CONFLUENCE SPRING 2019
Texas Water Conservation Association | twca.org
Exploring & Learning at LCRA’s McKinney Roughs Nature Park in Bastrop
IN THIS ISSUE:
• The Connection Between TWCA and TWCA Risk Management Fund • Flood Legislation Update • Texas Water Day, D.C. • Exploring LCRA Parks • Wastewater Reuse in Texas • And More! 1
Table of Contents
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President’s Message - Hope Wells
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Water Laws Chair Update: Flood Legislation in The 86th Regular Session
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A Day in The Life of Our Intern: Juan Acevedo
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Texas Water Day Recap 2019, Washington, D.C.
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The Connection Between TWCA and the TWCA RMF
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Water Supply Planning: Federal Issues Preview
Spring 2019 | Confluence
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Cypress Water Treatment Plant in Wichita Falls, TX (2014)
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At LCRA’s McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Nature Makes an Exceptional Classroom
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TWCA Annual Convention Recap
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Wastewater Reuse in Texas
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Board Members & Past Presidents
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How Well Do You Know Your TWCA Staff?
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Cover Photo: Students explore McKinney Roughs Nature Park during a summer camp. Back Cover: Confluence Sponsors
Message from the President
Hope Wells - San Antonio Water System As I write my last president’s letter, I’m surprised by how quickly the year has gone. I am grateful to have represented such an amazing group of knowledgeable individuals dedicated to both the water industry and to this organization. I’m especially appreciative of the support and commitment of the staff of TWCA. Thanks to Dean, Stacey, Lisa, Adeline and Becky for all of their hard work. They have truly helped guide me in this role and are such an asset to the association. As you know, it is a very busy time of year. The legislative session is well underway and our membership is heavily involved in working through the many bills affecting our industry. Particularly, the association has been participating in policy discussions surrounding the state’s flood preparedness that have emerged after Hurricane Harvey and other flood events. Members of a subcommittee of our larger Flood Response Committee have worked diligently for the past several months to shape flood-related legislation in ways that will help facilitate planning and mitigation efforts across the state. I want to thank all of the subcommittee members for their work, with special thanks to Matt Phillips with the Brazos River Authority for leading the effort. Thank you to everyone who attended TWCA’s 75th Annual Convention held in March at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop. Thank you to our sponsors for helping make the conference events a great success! We had an impressive lineup of keynote speakers for our 75th Anniversary, including Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Senate Water and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Charles Perry, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lyle Larson, House State Affairs Committee Chairman Dade Phelan, TCEQ Commissioner Emily Lindley, TWDB Director Kathleen Jackson, TDEM Chief Nim Kidd and American Water CEO Susan Story. We very much thank them for taking time out of their very busy schedules, especially during a legislative session, to address our group. I think it especially speaks to the relationships we have built with our state officials and the open dialogue we appreciate. At the awards dinner, we honored outstanding individuals who have accomplished great things in water policy. We presented Fred Blumberg with Arcadis the Leroy Goodson Leadership in Water Award. Shannon Houston, the House Natural Resources Committee Director, received the leader in state government President’s Award. Howard Slobodin with the Trinity River Authority also received a President’s Award for his service to the association. I want to especially thank Howard for serving as the chair of the Water Laws Committee during my term. Lifetime memberships were awarded to Fred Blumberg, Con Mims, Martin Rochelle, James Kowis, and Mike Yost for their extensive service and contributions to the association and its membership. Finally, the Annual Convention was dedicated to Jim Conkwright and Con Mims. 4
TWCA Officers & Executive Committee President - Hope Wells President Elect - David Montagne Immediate Past President - Michael J. Booth Panel Chairs: Timothy L. Brown Lyn Clancy John Chisholm Don Carona Sonny Hinojosa Wayne Owen Drew Satterwhite Sara Tays J. Kevin Ward Vice Presidents: Carolyn Ahrens Fiona Allen Tom Gooch Glenn Jarvis Kathy Turner Jones
Glenn Lord Andre’ McDonald Walt Sears Michael F. Thuss
TWCA Staff General Manager Dean Robbins drobbins@twca.org Assistant General Manager Stacey Allison Steinbach ssteinbach@twca.org Office Manager/Events Coordinator Lisa Henley lhenley@twca.org Director of Communications Adeline Fox afox@twca.org Administrative Assistant Becky Arledge barledge@twca.org
Texas Water Conservation Association 3755 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Ste. 105 Austin, Texas 78704 www.twca.org | 512.472.7216
A Day in The Life of Our Intern: Juan Acevedo by Juan Acevedo, TWCA Intern
All of these individuals truly embody the very mission of our organization, to make a difference in Texas water resources management. We concluded the awards dinner with a very special treat. In celebrating our 75th Anniversary, TWCA made a video commemorating our history with interviews of the membership and staff reflecting on both our past and our future. A very special thank you to Adeline Fox for all her time and effort to produce the video which is a very fitting tribute to the association’s storied history. If you did not get an opportunity to view the video, it is available on the TWCA website. On the federal front, Texas Water Day took place on April 2-3, in Washington D.C. We had a great event, and thank you to all that sponsored and attended. A special thanks to Tom Ray, Denis Qualls, and Amy Stelter, as well as all our issue paper contributors, for their work to organize and prepare the membership. Again, I am honored to have served as president of TWCA and look forward to continuing to work with staff, our members and our new president, David Montagne, in continuing the association’s efforts.
Howdy! I am excited to be writing this column as the newest member of the Texas Water Conservation Association. I have always had a passion for learning about the Earth’s resources and being able to protect them by integrating policy measures based on scientific research. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics. Throughout my undergraduate career, I undertook several research projects of different aspects: from studying foraminifera populations in the Eagle Ford Shale to analyzing the movements of sand dunes in the North Polar region of Mars. My main influence in studying geosciences are my parents who are both geologists for the oil and gas industry. Ever since I can remember, all of our family trips have had some sort of geological significance, and my fascination for this field skyrocketed during my undergraduate career. Now you may ask yourself “What does this all have to do with TWCA”? One day as I was sitting in one of my hydrogeology classes I learned that the Earth’s water resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. Currently, there are policy features in place that try to mitigate these externalities, however, they are not always based on scientific facts. It was then that I decided I should use my knowledge of geosciences and my passion for protecting water resources to try and make a difference. There is often a missing link between policy making and scientific knowledge in policy making today, and my main priority is to bridge that gap. Currently, I am in my second semester of graduate school in the Energy and Earth Resources program at the University of Texas at Austin. For my master’s thesis I am analyzing saltwater disposal practices in the Texas Panhandle region as a part of the TexNet – CISR Seismic Monitoring Program based at UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology. During the 84th and 85th legislative sessions, the Texas Legislature tasked the BEG to better understand, locate, and determine the origins of earthquakes, if caused by human activity, and help prevent them from happening in the future. The opportunity to work for TWCA and TGWA came to me through my master’s program advisor Dr. Michael Young, from the BEG, who put me in touch with Stacey Steinbach, Assistant General Manager of TWCA/
Hope Wells
Hope received her Immediate Past-President plaque during the annual convention. The presidential transition will officially take place at the TWCA Mid-Year Conference where David Montagne will take the reins. Thank you for your service, President Wells!
