INSIDE: How one water utility operated during the most destructive wildfire in Texas history Page 3
TEXAS H20
February/March 2012
The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA THE Water Professionals
Acting local
The newly adopted State Water Plan will rely on local entities as well as the State of Texas for implementation, said Melanie Callahan, newly named Executive Administrator of the agency. Callahan stepped into the role of interim administrator March 1 of last year as Kevin Ward departed for the Trinity River Authority. The Board took the “interim” off her title Dec. 15. “The Texas Water Development Board was presented with a number of challenges last year: budget reductions, the drought, and a constitutional amendment,” noted Board Chairman Edward G. Vaughan in a statement, “As the interim EA, Melanie was steadfast in her leadership and did an excellent job managing the agency through these difficult challenges, making the Board’s decision … an easy one. She is the right person for this job, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as the new Executive Administrator.” Taking over the reins of the water agency at that point — at the height of the legislative session, as the worst one-year drought on record was scorching the state, and as TWDB was putting the final touches on the updated water plan — was, if nothing else, an astonishing display of bravery. “It’s been very interesting,” Callahan acknowledges, indulging in understatement. “I’m very fortunate to have a great group of professionals who work here, who know a lot more details than I do. I relied on them a lot.” On the same day she was designated Executive Administrator, the Board approved the 2012 version of the Texas Water Plan. “It needs to be more than just a plan; we need to implement it,” Callahan told TEXASH2O. To do that she and TWDB
New TWDB administrator stresses grassroots in new Water Plan staff will be working with various entities across the state. “Just as it’s formulated from the ground-up – from the locals all the way up – that’s really the way it’s got to be implemented.” The Executive Administrator said that TWDB will work with the Legislature to develop implement strategies, but “sixteen regional planning groups came up with the meat of the State Water Plan. That’s where we need to be working.” The 2011 drought has demonstrated that Texas is not prepared for a drought of record, she said, and entities will need to call on all the tools in the water plan to get ready. “Conservation is a big part of the plan,” she noted, “It’s not going to resolve all the issues, but it’s a big component. We will continue to foster conservation as a component of the plan.” As to reservoirs, Callahan said, “We would stand with the regional groups” and the plans they developed for reservoir development. “Reservoirs are a long-term solution,” she said, “There are lots of steps to go through; they are certainly not something that can solve our problem now.” CONTINUED PAGE 14 CALLAHAN