntary river management project.
 

The project's objective, he said, is to facilitate a strictly voluntary, landowner-driven effort to maintain or improve the Texas section of the Pecos River as needed.
 

"The revised version of the plan includes changes suggested by landowners who participated in the first comment period," Hatler said. "The reason for this second comment period is to be sure comments and suggestions made on the first draft of the plan have been adequately addressed."
 

The second draft plan will be discussed at the following dates, times and locations:

• Feb. 19, 9-11 a.m., Civic Center, Pecos.

• Feb. 19, 2-4 p.m., Community Center, Imperial.

• Feb. 20, 9-11 a.m., Community Center, Iraan.

• Feb. 20, 2-4 p.m., Crockett County Extension Office, 1301 Ave. AA, Ozona.

• Feb. 21, 9-11 a.m. Dink Wardlaw Ag Complex, 300 East 17th Street, Del Rio.
   

Hatler said the draft plan, a summary of changes made, and a condensed executive summary of the plan will be available for download beginning Jan. 7 at: http://pecosbasin.tamu.edu or from Choyia Holley at 254/968-4144, Cholley@ag.tamu.edu.
 

He encourages those who plan to attend any of the comment sessions to review one or both of the documents for background purposes beforehand. Comments can also be submitted on the project's Web site through March 10.
 

The Pecos River Basin drains all or part of Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Ector, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Val Verde, Ward and Winkler counties.
 

Collaborators on the project include landowners, AgriLife Extension, Texas Soil and Water Conservation Boards and Districts, Texas AgriLife Research (formerly Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), Texas Water Resources Institute and the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission.
 

Funding for the project is being provided by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board.