Day in the Life - Continued on page 17
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Words from TWCA’s Risk Management Fund
The Connection Between TWCA and the TWCA RMF By Richard Wigzell, TWCA Risk Management Fund The Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA) was founded in 1944 for the purpose of promoting and representing entities and interests in Texas devoted to the business, protection and conservation of water. The mission statement of the association as written in 1944 was for: An Association composed of public spirited citizens dedicated to the task of developing, conserving, controlling, protecting and utilizing the water resources of Texas for all beneficial purposes. Since its founding, TWCA has served as a leader and advocate for Texas water users in the following ways: acting in an advisory capacity to encourage and inform Congress, the Texas Legislature and governmental agencies at all levels charged with responsibility for water resources; stimulating public awareness of water issues and activities at the state and national levels; and providing unique opportunities for professional growth and recognition in the field of water resources. The fourth major purpose of the Association is to help make member operations more effective through the capabilities of the Texas Water Conservation Association Risk Management Fund (TWCARMF or simply, the Fund). The Fund began operations July 1, 1988 as an outgrowth of the Association’s philosophy of serving its members’ needs. The formation of a self-insurance trust was a response to the very negative effects a spooked and contracting insurance market had on members in the mid 1980s. During that period, insurance companies had suffered serious losses and investment income was not sufficient to offset the losses. For these reasons insurance companies were withdrawing from many commercial markets and especially ones they didn’t understand well. Water districts in Texas were one group most insurance companies didn’t understand very well. The insurance companies were canceling insurance for water districts and other kinds of public entities. If coverage wasn’t being canceled outright it was being exorbitantly priced with numerous coverage exclusions and restrictions. Members were losing relationships with insurance companies and agents that had been in place for years and they couldn’t find replacements. It got so bad that some districts even operated for short periods without coverage. Danny Vance, General Manager of the Trinity River Authority
and President of the TWCA during this time said: “At the time of the Risk Management Pool’s creation, many members of TWCA, including the organization I manage, could not find adequate insurance coverage through usual means” (TWCA 50th Anniversary publication). There was no solution in sight when some TWCA members began to search for an alternative. It was also during this period that other groups of public entities were having similar problems with insurance availability and coverage. Self-insurance risk pools were established for the Texas Municipal League (TML), Texas Association of Counties, and the Texas Association of School Boards. Some TWCA members approached TML for coverage but were turned away because they did not meet the “municipality profile” TML wanted. In response to this rejection, Ron Neighbors General Manager of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District in this time period, was appointed to chair a committee charged with exploring the idea of setting up a risk pool for members of the TWCA. Independent consultants with experience in this process with TML were hired to explore the feasibility for a similar operation for members of the Association. A feasibility study by actuaries hired by the consultant indicated a self-insurance trust could be an effective insurance mechanism if it was able to achieve a critical mass of members and capital. Neighbors and his committee set out to recruit members of the Fund who would pay premiums and receive coverage that was customized for water districts in Texas. The following story about the formation of the Fund is told by Bill Martin, one of the consultants who helped establish the Fund. He and Leroy Goodson, long time General Manager of TWCA went on road trips and arm-twisting expeditions to gain enough members so the Fund would have a critical mass of members and capital to start operations. Bill Martin’s sketch describes one of their trips to visit the legendary Owen Ivie, General Manager of the Colorado River Municipal Water District:
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On the Road with Leroy
It was the Spring of 1987. Southwest Airlines had a very small Texas footprint. Road trips were the order of the day. Leroy and I crisscrossed the state promoting the TWCA Risk Management Fund to authority and district general managers for several months. One particular road trip that stands out in my mind’s eye was a 600 mile round trip from Austin to Big Spring; all in one day. The purpose of our trip was to extol the merits of the fledgling Risk Management Fund to Owen Ivie (General Manager, Colorado River Municipal Water District). Since we had launched early from Austin, we arrived in Big Spring around lunch time. So barbecue and war stories were first on the agenda. Mr. Ivie (as he was “affectionately” known) and a couple of his staff took us to one of Big Spring’s finest. We returned to the CRMWD office for the insurance conversation. Leroy and I tag-teamed the Risk Management Fund pitch. Mr. Ivie, in his irascible style, told us he saw no benefit in the Fund compared to his local agent’s commercial insurance package. Leroy quickly realized that the economic argument was a non-starter so he pivoted to an emotional appeal. He urged Mr. Ivie to step-up and demonstrate leadership. After all he was the current president of TWCA and many of the other GMs would be guided by his decision. Further he argued, CRMWD must have the distinction of being the first participant in the new Fund. Mr. Ivie thought about it. But, he reiterated his economic and political arguments for taking a waitand-see approach. Leroy, in his persuasive style, said “Owen, we have just got to have CRMWD in this program when it becomes operational on July 1. Not having you would send the wrong message to our members.” The proverbial light bulb lit up, and Owen agreed to CRMWD being the Number One Risk Management Fund account. It was a coup. Leroy and I hit the road back to Austin. We celebrated and congratulated each other all the way home (we would have high-fived, but that gesture had not yet entered the culture). Of course, a celebratory meal at Zentner’s Daughter in San Angelo was needed. There were many more road trips to follow. But none as strategic as gaining the CRMWD commitment from Owen Ivie. Leroy and I were so proud to land this account as number one. Days later we learned that actually Fred Pfeiffer (GM,
The TWCA RMF celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018. This photo includes TWCA staff, as well as TWCA RMF staff, founders and board members.
An early photo of former TWCA GM Leroy Goodson. Date unknown.
San Antonio River Authority) had acted earlier and secured the number one account distinction. Leroy suggested we not disturb Mr. Ivie’s conviction of being number one. I agreed.
(2014 TWCARMF Annual Report, Bill Martin).
