Rainwater Harvesting Workshops Slated for Odessa, Midland, Alpine
FORT STOCKTON – Texas Cooperative Extension will conduct rainwater harvesting workshops at three West Texas locations in mid-November.They are:
– Odessa, 9 a.m.-noon, Nov. 13 at the Recycle Time Machine – Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 817 W. 42nd St.
– Midland, 6-9 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Midland Palette Club, 907 W. Wadley.
– Alpine, 9 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Kokernot Lodge at 1101 Loop Road in Alpine. This meeting ends at 1 p.m., but a caravan tour to Alpine and Fort Davis rainwater harvesting sites will follow and return to the park by 6 p.m.
Mike Mecke, Extension water management specialist at Fort Stockton, said there are many reasons rainwater harvesting is becoming more popular.
"Dropping water well levels, low lake levels, watering restrictions and high water costs are all contributing to a renewed interest in rainwater harvesting," Mecke said.
Billy Kniffen, Extension agent in Menard County, and featured speaker during these workshops, is Extension’s premier rainwater harvesting expert, Mecke said.
"His beautiful log home in Menard is a testament to his belief in the practice. His entire household’s water needs are served only by rainwater collection without any other water source. Besides constructing water harvesting systems for his own use, Billy has also planned and installed systems for others across Texas for many years."
Individual registration for the Midland/Odessa workshops is $10 ($5 for Master Gardeners). To register, contact the Extension offices in Midland at 432-686-4700 or Odessa at 432-498-4071 or register at the door.
Individual registration for the Alpine workshop is $15 which includes a box lunch. Pre-registration is requested for this workshop by calling the Extension office at 432-837-6207.
For more information contact Mecke at 432-336-8585 or mbmecke@tamu.edu. -30-
