Geronimo Flow – January Newsletter
January 8, 2026
A Note from Your Watershed Coordinator
Congratulations on making it through the holiday season and into a bright new year! Whether you are still savoring the glow of your Christmas lights, or you are eagerly embarking on a new year’s resolution, thank you for taking some time to read the Geronimo Flow.
We are kicking off the year strong with the Texas Watershed Steward program slated for February 24 and a Watershed Action meeting in March. The Texas Watershed Steward program is designed to be accessible for everyone, whether you’ve been in the water management field for years or if you’re not even sure what a watershed is. This is a great opportunity to learn all about watershed science, water quality laws and regulations, and steps you can take to protect local water quality. Do you have a concern about water quality in your watershed? The Watershed Action meeting in March will provide you with the opportunity to inform and direct our project activities for 2026 and beyond.
One easy way to help improve water quality in Geronimo and Alligator Creeks – invite someone to attend the Watershed Action meeting with you in March! We absolutely rely on community involvement to make all this important work happen!
Thank you for your continued support,
Annalee Epps
Annalee.epps@ag.tamu.edu
Small but Mighty: Taking Steps to Protect Water Quality
Chances are, if you’re reading this newsletter, you care about the stewardship and protection of our natural resources. But how do we turn that concern into actions that protect local water quality? A challenge in behavior change is often that our schedules are full and our wallets are slim. But one of the best places to start is with small action steps that can turn into a long-term positive impact. These bite-sized tasks are achievable, meaningful, and can be multiplied.
We want to empower people with ideas they can actually achieve! Have you ever been at a meeting where a well-meaning speaker suggests that every homeowner should have a carefully planted pollinator garden, or perhaps that every farmer should promptly convert their conventionally managed fields into minimum tilled acreage? While these are wonderful practices that can provide a benefit to the environment, they are often not achievable in the short term. This means that many people who would like to participate in ecological restoration are left feeling as though they can’t contribute. Instead, we want people to feel that they can make a difference.
We want to offer ideas that can cause a meaningful reduction in nonpoint source pollution. One potential risk to focusing on small changes in behavior is that they may not ultimately have a positive effect. For example, it is easy for someone to start putting plastic waste into a recycling container, but if it is not recyclable material, it won’t make a difference. Instead, we want to provide steps people can take that can actually positively impact local water quality!
The work of restoring and protecting water resources cannot be achieved by one person. This is why it is important for our efforts to be multiplied. Whenever we make a change in our behavior to reduce nonpoint source pollution, we have a chance to share our experience with others and encourage them to join our effort. This can lead to a community movement where the burden of behavior change is lightened by teamwork. And this is where the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership shines!
This article kicks of a series that will provide examples of actions you can take to improve local water quality. In the next several newsletters, you will find practical steps that fit into your budget and on your calendar. With your help, we can reduce nonpoint source pollution and protect our creeks for future generations!
Watershed Calendar
March 26 – Watershed Action Stakeholder Meeting
5:30– 7:30 p.m. at the Seguin ISD Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center
Dinner provided!
Want to have a say in what educational events, projects, and programs we prioritize? Make your voice heard and enjoy networking with us! Registration available soon at geronimocreekwatershed.org/events-news.
April 25 – Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Spring Cleanup
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Seguin and New Braunfels locations
Join us to make a real difference in your community! Get free breakfast, coffee, an event t-shirt, and help us clean up litter in the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks watershed. More details to come at geronimocreekwatershed.org.
Summer – Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Workshop
Do you have creekfront property? This is the workshop for you! Learn how to manage this critical area to reduce nonpoint source pollution and erosion. More details coming soon!
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Funding for this effort is provided through a Clean Water Act §319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is an equal opportunity employer and program provider.