Leroy’s involvement in the Fund continued until his retirement in 2015. As the prime representative of TWCA, he served as the Fund’s board secretary and always represented the interest of the Association and its members in the board’s deliberations. Now, current TWCA General Manager Dean Robbins serves in the board secretary position. The CRMWD is still with the Fund with its “Member Number Two” intact. At the end of the first year of operation the Fund had 29 members who paid total contributions of 7
$2.3M. During the first 12 months, the Fund paid 144 workers’ compensation claims, 13 liability claims and six property claims all totaling $376,300 (TWCARMF Annual Report 1991). Since then, the number of claims and amounts paid have grown along with its membership. In most years, the Fund has been able to contribute to surplus which represented capital that was free and clear, though set aside to provide cash flow and pay for unanticipated claims that could exceed the Fund’s reinsurance protection. The accumulated surplus of the Fund is owned by the members and is at risk if the cost of claims exceeds the carefully designed reinsurance protection that is part of the Fund’s structure. The most recently completed year of operations shows a net position of more than $19M, total assets of $30.5M and a Fund with 85 members paying contributions of $7.8M. In most years, a portion of the surplus is used to offset rates members pay for coverage. This helps keep year to year contributions from fluctuating dramatically or rapidly increasing. As its sponsor, TWCA receives an annual fee from the Fund for its sponsorship and promotion of the Fund to TWCA members. Membership in TWCA is a requirement for membership in the Fund. TWCA is actively involved in the governance of the Fund with Dean Robbins’ role as Secretary of the Board. Several Fund board members are also board members of TWCA including RMF Vice-Chair Sonia Lambert, David Montagne, Lori Traweek, Sonny Hinojosa, and Kathy Turner Jones. TWCA Risk Management Fund’s membership encompasses a broad range of Texas water districts including groundwater conservation districts, irrigation districts, municipal water districts, river authorities, navigation and flood control districts, drainage districts, water control and improvement districts, and municipal utility districts. Many of these categories are represented on the Fund’s Board of Directors by general managers and other executive level managers. The board of the Fund engages an administrator to manage the insurance functions such as claims handling, loss control, risk management consulting, financial management, member services and underwriting. The Fund also employs professional services for financial audits, actuarial studies, investment guidance, and legal services. The Fund’s 2019 Annual Report summarizes services, coverages and financials. It is available on the TWCARMF website.
TWCA RMF
Coverage Overview & Member Benefits COVERAGE OPTIONS • Dam failure liability • Automatic flood coverage for member property outside of Flood Zone A (100 year floodplain) • Sudden events pollution • Legal defense for breach of contract • Legal defense for public officials sued in their capacity as trustees in ultra vires actions • Limited coverage for criminal defense expenses for officials found not guilty
MEMBER BENEFITS • Leadership training for member supervisors and managers • Risk management consulting to assess any risk facing members, recommend mitigation strategies, and consult on contract and insurance matters • Board determined financial support for litigation that may affect many members but is not covered by Fund coverage documents • Membership established through interlocal agreement • Trustees are all member managers or executives • Members can appeal coverage decisions directly to the board
BECOMING A MEMBER • Must be a member of TWCA • Program designed for water districts
LEARN MORE For more information, visit twcarmf.org or contact Micheon Balmer, Director of Pool Management for the TWCARMF at 512-427-2312 or by e-mail at micheon.balmer@yorkrisk.com.
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Words from TWCA’s Water Laws Committee Chair
Flood Legislation in the 86th Regular Session By Howard Slobodin, Trinity River Authority
By some estimates, Hurricane Harvey tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest hurricane on record in the United States, and caused more than 100 deaths. It comes as no surprise that Harvey thus generated a great deal of interest heading into the 86th Regular Legislative Session. TWCA was well prepared for this session’s flood focus, and the work of its Flood Response Committee was well received and reflected in the House Natural Resources Committee’s interim report. Many TWCA members were concerned with potential legislative mandates regarding reservoir operations. Thanks in part to TWCA’s efforts, no bills of that nature were filed prior to this session’s bill filing deadline. With specific regard to flood mitigation, several major proposals are now under consideration in Austin that would address funding and flood planning. There are significant differences between the House and Senate plans, and much work remains to be done before the end of session if major legislation is to be enacted. Bills of more limited scope regarding flood warning and notification and disclosure of flood risk in residential real estate transactions are also now pending. The following reflects the status of just a portion of the flood-related legislation before the House and Senate, as of late April. House Bill 13 (Phelan)
HB 13 tackles multiple flood-related issues, and provides both two new funding mechanisms and a mandate for statewide flood planning. On funding, HB 13 expands the existing TWDB-managed flood protection planning grant program to expand its authorized uses. In addition to existing authority to fund flood protection planning, HB 13 would authorize TWDB grants for preparation of regulatory applications and permitting costs, and also for the preparation of plans and specifications for infrastructure. The bill also provides priority for grant funding to economically disadvantaged areas. In addition, HB 13 provides for the creation of the “Flood Infrastructure Fund” at TWDB, as Subchapter I of Water Code Chapter 15. The fund may finance at or below market-interest loans, and also provide grants to economically disadvantaged areas in need of flood mitigation infrastructure. The bill appropriates $3.26 billion from the rainy day fund to the Flood Infrastructure Fund. 10
Finally, HB 13 provides for statewide flood planning on a five-year cycle, and provides for the State Soil and Water Conservation Board to prepare a ten-year plan addressing the maintenance needs of certain flood control dams built with federal involvement. The bill is accompanied by House Joint Resolution 4, which proposes a constitutional amendment necessary to create the Flood Infrastructure Fund. Both HB 13 and HJR 4 have been reported favorably from the House Natural Resources Committee. At this writing, HB 13’s provision for statewide flood planning lacks the detail of Senate Bill 8, discussed below. The existing provision anticipates the statewide flood plan to be adopted by TWDB will “roll up” regional plans, as in statewide water planning, but does not set forth other substantive requirements. Senate Bill 7 (Creighton)
Like HB 13, SB 7 creates a new TWDB flood financing program, the Texas “Infrastructure Resiliency Fund.” The fund is composed of four accounts: a floodplain management account, a Hurricane Harvey account, a flood plan implementation account, and a federal matching account. The floodplain implementation account is intended to support TWDB’s existing National Flood Insurance Program activities, and also flood planning and mitigation activities. The Hurricane Harvey account would provide grants and loans (zero and low-interest) for the non-federal match for the development of FEMA hazard mitigation and public assistance plans, and also for loans for planning, design and permitting of Harvey-related flood projects. Funding in the Harvey account would be contingent on applicants demonstrating that they have exhausted all available state and federal funding, and the account will automatically wrap up on September 1, 2031, with remaining funds transferred to the flood plan implementation account. The flood plan implementation account more generally provides grants and loans for flood projects and provides matching funds. Grant funding is limited to 75 percent of total flood project cost. It also provides for loans including planning, design and permitting costs, and provides priority for funding to projects with a federal match and projects that increase water supply.
