Texas Cooperative Extension has appointed Roger Havlak as its new turfgrass and water management program specialist.

Havlak will be located in the Bexar County Cooperative Extension Office, where he will develop educational programming for several Central Texas counties along the Interstate 35 corridor.

Programming will include science-based information on the selection and management of turfgrass in home landscapes, sports and commercial settings. Emphasis will be placed on reducing water demands, while maintaining turfgrass quality. Target audiences include home consumers, water suppliers, turfgrass industry professionals, and municipal and county governments.

He recently earned a master's degree from Texas A&M University. His thesis research focused on water use by turfgrass, and the interaction of turfgrass with water use of various landscape species.

Havlak's educational efforts will focus on water-efficient turfgrass variety selection, turfgrass management practices, and efficient landscape irrigation, said Dr. Travis Miller, Extension program leader for soil and crop sciences at Texas A&M.

"Water shortages, water conservation issues and drought planning are some of the most consistent and troubling issues in Central Texas," Miller said.

Teaming with agencies and industries, which have a stake in water conservation, is the best approach to educate the urban population on water conserving practices in the landscape, Miller said.

"Havlak's program is expected to foster significant changes in the turf/landscape paradigm that will have a major impact on the use of water in Central Texas."