El Paso Master Gardeners and the Texas Master Naturalists Trans-Pecos Chapter collaborate to maintain a section of the Transmountain Road under the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Adopt-a-Highway Program.

   El Paso Master Gardeners and the Texas Master Naturalists Trans-Pecos Chapter collaborate to maintain a section of the Transmountain Road under the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Adopt-a-Highway Program. The groups jointly chair the project and alternate every two years as the prime contracting organization with TxDOT. While the TxDOT contract requires quarterly clean-ups, the El Paso Master Gardeners and Trans-Pecos Master Naturalists have chosen to work every other month on their section of the road.

   In 2008, the El Paso Master Gardeners organized all of the Transmountain Road Adopt-a-Highway partners for a Whole Transmountain Road Cleanup project. Joining in this effort were the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs; Home Depot–West Side; Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition; and community volunteers such as the Briseño family, volunteers from the Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, and environmental science and National Honor Society students from Chapin High School and Franklin High School.

   The organizations met on October 10th and picked up litter on both sides of the nine-mile long road. TxDot recognized the project with a state award presented to representatives of the El Paso Master Gardeners and Trans-Pecos Master Naturalists on Oct. 30, 2008.

Pictured, left to right, Carol Campa, El Paso TxDOT, Jim Hastings, Master Gardener, Cille D’Ascenzo, Master Naturalist, and Edward Serna Assistant Executive Director for Support Operations, TxDOT at the Oct. 30, 2008, presentation of a TxDOT award to the El Paso Master Gardeners and Texas Master Naturalist Trans-Pecos Chapter recognizing their successful Trans-Mountain Road Whole Mountain Clean-Up Project.