Finally, SB 7 creates the federal matching account in the Infrastructure Resiliency Fund. That account may only be used to meet matching requirements of projects that are partially federally funded, including projects funded by the Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, SB 7 creates an Infrastructure Resiliency Advisory Committee, which is composed of the same members as the SWIFT Advisory Committee. The advisory committee is empowered to submit comments and recommendations to TWDB regarding fund expenditures. It further provides for an accelerated rulemaking by TWDB for administration of the Infrastructure Resiliency Fund. Lastly, SB 7 provides that if the legislature enacts a statewide flood planning bill this session, then the Infrastructure Resiliency Fund’s flood plan management account may then only be used to fund projects included in the statewide plan. Compared to HB 13, SB 7 appears to provide funding in a more limited geographic scope, considering its emphasis on areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. It also does not contain priority or preference for projects in economically disadvantaged areas.
ascertain whether any regional plan negatively affects a neighboring area, and cannot approve a regional plan that does so. SB 8 also charges the State Soil and Water Conservation Board (SSWCB) to assess the condition and maintenance needs of some flood control structures constructed under federal authorities. It requires SSWCB to adopt a ten-year plan, with annual updates reflecting progress on projects identified in the plan. SB 8 is accompanied by Senate Joint Resolution 28, which creates a State Flood Plan Implementation Fund. The fund may be used both for funding projects identified in the state flood plan, and also to fund the maintenance activities identified by the SSWCB. SJR 28 would transfer $1.2B from the rainy day fund to the newly-created fund. SB 8 was voted out unanimously by the Senate, and has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee. Other Bills
Many other flood bills have also been filed this session that may be of interest to TWCA membership. TWCA has been actively monitoring HB 26 (Metcalf ), which creates an alert system to notify potentially affected persons of releases of flood flows from certain dams. HB 26 passed the House on April, 11, 2019. In its substituted form, HB 26 requires notification by dam operators to local emergency operations centers (EOCs) during flood flow releases. EOCs, when notified, are then required to make public notifications when dam releases may result in damage to life or property. TWCA membership provided significant input on HB 26, and in its substituted form it formalizes existing practices and will result in improved public communication. Additionally, many bills have been filed to impose more stringent disclosure of flood risks in residential real estate transactions, both leases and sales (see, e.g., HB 970/SB 640, HB 993, HB 1658, SB 339). Generically, these bills would require notice to purchasers or tenants of a property’s flood risk status (100- and 500-year floodplain location), and provide for recovery of damages for a failure to provide the notice. TWCA management has been actively engaged at the Capitol on issues related to flooding. Much work
Senate Bill 8 (Perry)
Chairman Perry’s SB 8 accompanies SB 7, and would create a statewide flood planning process much like that for statewide water planning. In fact, the list of interests to be represented on regional flood planning groups mirrors exactly the same list found in Water Code Section 16.053 for regional water planning (the public, counties, municipalities, industries, agricultural interests, environmental interests, small businesses, electric generating utilities, river authorities, water districts, and water utilities). As passed out of the Senate, SB 8 requires TWDB to designate flood planning regions either as whole river basins, or TWDB may divide basins for efficient planning. Regional flood plans must catalog existing infrastructure and its condition, identify flood prone areas and potential flood control solutions and whether proposed projects meet an emergency need and are federally subsidized. As with water planning, regional groups would be required to solicit input on an initially prepared plan prior to submission of a final plan to TWDB. SB 8 requires TWDB to 11
Howard Slobodin is General Counsel and Secretary, Board of Directors, of the Trinity River Authority of Texas. He joined the Trinity River Authority in April 2008. Prior to joining TRA, Howard practiced environmental and water law in both the public and private sectors. slobodinh@trinityra.org
remains to be done on flood matters in the 86th Regular Session. Significant compromises must still be struck particularly on statewide flood planning and flood mitigation funding if major legislation is to become a reality.
WITH VISION AND COURAGE, WE PLAN. WITH COOPERATION AND COMMITMENT, WE SERVE.
NANCY TAM WATER-WISE GARDEN
WWW.UTRWD.COM 12
Words from TWCA’s Federal Affairs Committee Chair
Texas Water Day Recap 2019
By Tom Ray, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.
With a new date and planning structure in place, a renewed energy invigorated the 15th Annual Texas Water Day (TWD) in Washington D.C. Even the cherry blossoms were out in full grandeur to greet us for the event. TWD was held on April 2-3 with muchimproved weather from the often-frigid February dates in the past. As with prior Texas Water Day events, a well-attended congressional reception was held on Tuesday evening, Congressional members and agency decision-makers spoke to the group during the speaker series on Wednesday morning. Congressional office visits were conducted on Tuesday afternoon with great success. All TWD materials and photos are available on the TWCA website. Our TWD goal was to present top priority water issues currently facing Texas and its water managers. From identifying the highest priority issues to developing issue papers that clearly communicated the needs of Texas water managers, much work was put into the preparation of materials. Identifying the key Texas water issues can be tricky—on what basis does TWCA decide an issue is a current, statewide priority water issue? Denis Qualls suggested a first-step: he recommended listing some principles to guide the decisions and outreach on federal legislation and regulations. Starting with Texas maintaining its primacy over its water resources, four federal principles familiar to and broadly supported by TWCA membership were considered in setting priorities. Federal Guiding Principles
• • • •
State primacy over water Clear and consistent regulation Equity in policy, partnering and investment Science, transparency and public participation
The TWD Steering Committee identified the following 2019 priority, statewide water issues: Issue 1: FEDERAL FLOOD POLICY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
specifically request to: •Promote extreme weather resilience through support for rebuilding options that are within the means of local sponsors and individual property owners •Reauthorize NFIP to ensure community-wide protection through a cost-effective national insurance program • Support continued investment in flood control infrastructure 13
Issue 2: 404 PERMITTING,
Section 404 (c) veto.
request the elimination the
balance the natural ecology and marine life with the human need for water supply development. Issue 3: ENDANGERED & INVASIVE SPECIES,
Issue 4: WATER SUPPLY RULE,
proposed rule.
withdraw the currently
Issue 5: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) & U.S. ARMY
support full funding of the cooperative matching fund and other related needs. CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CORPS) BUDGETS,
Issue 6: DEFINITION OF THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES
provide a conclusive definition for WOTUS that conforms to sound science, defers to state’s water rights, and provides broad exclusions for non-traditional “navigable waters” will also end regulatory confusion. (WOTUS),
Small groups of TCWA members volunteered to draft, review and finalize summaries of each of these issues. The great TWCA staff produced the final product, a booklet that was distributed to each member of the Texas Congressional delegation as well as federal agencies and congressional committee staff. TWD participants walked the halls of Congress to carry a personalized message and the TWD booklet to each member of Texas Congressional delegation. Amy Stelter used her past experience as congressional staffer (and a lot of her time) to set up individual office appointments with members. With a checklist that Amy prepared and copies of the booklet, small groups were dispatched to every office. At each visit, the member and office staff were reminded of the TWD Congressional Reception that evening. The Tuesday evening reception drew a good crowd of congressional staffers, committee staff, and a large contingent from the Corps and USGS. The speakers’ series on Wednesday morning highlighted both Texas U.S. Senators and key staff from the USACE, EPA Water, Bureau of Reclamation and USGS. Each speaker referenced our Texas priority water issues and filled us in on programs, regulations, and future activities related to water in Texas and across the nation. Thank you to everyone who served on the planning committees, as well as those who participated in the event festivities!
