Hello from Your New Watershed Coordinator
Hello! I’m Mandy Stamnitz, and I’m thrilled to be stepping in as the new Watershed Coordinator for Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Protection Plan. Annalee has done an excellent job working with the watershed, and I am excited to continue building on the work that she has done! Over the coming months I will meet with community partners and stakeholders, plan the fall cleanup and programs, and continue the ongoing newsletter series Small but Mighty: Taking Steps to Protect Water Quality.
It wouldn’t be a proper introduction without telling you a little bit about myself, so here is a bit of background for you! I was born and raised in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University before beginning my career as a Landscape Architect. Through designing stormwater management and green infrastructure facilities, I have gained a deep appreciation and passion for the way we manage, interact with, and care for our water resources. I am excited to step into a role where protecting our waterways is the forefront, and I am eager to begin this journey with you.
Whether you are a new resident of the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks watershed, a longstanding stakeholder, or anywhere in-between – I would love to hear from you! Please reach out to me if you have any questions or would just like to connect.
Thank you all,
Mandy Stamnitz
Mandy.stamnitz@ag.tamu.edu
(979) 321-5944
Small but Mighty: Taking Steps to Protect Water Quality
In January, the Small but Mighty series began as a way to introduce small action steps anyone could take to improve and protect their watershed. The goal is to provide achievable tasks, produce meaningful results, and provide ways these efforts can be multiplied at an individual and watershed scale, all to produce real, positive impacts on local water quality.
Step 1 Recap: Reduce Bacterial Contamination (April 2026 Newsletter)
In April, we covered how E. coli bacteria and pathogenic organisms can be carried by stormwater into our waterways, posing a health risk for anyone who comes into contact with contaminated water. We also covered a few small steps anyone could take to reduce bacterial contamination in waterways, like:
- Ordering doggie bags & making a plan to pick up after dogs & other pets,
- Scheduling a meeting with your local NRCS or SWCD office to explore funding options for alternative shade & water structures to keep livestock away from waterways
- Sharing knowledge and encouraging friends and family to take action!
Step 2: Reduce Nitrates entering Waterways
In addition to fecal bacteria, Geronimo and Alligator Creeks show elevated Nitrate-Nitrogen levels. Nitrates are essential for plant growth and a primary nutrient used in fertilizing crops, but excess amounts of it in runoff can lead to harmful algal blooms and fish kills in waterways. Common sources of nitrates include fertilizers, animal waste, septic systems, and compost piles.
What small steps can I take to help?
Measure any areas you’re fertilizing
For anyone applying fertilizer, knowing how much fertilizer to apply and when to apply it is a small step that can have an outsized impact on water quality as well as your budget. Using an online mapping tool, a property plat, or even a measuring tape and calculator for small lots, take accurate measurements of the area you are fertilizing and reference the fertilizer label to calculate your needs.
Pick up or print a soil testing form
Getting a soil test done for your property – whether it be for a lawn, garden, farm, or pasture – can help you save money and improve water quality by showing what nutrients are or aren’t needed in your soil. Check with your local Extension Office to see if they have any soil testing forms available and confirm whether there are any upcoming Soil Testing Campaigns where you may be able to get your soil tested at a discounted price! The forms are also available to print from the AgriLife Soil Testing Lab via their website – Submittal Forms and Payment Information.
Evaluate compost pile locations
If you have a compost pile, walk around where it is located on your property and evaluate whether it may drain towards a swale or watercourse. Even a gradual slope can carry a lot of stormwater and nutrients during heavy rain events. If the compost pile is in a location where it drains towards a watercourse, plan a time to tarp or relocate it to avoid nutrient runoff.
Calendar
Tuesday, August 18th: Healthy Lawns Healthy Waters workshop in Seguin, 1-5 p.m.
Saturday, October 3rd: Geronimo-Alligator Fall Cleanup – Event announcement will be posted soon, stay tuned for details!
Other Nearby Programs & Events
Monday, August 10th: Healthy Lawns Healthy Waters workshop in San Marcos, 1-5 p.m.
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
POSTPONED – Watershed Action Stakeholder Meeting
This event has been postponed. Follow us on Facebook to get the most up to date information!
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.
A Note from Your Watershed Coordinator
It was wonderful to see so many engaged stakeholders at the September 12 Lone Star Healthy Streams workshop! Together we learned how feral hog management, grazing practices, brush management, and soil health improvement can protect local water quality. We also had the watershed coordinators from Plum Creek and the Lower Cibolo present on their projects. It was a great reminder that no matter which watershed you live in, you can make a difference for local water quality!
On October 4, we brought community members together again for the Fall Stream Cleanup! This is one of the biggest events of the year, where we work together to pick up litter throughout the watershed. Volunteers got free breakfast tacos, coffee, and event t-shirts. The impact of our volunteers can’t be overstated: since 2013, they have removed over 40,700 lbs. of trash from the watershed!
Planning is in motion for our 2026 educational and outreach events. If you have any ideas for events, or topics you want to learn more about, reach out today with the contact information below!
Annalee Epps
Annalee.epps@ag.tamu.edu
Measurements Matter: E. coli Bacteria
Did you know that Geronimo and Alligator Creeks have elevated levels of E. coli bacteria? This impairment was identified by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality in 2008, based on water quality data collected in Geronimo and Alligator Creeks. But what do elevated levels of E. coli bacteria mean for water quality? This article continues our series exploring water quality data collected in our watershed and why it matters.
