Storm Water Videos Broadcast on Travis County's Cable Channel 17- January 2020 Schedule
The following information is presented for public education as part of Travis County's Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) required by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Austin Underground, presented by The City of Austin, is designed to provide viewers with a 'virtual field trip' into the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer. The video is broken up into the following four segments:
- Threats/ Solutions- explores threats to the aquifer (non-point source pollution).
- Hydrogeology- explores the underground flow of water through the cave/ aquifer system by means of dye trace studies, and the re-emergence of groundwater at local springs, particularly Barton Springs.
- Salamander- studies the aquifer and the springs as a habitat for aquatic species, including the Austin Blind Salamander and the endangered Barton Springs Salamander.
- Geology- explores the passage of water over land to the recharge zone into critical environmental features including fractures, sinkholes, and caves. It also examines the dissolution of karst limestone.
They will be broadcast together during each time block listed below:
- January 1 - 10:00 pm
- January 2 - 12:30 pm & 6:00 pm
- January 3 - 8:00 am & 8:30 pm
- January 4 - 8:30 am
- January 5 - 3:00 pm
- January 6 - 11:00 am
IDDE, A Grate Concern, presented by Excal Visual in both English and Spanish, is focused on understanding the problem of illicit discharge and what can be done within the community to reduce it.
The WaterSmart Videos, presented by Conservation Coordinator Brett Briant of the LCRA, are broken into the 12 segments outlined below:
- Using Mulch and Save Water – Adding mulch and compost can help save water, cut your water bill, and keep your lawn and plants healthier
- Mulch Improves Your Soil – Mulch and compost keep weeds at bay, improves your soil and makes your once-a-week watering more efficient
- Test Your Irrigation System – Testing your irrigation system is easy- demonstration of how to install a new battery, check for broken nozzles and inspect your rain sensor
- Cycle and Soak Irrigation – How the "cycle and soak" method reduces water runoff and allows soil to absorb more water more efficiently
- Replace Riser Seal – Brett Briant repairs a leaking rotor and replaces riser seals to have a more efficient irrigation system
- Repair Drip Tubing – Brett Briant repairs leaks in drip tubing so drip irrigation can be the most efficient use of supplemental water
- Install Drip Irrigation – Learn how to convert your automated irrigation system to a drip irrigation system to save water and money when watering your garden
- Domestic Use Program – LCRA water customers, including domestic use customers, are on a maximum once-a-week watering schedule because of the severe drought
- Lago Vista Saves Water – The City of Lago Vista is laying pipe under the Highland Lakes Golf Course with the help of a cost-share grant from LCRA
- Marble Falls Saves Water – The City of Marble Falls uses recycled wastewater on four of its public parks with help from the Lower Colorado River Authority's cost-share program. The city is expected to save about 15 million gallons of water a year through the "purple pipe project," made possible through the cost-share program available to LCRA's firm water customers
- Hidden Falls Saves Water – LCRA's cost-share program helps Hidden Falls Golf Club reduce water use by 5 percent or almost 3.3 million gallons a year. The program is offered every spring and fall to LCRA firm water customers
- Cedar Park Saves Water – The City of Cedar Park is now using non-potable water to keep the turf green at the Brushy Creek Sports Complex. LCRA's cost-share program made it possible for the city to reuse household water to keep the fields safe and green through the hot Texas summers.
Majestic Plastic Bag, presented by ‘Heal the Bay’, is a mockumentary that is narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons and tracks the "migration" of a plastic bag from a grocery store parking lot to the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch".
All of these videos will be broadcast together during each time block listed below:
- January 8 - 10:00 pm
- January 9 - 12:30 pm & 6:00 pm
- January 10 - 8:00 am & 8:30 pm
- January 11 - 8:30 am
- January 12 - 3:00 pm
- January 13 - 11:00 am
The video titled, 'Texas, The State of Springs', presented by TEXAS Parks & Wildlife, explores the decline of our natural springs, issues that affect spring flow, and what can be done to save these resources.
It will be broadcast on the following dates/ times:
- January 15 - 10:00 pm
- January 16 - 12:30 pm & 6:00 pm
- January 17 - 8:00 am & 8:30 pm
- January 18 - 8:30 am
- January 19 - 3:00 pm
- January 20 - 11:00 am
The following special features, presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife, and videos presented by the LCRA, will be broadcast together during each time block listed below:
- In Land We Trust (TP&W) – the growing land trust movement offers new hope for threatened farm & ranch lands
- Policing Pollution (TP&W) – game wardens work to keep our water & air clean
- Last of the Bayous (TP&W) – chronicles the natural beauty of the Clear Creek area & its ecological significance
- Restoring Galveston Bay (TP&W) – challenges of reversing damage inflicted on Galveston Bay and its marshes
- Clean Water: It Starts With You (LCRA) – tips on how you can reduce the amount of pollution in storm water runoff.
- Blind Man's Vision (LCRA) – a brief look at Adam Johnson, who conceived the idea for what would become Buchanan Dam.
- January 22 - 10:00 pm
- January 23 - 12:30 pm & 6:00 pm
- January 24 - 8:00 am & 8:30 pm
- January 25 - 8:30 am
- January 26 - 3:00 pm
- January 27 - 11:00 am
The following videos presented by the City of Austin and the North Central Texas Council of Governments will be broadcast during each time block listed below:
- Climate Change in Austin (COA) – Explains the actions the City of Austin is taking to address climate impacts, and what you can do to help.
- Watershed Protection: Preserving Healthy Floodplains (COA) – Benefits of maintaining a naturally functioning floodplain (English).
- Watershed Protection: Headwater Stream Protection (COA) – Explains what a headwater stream is and why it is sensitive (English).
- Earth School Kids: Protecting Water Quality (COA) – Kids explore how their actions on the land affect water quality and what they can do to help keep the water clean.
- Watershed Protection: Redevelopment Exceptions (COA) – Explains the history of ordinances in Austin and current ordinances regarding development (English).
- Watershed Protection: Erosion Hazard Zone (COA) – Explains the hazards of erosion such as damage to homes, and how to relieve erosion issues (English).
- Watershed Protection: Redevelopment Exceptions (COA) – Explains the history of ordinances in Austin and current ordinances regarding development (Spanish).
- Watershed Protection: Headwater Stream Protection (COA) – Explains what a headwater stream is and why it is sensitive (Spanish).
- Watershed Protection: Preserving Healthy Floodplains (COA) – Benefits of maintaining a naturally functioning floodplain (Spanish).
- Watershed Protection: Erosion Hazard Zone (COA) – Explains the hazards of erosion such as damage to homes, and how to relieve erosion issues (Spanish).
- Stormwater to Drinking Water (NCTCOG) – Explains the cycle of water, issues with water pollution, and why we should take care of water.
- Illicit Discharge: How to Spot and Report Stormwater Pollution (NCTCOG) – Shows what kinds of contamination to look out for when reporting illicit discharge.
- Freddy the Fish Teaches About Stormwater (NCTCOG) – Explains how water gets to creeks & lakes and why we should not pollute or litter.
These thirteen videos will be broadcast together during each of the following time blocks:
- January 29 - 10:00 pm
- January 30 - 12:30 pm & 6:00 pm
- January 31 - 8:00 am & 8:30 pm
