2018 has dawned with the Democratic Primary looming ahead–early voting begins on February 20. The first event of 2018 will be in Kerrville for the January 2 luncheon meeting of the Hill Country Chapter of Texas Democratic Women. The meeting starts at 11:15 a.m. at the Kroc Community Center.
Stephanie joined TDW eleven years ago, and led the group as President for two years in 2009-11. It’s great to start the serious Democratic Primary campaign on home base.
We have already made many visits to Democratic Party events in Kerrville, Llano, Castroville, Bandera, Natalia, Hondo, and Devine, including four Democratic Party Christmas Parties. Yes, Democrats say Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year, cheerfully bidding farewell to 2017.
Don’t let your rain run away!
By Pam Umstead, Hill Country Master Gardener
We don’t get a lot of rain here…and when we do, it often comes down so fast that our soil can’t absorb it. Are you looking for more ways to keep those precious drops on your property and in our aquifer, and not allow pesticides and chemicals to wash into the river?
Solutions are coming January 31, at the Green Stormwater Infrastructure seminar. Directed to Engineers, Landscape Architects, Floodplain Managers, Homeowners and Landowners, the seminar will be conducted by Dr. Fouad Jaber, Associate Professor at Texas A&M Dallas Center. I had the privilege of taking a course by Dr. Jaber last month and found him to be not only very knowledgeable, but also willing to do Q&A and discuss individual situations…and willing to travel to the Hill Country!
We will discuss a variety of strategies to control stormwater including rain tanks, underground storage, rain gardens, permeable paving, bio-swales, terracing, and dry creeks. When properly designed and maintained, they can save money as well as protect our water systems. Several examples are being installed as part of the landscape renovation and education project at the UGRA building, 125 Lehmann Drive in Kerrville.
A recent article by Texas A&M explains Stormwater Management: “Stormwater is any water running off a land surface before it reaches a natural water body. It occurs when the rate of precipitation is greater than it can infiltrate, or soak, into the soil. Runoff also occurs when the soil is saturated. Runoff remains on the surface and flows into streams, rivers, and eventually large bodies such as lakes or the ocean.
“Movement of this stormwater across the soil causes erosion. It can also carry and deposit untreated pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients and pesticides, into surface-water bodies.
“Impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets block rainfall and other precipitation from infiltrating naturally into the ground, leading to even more stormwater and potential pollutant runoff.”
We invite you to join us for the Green Stormwater Infrastructure seminar on January 31st from 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM at UGRA. The seminar is a special opportunity for residents and professionals brought to you by the City of Kerrville, Upper Guadalupe River Authority, Texas A&M AgriLife and the Hill Country Master Gardeners. For details and registration, look for the seminar link at http://www.ugra.org or call UGRA at 830-896-5445.
Stephanie Lochte Ertel 
Don’t let your rain run away!
By Pam Umstead, Hill Country Master Gardener
We don’t get a lot of rain here…and when we do, it often comes down so fast that our soil can’t absorb it. Are you looking for more ways to keep those precious drops on your property and in our aquifer, and not allow pesticides and chemicals to wash into the river?
Solutions are coming January 31, at the Green Stormwater Infrastructure seminar. Directed to Engineers, Landscape Architects, Floodplain Managers, Homeowners and Landowners, the seminar will be conducted by Dr. Fouad Jaber, Associate Professor at Texas A&M Dallas Center. I had the privilege of taking a course by Dr. Jaber last month and found him to be not only very knowledgeable, but also willing to do Q&A and discuss individual situations…and willing to travel to the Hill Country!
We will discuss a variety of strategies to control stormwater including rain tanks, underground storage, rain gardens, permeable paving, bio-swales, terracing, and dry creeks. When properly designed and maintained, they can save money as well as protect our water systems. Several examples are being installed as part of the landscape renovation and education project at the UGRA building, 125 Lehmann Drive in Kerrville.
A recent article by Texas A&M explains Stormwater Management: “Stormwater is any water running off a land surface before it reaches a natural water body. It occurs when the rate of precipitation is greater than it can infiltrate, or soak, into the soil. Runoff also occurs when the soil is saturated. Runoff remains on the surface and flows into streams, rivers, and eventually large bodies such as lakes or the ocean.
“Movement of this stormwater across the soil causes erosion. It can also carry and deposit untreated pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients and pesticides, into surface-water bodies.
“Impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets block rainfall and other precipitation from infiltrating naturally into the ground, leading to even more stormwater and potential pollutant runoff.”
We invite you to join us for the Green Stormwater Infrastructure seminar on January 31st from 11:45 AM – 2:00 PM at UGRA. The seminar is a special opportunity for residents and professionals brought to you by the City of Kerrville, Upper Guadalupe River Authority, Texas A&M AgriLife and the Hill Country Master Gardeners. For details and registration, look for the seminar link at http://www.ugra.org or call UGRA at 830-896-5445.
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