Texas Water Day 2019, Washington, D.C.
EPA Water Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Anna Wildeman poses with TCEQ Commissioner Emily Lindley.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas addresses the Texas Water Day attendees.
California’s Eastern Municipal Water District’s Board President Ron Sullivan accepts his gift from Texas.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas discusses federal water policy.
TWCA General Manager Dean Robbins poses with Ron Sullivan.
(L to R): Martha Landwehr (Chief of Staff for TCEQ Commissioner Lindley), TCEQ Commissioner Emily Lindley, Tara Rejino (Chief of Staff for TWDB Chairman Peter Lake), and TCEQ’s Kelly Mills pose during the congressional reception.
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TWCA Federal Affairs Committee Chair Tom Ray introduces U.S. Senator John Cornyn from Texas.
(L to R): TWDB Chairman Peter Lake poses with U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R) District 2 Texas, and TWCA General Manager Dean Robbins.
Water Supply Planning: Federal Issues Preview* By Nathan Vassar Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
*This article is the ninth in an ongoing series of water supply planning and implementation articles to be published in Confluence that address simple, smart ideas for consideration and use by water suppliers in their comprehensive water supply planning efforts.
Although water suppliers operate primarily within the realm of state and local laws and regulations, a critical component for many projects and strategies involves federal issues. Over the course of the next several articles in this water supply planning series, we will explore the overlay of federal involvement in water supply planning, obstacles to anticipate, as well as opportunities to address federal concerns. We will focus on certain agencies and their processes, highlighting issues that can arise at various stages of suppliers’ plans and projects. At the outset of this federal focus, however, it is important to revisit an earlier topic, as the selection of the right team is fundamental to navigate a complex web of federal statutes, regulations, and the myriad of agencies that enforce and implement them. Building the right team for water supply projects will sometimes require the involvement of those who specialize in certain areas, such as endangered/threatened species issues, jurisdictional determinations, and 404 applications, among others. For example, knowing the differences between certain water availability modeling tools at the state and federal level can be important in order to demonstrate the firm nature of a supply, when analyzing projected demands. Furthermore, as with any regulatory process, team members who know the decision makers at certain agencies can make a difference in addressing challenges as they may arise. An articulate and knowledgeable lobby component may also be valuable in conveying messages to elected officials (and others), as needed during the course of a certain project. Of course, it is completely possible that the team assembled for state permitting issues is also perfectly equipped to handle federal matters as well, but it can be important to practice due diligence early to identify specialized needs in the federal arena to avoid facing surprises later on. As we will explore in later detail throughout the series, unique federal issues have a way of slowing down a project if one is not prepared at the outset. The overlay of a designated critical habitat for some species can require surveying, impacts analyses, and ultimately may cause a re-routing or re-design
decision. Depending upon archaeological findings within a project’s footprint, both state and federal statutes may be triggered with respect to historical preservation, and possibly consultation with those whose heritage is connected to the site(s). In addition, the nexus between water rights issues and water quality cannot be ignored, as we analyzed several months ago in an earlier article. As is often the case, technical considerations so often include connections to legal requirements, including notice issues, case law updates concerning jurisdictional boundaries (among others), and implications of transferring water across basins. By way of example, recent federal jurisprudence makes clear that interbasin transfers do not trigger the need for a federal discharge permit (however, state law impacts the priority dates of such water once moved to the new basin). Many organizations exist across Texas with a significant federal focus and committees, including those at TWCA, WEAT, TACWA, and NACWA, for example. Engagement in those organizations can help identify appropriate team members, as well as maintaining and updating suppliers’ own knowledge of key federal issues that may have an impact upon projects. In the coming articles, we will hone in on specific federal areas, exploring the ways in which water suppliers can best anticipate and address applicable requirements, while (ideally) avoiding surprises as they manage, stretch, and extend critical water supplies.
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Nathan Vassar is an attorney in the firm’s Water Practice Group. Nathan’s practice focuses on representing clients in regulatory compliance, water resources development and water quality matters. He regularly appears before state and federal administrative agencies. nvassar@lglawfirm.com
The Fun Starts Here! At LCRA’s McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Nature Makes an Exceptional Classroom By Clara Tuma, LCRA Parks
McKinney Roughs Nature Park Camp water testing.
macroinvertebrates for water quality testing and peering through microscopes to appreciate their physiology, or interacting with watershed models to understand the impact of point and non-point source pollution. “It’s one thing to learn about water quality and water conservation in a book, but it’s another to see it firsthand and learn how what you do at home affects the river,” Richards says. “Once people start to care about nature, they start to care for nature. We want to encourage our visitors to personally interact with the rich world of nature as much as they can.” In addition to helping develop the next generation of water stewards, the park’s educational program also offers sessions on land stewardship, wildlife and renewable energy. In the Life Under Our Feet class, students use scientific techniques to sift through leaf litter and separate out the tiny organisms living in the soil to study them under a microscope. And of course, there’s a popular C.S.I. class, which in this case is Carnivore Skull Investigation, to teach students about the diets and habits of mammals by examining the physical features of their skulls. Overnight programs include an owl prowl, stargazing and, naturally, a chance to make s’mores around a campfire. Students can stay overnight in the park’s five floors of dormitory rooms. The park also offers eight weeks of themed summer day camp for children ages 5-15. Activities include swimming, climbing rock walls, hiking and learning about nature. Programs for the general public are scheduled throughout the year and include river kayaking, standup paddleboarding on Lake Bastrop, guided hikes with a naturalist and presentations with live animals. Visitors to McKinney Roughs Nature Park also can hike, bike, horseback ride on the park’s 17 miles of trails, or zip line across the forest canopy on a dual line that lets you and a friend fly over the park together.
Lake Bastrop North Shore water testing.
With names like Something Fishy, Waterworks and Survival of the Wettest, it’s easy to see that learning about water and water conservation is not the usual run of the mill, or should we say, run of the river, experience at LCRA’s McKinney Roughs Nature Park east of Austin. The park’s natural science program includes a wide variety of topics to teach children and adults alike about the Colorado River and the role we all play in conserving our water resources. “We want people to come to our parks to have fun in the outdoors, but we also want them to learn about nature and join us in being stewards of the environment,” says Margo Richards, vice president of Community Resources at the Lower Colorado River Authority, which owns McKinney Roughs Nature Park and about 40 other parks along the Colorado River. “We believe people learn about nature best when they’re outdoors seeing things in person, so we’ve developed a program that gets kids out of the classroom and into the park to see how the science they learn in class can be applied in the real world,” she says. Not only is the 1,100-acre McKinney Roughs Nature Park home to hundreds of plant and animal species in its rolling box canyons, wildflower meadows and river bends, the park also offers dozens of classes and overnight educational programs to students and members of the public. In fiscal year 2018, more than 6,300 students participated in the park’s extensive curriculum that might have students traipsing into ponds to collect
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McKinney Roughs Nature Park Summer Camp
Clara Tuma is the public information officer for the Lower Colorado River Authority, which serves Texas communities by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting electric power and offering access to nature at more than 40 parks from the Hill County to the Gulf Coast, and more. Tuma is a former newspaper and television reporter. Clara.Tuma@LCRA.ORG
For more information, visit lcra.org/mckinneyroughs, email outdoorprograms@lcra.org or call 512-303-5073.
