RATES RGV

🌊 We're one day away from the first of three free hybrid workshops on the real-time water-quality monitoring network that's filling one of the biggest data gaps on this stretch of Texas coast! 🌊

The first workshop will focus on Building data literacy and live WQData Training. 💻

Scan the QR code for more workshop details and registration page.
In-Person Location: South Texas EcoTourism Center, 409 State Highway 100, Laguna Vista, TX
Virtual: Webinar link sent after sign-up.
🐢 Free and open to the public — no science background needed.

For more information: [email protected]

Let's see what RATES was up to in September! 🗓️

This month field operations were the highlight! 👏 Our team is always busy ensuring our equipment is up and running. Thank you for all your hard work! 🌊

Can't wait to see the work we'll create together next month! 🔎💧
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¡Veamos qué ha estado haciendo RATES en septiembre! 🗓️

¡Este mes, las operaciones sobre el terreno han sido lo más destacado! 👏 Nuestro equipo siempre está ocupado asegurándose de que nuestro equipo esté en perfecto estado. Gracias por todo su esfuerzo! 🌊

¡Estoy deseando ver el trabajo que crearemos juntos el mes que viene! 🔎💧

☔ September 21st - 25th is Storm Water Awareness Week! ☔

Did you know that storm drains don’t always lead to treatment plants? 🤔 In many communities, stormwater flows directly into local waterways.
That means anything left on streets, driveways, and sidewalks can end up in our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. 🌊
This Stormwater Awareness week, remember:
Only rain belongs in the storm drain! 🔎💧

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☔ ¡Del 21 al 25 de septiembre se celebra la Semana de Concienciación sobre las Aguas Pluviales! ☔

¿Sabías que las alcantarillas pluviales no siempre conducen a plantas de tratamiento? 🤔 En muchas comunidades, las aguas pluviales fluyen directamente a los canales locales.

Eso significa que cualquier cosa que quede en las calles, las entradas de garaje y las aceras puede acabar en nuestros ríos, lagos y aguas costeras. 🌊

Durante esta Semana de Concienciación sobre las Aguas Pluviales, recuerda:
¡Lo único que debe ir al desagüe pluvial es la lluvia.! 🔎💧

🌊 Floods can happen quickly, but preparation starts long before the storm. 🌊

A Flood Early Warning System gathers and analyzes real-time environmental data to help identify flood risks and provide advance warning to communities. These tools support emergency planning, improve response efforts, and help reduce the impacts of flooding. 🚨👷‍♂️

Would like to see one implemented in your city? 🔎💧

This World Water Monitoring Day, we celebrate the science, partnerships, and commitment that help keep our communities informed and prepared. 💧🤝

Through flood early warning systems, watershed monitoring, coastal observation efforts, and regional collaboration, we're working together to strengthen community resilience across Texas. 🌊

RATES is turning research and technology into community resilience. 🔎💧

A new flood warning system in Cameron County could change how Rio Grande Valley communities prepare for severe weather. Read to learn more about the additional monitoring systems and how the data it collects will be turned into warnings.

Hope to count with your support 👏 Register now!

Cameron County's Department of Resilience and Natural Resources is running a workshop series thanks to the Texas GLO on the Lower Laguna Madre hydrodynamic monitoring project — and wanted to have you in the room, whether you're neck-deep in the data yourself or just trying to keep tabs on what's happening with coastal monitoring in the RGV.

Here's the short version: right now, RATES and Cameron County are continuously monitoring water quality across the Lower Laguna Madre. That's a big gap to be filling, and we're looking to grow the program — which means we want more people in the room (or on the call) who might use this data, contribute to it, or help us figure out how to keep it going long-term.

We're running three sessions, each about two hours, and each one works whether you show up in person or hop on virtually:

Oct 6, (9–11 AM) — Data Literacy & Live WQData Training
South Texas EcoTourism Center, 409 State Highway 100, Laguna Vista, TX | virtual link sent after you register
This one's hands-on — we'll walk through the live water-quality dashboard together. No technical background needed.
Register: LLM Hydrodynamic Characterization Study Series: Data Literacy & Live WQData Training

Oct 27, 9–11 AM — Partnerships & Regional Coordination
Isla Blanca, 33174 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597 | virtual link sent after you register
This is really about connecting the dots — who else is collecting data in this region, where our efforts overlap, and where there's room to share data or co-fund monitoring.
Register: LLM Hydrodynamic Characterization Study Series: Partnership & Regional Coordination

Nov 4, 9–11 AM — Funding & Long-Term Sustainability
South Texas EcoTourism Center, 409 State Highway 100, Laguna Vista, TX | virtual link sent after you register
We'll talk through upcoming funding opportunities and what it would take to keep this network running well past CMP27.
Register: LLM Hydrodynamic Characterization Study Series: Funding & Long-Term Sustainability

Come to one, come to all three, whatever fits your schedule. And please feel free to share this with your networks; if you know someone who works in coastal science, water resources, resilience planning, or regional funding and this isn't already on their radar, we'd love to have them there too.

Happy to answer any questions, just reply to this email or reach me directly at [email protected].

Hope to see you next month,
Kirsten Ayres
Coastal Resources Specialist
Cameron County Department of Resilience & Natural Resources

This publication was funded in part through a grant from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) providing Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 funding made available to the State of Texas and awarded under the Texas Coastal Management Program. The views contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the views of the GLO or the State of Texas.


K.J. Ayres-Guerra
Coastal Resources Specialist
Resilience and Natural Resources
1390 W Expressway 83
San Benito, TX 78586
(904) 755-2115
[email protected]

Let's see what RATES was up to in August! 🗓

From workshops, to field operations, to PSA filming days, this past month had it all! 👏 Our team is always busy and committed to create regional collaborations for the resiliency of our communities. 🌊

Can't wait to see the work we'll create together next month! 🔎💧
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¡Veamos qué ha estado haciendo RATES en agosto! 🗓

Desde talleres hasta operaciones en campo, pasando por jornadas de rodaje de anuncios de servicio público, ¡este último mes lo ha tenido todo! 👏 Nuestro equipo siempre está muy ocupado y comprometido con la creación de colaboraciones regionales para la resiliencia de nuestras comunidades. 🌊