E. coli bacteria are a large group of organisms that can be found in the digestive systems and waste products of warm-blooded animals, including humans. They are also naturally occurring in creeks and streams! The level of E. coli in a water sample is measured in colony forming units per 100 mL (cfu/100mL). To measure cfu, a water sample is collected and taken to a laboratory. There, samples are diluted and incubated on petri dishes. Bacterial colonies are then counted, allowing the estimation of viable bacteria in the original sample.
These bacteria are used as an indicator organism. When levels of E. coli bacteria are elevated, that indicates that the water has come into contact with waste from warm-blooded animals. Other dangerous pathogens could be present in this case, posing a health risk for anyone who is exposed to them. We measure E. coli bacteria because it is a relatively quick and inexpensive process compared to testing for other pathogens.
Changes in E. coli bacteria levels can be associated with variation in temperature, streamflow, and dissolved oxygen. However, increased E. coli bacteria can also be the result of nonpoint source pollution. Waste from feral hogs, pets, livestock, or even humans can be washed into the creek. Reducing sources of pollution is the goal of the Mill Creek Watershed Partnership, so tracking the level of E. coli bacteria in the creek is crucial to identifying pollution sources and measuring project effectiveness. We measure E. coli bacteria because it matters!
Watershed Calendar
Spring 2026 – Texas Watershed Steward Program
Join us for a one-day educational program designed to improve the quality of Texas’ water resources by educating and informing local stakeholders about their watershed, potential impairments, and steps that can be taken to help improve and protect water quality in their watershed. Learn more at tws.tamu.edu.
Spring 2026 – Stakeholder Meeting
Want to have a say in what educational events, projects, and programs we prioritize? Make your voice heard and enjoy networking with us! Look for a save-the-date in our next newsletter!
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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.
A Note from Your Watershed Coordinator
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to our 12th Annual Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Spring Cleanup in April – we had a wonderful event, with 158 volunteers who removed over 2,500 lbs. of waste from the watershed! Since the first cleanup in 2013, the watershed partnership has removed more than 40,000 lbs. of waste in total, all thanks to your support in donating, volunteering, and advertising for our project. If you want to join in our efforts to make a real difference in the community, be on the lookout for information about our Fall Cleanup coming October 4, 2025.
A quick announcement as we head into July – I will be going on maternity leave soon and expect to be back in late August or early September. Extensive planning has been done to ensure that there is no significant lapse in implementation of the watershed protection plan while I am gone. However, if you need anything in my absence, Dr. Jake Mowrer will be your main point of contact. He can be reached at jake.mowrer@ag.tamu.edu or 979-321-5916.
Best wishes,
Annalee Epps
Project Website Redesign
The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership relies on stakeholder involvement! This means we prioritize keeping you up to date on all the news, events, and information available about the project. While our website has filled this important role for many years, we recently got the opportunity to refresh and restructure the site to better serve you. We even got a beautiful new logo that better reflects the core values of the Partnership. Check it all out at geronimocreekwatershed.org!
Have thoughts or feedback on the new website or logo? We welcome your input! Email us today at geronimo.alligator@ag.tamu.edu.
Measurements Matter: pH
Is the water in Geronimo and Alligator Creeks acidic, neutral, or basic? How do we know the pH of the creek, and does it change over time? While these may not be questions you have considered before, pH plays an important role in many chemical and biological creek processes. But what does pH actually tell us about water quality in Geronimo and Alligator Creeks? This is the fifth article in our series exploring the water quality data collected in our watershed and why it matters.
A controlling factor in many chemical reactions, pH is a measure of Hydrogen ions (H+) in the water. It is often assessed using color-changing reagents on a water sample or with a sensor that is placed directly in the creek. Reported as a number between 1-14, pH is actually measured on a logarithmic scale, meaning a small change in the numeric value can reflect a huge change in H+ concentration. A larger number indicates a lower concentration of H+ in the water. In natural water bodies, pH usually ranges between 6.5-8. The normal pH of a creek is often determined by the soil and rocks that it flows through.
Changes in water pH can be caused by point or nonpoint source pollution. Shifts or fluctuation in pH can be a cause of immediate or long-term concern. The plants, fish, and insects that live in the creek are adapted to thrive in a specific pH range. If the pH leaves that range, species might migrate away or simply die off in that creek segment. Also, some metals and chemicals change form when exposed to a different pH and can become toxic (e.g. Copper and Ammonia). It is important to consider pH when assessing water quality and stream health. We measure pH because it matters!
Watershed Calendar
September 12 – Lone Star Healthy Streams Workshop
Join us for a FREE educational event in Seguin. Learn about feral hog management, brush control, grazing practices, and landowner water quality planning from local and state experts! This FREE program will include a catered lunch and 3 TDA CEUs. The Lone Star Healthy Streams Program provides education on the connection between grazing practices and water quality management. Find more information at lshs.tamu.edu!
October 4 – Fall Cleanup
Save the date for the Fall Cleanup! Look for more information to be posted on geronimocreekwatershed.org in late August.
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.
Current newsletter of The Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Watershed Partnership