Day in the Life - Continued from page 5 TGWA. Stacey was immensely welcoming to provide me Seeing the entire TWCA community come together the opportunity of being the first ever TWCA/TGWA was an extremely touching experience. It was an honor intern, and I am grateful to be in this position. I would to be present among such dedicated people who like to use this opportunity as intern to help out with have dedicated their careers to a similar cause, water. any TWCA requirements and better understand the Whether it was policy-makers, lawyers, or even private legislative process in order to merge it to my current consultants, I was taken aback with how welcoming work as a graduate student. everyone was of me and how highly they all spoke of the As a TGWA intern, I helped with the Texas Ground associations. It became very clear that these associations Water Association’s Annual Convention in San Marcos, truly care about our most precious resource. I am Texas. My main duty was to aid in registration efforts of grateful for the opportunity to be working alongside all attendees for this convention. This convention was TWCA and TGWA and getting first-hand experience my first experience behind-the-scenes. I had previously with policy measures that aim to protect such a valuable been an attendee in conferences, however, this experience resource. I hope that in the future I can bring my really helped me appreciate all the work that is done by scientific background and my interest in policy together, the staff and members running the conferences, and how and there is no better way to start off than with TWCA/ vital this work is for everything to run smoothly. TGWA. I have also taken great pleasure in attending the TWCA Annual Convention at the Lost Pines Resort - Juan P. Acevedo in Bastrop, Texas. This conference was similar, yet, very different than the Texas Ground Water Association’s convention. It was similar in my duties as an intern, where I helped at the registration desk and assisted in any other necessary duties to ensure things were running smoothly. However, it was different in the sense that I was more actively attending the speaker events as well as being present during the awards ceremony. 17
2019 TWCA ANNUAL CONVENTION RECAP By Adeline Fox, TWCA
This year’s TWCA Annual Convention was an extra special event. TWCA celebrated its 75th anniversary during the convention at Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop. More than 400 people attended the convention to listen in on the latest legislative happenings, as well as hear agency news. Eight keynote speakers spoke during the event, ranging from legislators and state agency leaders to industry professionals. In addition to the keynote speakers, attendees heard presentations on innovations in the industry, federal and state policy updates, data collection platforms, water reuse in Texas, and more. Panel meetings kicked off Thursday morning. Attendees listened in on speaker sessions that morning, and then attended the
TWCA/NWRA Luncheon where the Association of California Water Agencies’ Executive Director Dave Eggerton provided the keynote address. The board of directors met later in the day. A few board highlights included an update on the strategic plan, which should be finalized by the mid-year conference, as well as an election of new board members and panel chairs. Welcome, new panel chairs and board members! The evening wrapped up with the awards dinner, a commemorative TWCA 75th-year video, and a stellar outdoor dessert reception. Congratulations to all of our award winners! Thank you to everyone who attended the TWCA Annual Convention and to those who joined in the 75-year celebration! 18
Key highlights include: Board and panel chair elections took place - 4 new board members elected: Darrell Grubbs, Lauren Kalisek, Allen Sims, and Gary Westbrook Strategic plan will be finalized by June Texas Water Day 2019 will focus on flood policy, invasive species, and WOTUS to name a few Membership & Services Committee will have a service project/beach clean up during the midyear conference Groundwater, surface water, and flood response committees are tracking several bills
Award Winners 2019 Leroy Goodson Leadership in Water Award
Fred Blumberg receives his award.
Convention Dedication
Immediate Past President
This year’s convention was dedicated to (L) Jim Conkwright and (R) Con Mims.
TWCA President Hope Wells receives her immediate past president award.
TWCA GM Dean Robbins awards TWCA President Hope Wells the Immediate Past President Award.
Jim Conkwright and Con Mims congratulate each other as TWCA President Hope Wells awards the convention dedication to both of them.
House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) Chairman Lyle Larson poses with HNRC Committee Clerk Shannon Houston and TWCA GM Dean Robbins as Shannon accepts a President’s Award.
President’s Awards
Howard Slobodin with Trinity River Authority of Texas receives a President’s Award.
Lifetime Memberships Fred Blumberg James Kowis Con Mims Martin Rochelle Michael D. Yost
20 Years of Service
House Natural Resources Committee Clerk Shannon Houston receives a President’s Award from Hope Wells.
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TWCA staff member Lisa Henley receives her 20 years of service award. Thank you, Lisa! James Kowis (L) also receives a lifetime membership award. Dabney Kowis and Dean Robbins pose with the award winners.
TWCA Annual Convention 2019 1.
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Keynote Speakers:
1. Commissioner Emily Lindley, TCEQ 2. Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Division of Emergency Management & Governor’s Commission to Rebuild TX 3. CEO Susan Story, American Water 4. Chairman Dade Phelan, House State Affairs Committee 5. Chairman Lyle Larson, House Natural Resources Committee 6. Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller 7. Chairman Charles Perry, Senate Water & Rural Affairs Committee 8. Director Kathleen Jackson, TWDB
Jim Persons of Williamson County EMS and Robin Wiatrek of Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council demonstrate the use of a tourniquet.
Joe Beal asks a question during one of the speaker sessions.
Director Jackson presents the “sweet 16” award for regional water planning to Stacey and Dean.
Dave Eggerton with Association of California Water Agencies addresses the luncheon crowd.
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Lance McLeod with Kimley-Horn & Associates manages the Membership & Services Booth.
TWCA Annual Convention 2019 Wild Encounters The wildlife at the venue was a highlight for many attendees.
Thank you to everyone who attended our TWCA Annual Convention and 75-year celebration!
Investing, innovation and conservation help plan for waterful solutions year-round. • San Antonio saved 1.3 billion gallons of water in 2018. • Without conservation programs, San Antonio would need an additional 150,000 acre-feet of water to sustain our current consumption needs.
Learn more at
saws.org/waterful
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Wastewater Reuse in Texas By Tom Gooch, P.E., Freese & Nichols, Inc.
Acknowledgment: This article is based in part on a draft chapter on reuse from the up-coming 6th edition of the Texas Bar Association’s Essentials of Texas Water Resources. The chapter is co-authored by Ashleigh Acevedo of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, and Tom Gooch and David Sloan of Freese and Nichols, Inc.
