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Explore Texas Waters

Lockdown Relief and Reflections at Gorman Falls

As part of our ongoing effort to capture the many dimensions of Texan waterscapes, Ellen Larson, an Austin-area high school student and a Summer 2020 Texas Living Waters volunteer, reflects on the beauty and precarity of our favorite summer escapes: As we head into a late Texas summer, sweltering heat coupled with restlessness in our homes has made venturing into the outdoors necessary but somewhat miserable. During this time my family has turned to one thing: Texas parks and their water. The Spicewood Springs Trail in Colorado Bend State Park is filled with inviting swimming spots. Photo: Ellen Larson, 2020. It’s become a tradition every Friday over the past few months for my family and I...

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#MyTexasRiver: How Amelia DeVivo shapes young environmental stewards

Amelia DeVivo is the Program Director with Austin Youth River Watch. Austin Youth River Watch was founded in 1992 and has shaped the past 26 years of young environmental stewards. Amelia and her team transform 120 at-risk high school students' lives every year through environmental education, community engagement, and adventure. Her passion of environmental mentorship is apparent in her #MyTexasRiver story below. Additionally, we love all the Instagram photo contest entries so far! Keep your water stories coming, and enter to win using #MyTexasRiver before Dec. 3.     TLW: What is Austin Youth River Watch? Amelia DeVivo (AD): Austin Youth River Watch is an environmental organization. We work with hands-on environmental science working with at-risk underprivileged youth. We do...

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#MyTexasRiver: How Shelly Plante connects people to the water in their backyards

Shelly Plante is the Nature Tourism Manager at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. She has been employed by TPWD for over 20 years and is an expert in her field. In addition to running several programs such as the Great Texas Birding Classic and Texas Paddling Trails, Shelly is a professor at Texas State University and teaches coursework in Planning and Development of Nature and Heritage Tourism. Here, we had the privilege to hear Shelly's #MyTexasRiver story. She talks about her work with the Texas Paddling Trails program and the importance of connecting people with water resources. Don't forget to share your own #MyTexasRiver story on us on Instagram before December 3rd to be entered...

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