In recent decades, the deliberate reuse of treated wastewater has become an increasingly important source of water supply in Texas. For the purpose of this paper, reuse is defined as the deliberate beneficial use of treated wastewater as a water supply. This definition does not include unplanned reuse, where a water supply may include some treated wastewater discharged upstream but there is no deliberate effort to incorporate the wastewater into the supply or to credit its use through water rights. Reuse in Texas developed gradually for many decades, but the amount of reuse has increased dramatically in the last thirty to forty years, for several reasons: •development of other sources of water supply is becoming more difficult •treated wastewater discharges are near urban areas, which can make them more economical than more distant supplies •treated wastewater discharges are less variable than other surface water sources in Texas, with discharges continuing during even severe droughts •wastewater treatment requirements have become increasingly stringent in the last fifty years, resulting in a significant improvement in the quality of treated wastewater and making it easier and safer to reuse.
Types of Reuse
The legal and technical issues involved in reuse vary depending on how a reuse project is implemented. In Texas, the most important legal distinction is between direct and indirect reuse. In direct reuse, treated wastewater is delivered directly from a wastewater treatment system to another use, without entering a watercourse. In indirect reuse, treated wastewater is returned to a watercourse, usually through a stream or lake, before being diverted at some point downstream for reuse. In Texas, direct reuse can generally be done without a water right permit, while indirect reuse requires permitting. Reuse can also be divided between potable reuse that provides treated drinking water and non-potable reuse, where the supply is not treated to drinking water quality.
History of Reuse in Texas
One of the challenges of documenting the history of reuse in Texas is that there are no reliable statewide data on current or historical reuse. Data must be gathered project by project. The earliest recorded reuse in Texas is for agricultural irrigation, beginning in the late 1800s south of San Antonio. Through the 1900s, cities in arid West Texas and the Texas Panhandle, including Amarillo, Lubbock, Odessa, and Abilene, provided treated wastewater for the irrigation of nearby farms and ranches. Agricultural irrigation is still a significant use of treated wastewater in Texas. In recent years, reuse has also become a significant supply source for “urban irrigation” of golf courses, athletic fields, parks, and other large landscaped areas in and around cities. Urban irrigation can be supplied by pipelines routed to specific areas of heavy use or, in some cases, by urban reuse distribution systems. This type of reuse often replaces municipal treated water as a source of supply. Reuse for industrial purposes in Texas began in the 1940s, with the sale of treated wastewater to a petroleum refinery by the City of Odessa. Reuse for industrial purposes has developed steadily since then, with cooling water for electric power generation plants being the largest category of industrial reuse in the state. This type of reuse involves non-potable water. Like urban irrigation, industrial reuse can be provided through delivery to individual users or through reuse distribution systems. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a great increase in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to develop oil and natural gas from shale deposits across the state. In many parts of Texas, treated wastewater has been a significant source of supply for fracking and other oil and gas development, which is classified as a mining use. Municipal reuse includes a wide array of potable and non-potable supply projects, including the development of non-potable reuse projects to replace treated drinking water with treated wastewater for urban industries and irrigation of golf courses, athletic fields, and large landscaped areas. Reuse for golf course irrigation is particularly widespread. Unplanned potable reuse for municipal water supplies began when the first wastewater treatment plants were built—downstream water suppliers would divert, treat, and use water that included upstream wastewater return flows. This sort of unplanned reuse 22
significant purple pipe systems, and many other cities have recently developed or are planning nonpotable reuse distribution systems. Direct potable reuse is a recent development in Texas, with two projects implemented to date. The first was the direct potable reuse of City of Big Spring treated wastewater by the Colorado River Municipal Water District. The system has a capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day (MGD), was completed in 2013, and is still An aerial view of the North Texas Municipal Water District East Fork Reuse Project. in operation. The City of Wichita Photo credit: John Bunker Sands Wetland Center website. Falls developed a direct potable reuse system in 2014 as a temporary occurs all over the state and is difficult to quantify. measure in response to severe drought. The system In recent years, many entities have deliberately had a capacity of 5 MGD, but it was decommissioned planned and implemented indirect potable reuse in 2015 when the drought ended. Wichita Falls has projects to provide municipal water supplies. The since developed an indirect potable reuse system using largest reuse projects in the state are indirect potable the same wastewater discharges. These two projects reuse projects. The North Texas Municipal Water were the first direct potable reuse projects in the District and Tarrant Regional Water District have United States. pioneered the use of constructed wetlands to remove nutrients and solids and improve the quality of water Current Status of Reuse in Texas diverted from streams before it is returned to water There are currently hundreds of reuse projects supply reservoirs for reuse. in Texas providing hundreds of thousands of acreIn general, non-potable use in urban areas depends feet per year to cities, golf courses, power plants, on the development of piping systems that deliver industries, and irrigated agriculture across the state. treated water within the city. (Such systems are often The lack of statewide data on reuse makes it difficult called “purple pipe� systems because purple-colored to determine the exact amount of reuse, but reuse is pipe is used to indicate that the water carried is clearly a significant source of supply in Texas today. non-potable.) San Antonio, El Paso, and Austin have The largest currently operating reuse projects in Texas include the following: Figure 1: Largest Currently Operating Reuse Projects in Texas
Facility
Reuse Type
Production
North Texas Municipal Water District Wilson Creek Wastewater Plant
Indirect potable
67,202 acre-feet per year
North Texas Municipal Water District East Fork Reuse Project
Indirect potable
56,494 acre-feet per year
Tarrant Regional Water District George Shannon Wetlands
Indirect potable
51,381 acre-feet per year
San Antonio Water System/City Public Service of San Antonio Reuse (for power plants on Braunig and Calveras Lakes)
Indirect non-potable
51,145 acre-feet per year
San Antonio Water System Purple Pipe System
Direct non-potable
17,703 acre-feet per year
City of Amarillo (supply for power plant use)
Direct non-potable
15,003 acre-feet per year
City of San Angelo (agricultural reuse)
Indirect non-potable
10,634 acre-feet per year
Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewage System (power plant reuse)
Direct non-potable
10,295 acre-feet per year
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(max historical use)
The Future of Reuse in Texas
Reuse will be a growing source of water supply for Texas in the future. The supplies from many existing reuse projects will increase with increasing population and return flows. In addition, there are many additional reuse projects planned. The 2017 Texas State Water Plan shows that supplies from new reuse projects will total 1.1 million acre-feet per year by 2070 – over 14 percent of planned new supplies from all sources. Some of the largest planned reuse projects include:
Thank you, TWCA Annual Convention Sponsors!
• Development of indirect reuse projects from City of Houston return flows. • Development of indirect reuse for Tarrant Regional Water District through Cedar Creek Reservoir. • Development of the Main Stem Pump Station to allow reuse of Trinity River Authority return flows by the North Texas Municipal Water District. • Development of indirect reuse for Dallas. • Dedication of City of Midland wastewater to reuse for oil and gas development.
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Freese & Nichols, Inc. Conference Breakfast LJA Engineering Phillips & Jordan Thursday Evening Reception HDR Engineering Wednesday Evening Reception Booth Ahrens & Werkenthin NewGen Strategies in Solutions, Inc. TWCA/NWRA Luncheon
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Over the years, the successful development of reuse projects has turned treated wastewater from a problem to be disposed of to a resource that can be used to meet our future demands for water. That is a success story we can all be proud of.
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Tom Gooch is a vice-president of Freese and Nichols, Inc. He focuses on water supply planning, water availability modeling, water rights analysis and permitting, reservoir system operation studies, water conservation planning and water and wastewater rate studies. TCG@freese.com
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BRONZE BGE, Inc. LRE Water, LLC NorrisLeal, LLC WaterPR
Water Supply • Flood Protection • Water Quality • Recreation
Upcoming TWCA/NWRA Events: June 19-21, 2019 TWCA Mid-Year Conference Moody Gardens Hotel Galveston, Texas August 7–9, 2019 Western Water Seminar Hilton Portland Downtown Portland, Oregon October 16-18, 2019 TWCA Fall Conference Wyndam San Antonio Riverwalk San Antonio, Texas November 6–8, 2019 88th Annual Conference The Westin Galleria Houston, Texas
View more dates on our TWCA calendar on the website.
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TWCA Board of Directors 2019-2020 HOPE WELLS President DAVID MONTAGNE President-Elect MICHAEL J. BOOTH Immediate Past President DRAINAGE DISTRICT
Don Carona, Orange – 2022 (Chair) Andre’ McDonald, Sugar Land – 2021 (EC) Kim Carroll, Beaumont – 2022 Chris Gallion, Clute – 2020 Alan Moore, Harlingen – 2020 Stan Kitzman, Brookshire – 2021 Allen Sims, Houston – 2022
GENERAL & ENVIRONMENTAL Timothy Brown, Austin– 2020 (Chair) Carolyn Ahrens, Austin– 2021 (EC) David Harkins, Austin– 2020 Robert M. Johnson, Dallas– 2022 Lauren Kalisek, Austin– 2022 Tom Ray, Waco– 2022 Ed Shackelford, Woodlands– 2021
GROUNDWATER Drew Satterwhite, Denison– 2022 (Chair) Kathy Turner Jones, Conroe– 2021 (EC) Dirk Aaron, Belton– 2020 Joe B. Cooper, Stephenville– 2022 John Seifert, Houston– 2020 Brian Sledge, Austin– 2021 Gary Westbrook, Milano – 2022 INDUSTRIAL Sara Tays, Austin– 2022 (Chair) Glenn Lord, Freeport– 2021 (EC) Lori Traweek, Houston– 2020 Greg Carter, Austin– 2021 Paulina Williams, Austin– 2020
IRRIGATION
Sonny Hinojosa, San Juan – 2020 (Chair) Glenn Jarvis, McAllen – 2021 (EC) Troy Allen, Edcouch – 2022 Tom McLemore, Harlingen – 2020 Kyle Miller, Wichita Falls – 2022 Tito Nieto, Los Fresnos – 2022 Steve Walthour, Dumas – 2021
MUNICIPAL
Wayne Owen, Fort Worth – 2020 (Chair) Fiona Allen, Arlington – 2021 (EC) Fred Arce, San Antonio – 2020 Jun Chang, Houston – 2022 Heather Cooke, Austin – 2022 Denis Qualls, Dallas – 2022 Yvonne Forrest, Houston – 2021 NAVIGATION & FLOOD CONTROL Lyn Clancy, Austin – 2021 (Chair) Tom Gooch, Fort Worth – 2022 (EC) Carolyn Brittin, Austin – 2020 Dan Buhman, Fort Worth – 2020 Patrick Brzozowski, Edna – 2021 Doug Caroom, Austin – 2022 Mary Beth Stengler, Anahuac – 2022 RIVER AUTHORITIES Kevin Ward, Arlington – 2022 (Chair) Walt Sears, Hughes Springs – 2022 (EC) Scott Hall, Beaumont – 2022 John Hofmann, Austin – 2020 David Montagne, Orange – 2020 Kent Satterwhite, Sanford – 2021 Cole Walker, Big Spring – 2021 UTILITY DISTRICTS John Chisholm, San Antonio – 2021 (Chair) Michael F. Thuss, San Antonio – 2022 (EC) Darrell Grubbs, Mount Pleasant – 2022 Kelley Holcomb, Lufkin – 2022 Robert Lux, Spring – 2021 David Weidman, Mount Vernon – 2020 Christopher Wingert, Abilene – 2020
PAST TWCA PRESIDENTS *Guy C. Jackson, Kerrville *A.F. Mitchell, Dallas *Max Starke, Austin *John Simmons, San Antonio *Josiah Wheat, Woodville *Beeman Fisher, Fort Worth *J.W. Buchanan, Dumas *Henry Graser, Dallas *Walter Wells, Waco *Howard Drew, Fort Worth Franklin B. Moon, Houston *Carl Riehn, Wylie John H. Specht, Pocatello, ID *Oury Selig, Galveston R.H. “Bob” Parker, Houston Fred N. Pfeiffer, San Antonio *A. Wayne Wyatt, Lubbock Sam F. Collins, Newton Ronald J. Neighbors, Friendswood *Duncan Ellison, Lubbock James P. Murray, Angleton Danny F. Vance, Arlington *Owen F. Ivie, Granbury *Carson H. Hoge, Waco Robert Lee Johnson, Dallas Robert J. Huston, Austin *Richard S. Bowers, Burnet Con Mims, Uvalde Alan H. Plummer, Jr., Fort Worth James M. Oliver, Fort Worth Robert Wagner, Crystal City *James R. Nichols, Fort Worth A.T. “Tommy” Hebert, Jr., Beaumont W.E. “Bill” West, Jr., Seguin C.E. Williams, White Deer *James R. Adams, Conroe Wayne M. Halbert, Harlingen Robert H. Lloyd, Austin Joseph J. Beal, Bastrop Peggy W. Glass, Austin Gregory E. Rothe, Hondo John E. Burke, Bastrop Jerry L. Clark, Orange M. Jeff Taylor, Houston Sonia Lambert, San Benito James M. Parks, Wylie Luana Buckner, Hondo Phillip J. Ford, Waco Robert J. Brandes, Austin John W. Grant, Big Spring Phil Kelley, Port Arthur *deceased
PRESIDENTS’ PANEL Ty Embrey, Austin – 2019 Randy Palachek, Austin – 2019 Tom Kula, Wylie – 2020 Emily Rogers, Austin – 2020 David Collinsworth, Waco – 2021 Ronda Trow, Conroe – 2021
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How well do you know your TWCA staff? What Is The Best Concert You Have Ever Attended?
DEAN
STACEY
The last concert I attended was a long time ago. I’m not sure of the best concert I attended, but I can remember who I went with.
Brandi Carlile
LISA
ADELINE
The Eagles (original band)
Lady Gaga
BECKY Bon Jovi
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