2025 Water for Texas Conference: Full Schedule

9:00am CST

Reuniting the Hydrologic Cycle: Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction

Tuesday January 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CST

Groundwater and surface water are interconnected and interactive in many parts of Texas. However, this relationship is not always reflected in how we measure, manage, and allocate our water resources, from water rights and laws to planning to technical tools; these waters are treated differently. What can we do to better understand the intimate connection between our aquifers, lakes, and rivers? Join this discussion to explore the challenges of managing separated waters and the opportunities to reunite the hydrologic cycle to ensure a secure water future for Texas.

Speakers

Robert Mace, Ph.D., P.G.

Executive Director, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Robert Mace is the executive director and chief water policy officer of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a professor of practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. Robert has more than 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder... Read More →

Carlos Rubinstein

Principal, RSAH2O, LLC

Carlos Rubinstein is the principal member of RSAH2O, LLC, an environmental consulting firm with a strong emphasis on water issues. He has served as an expert witness on various environmental cases and has published several peer-reviewed articles on Texas water regulatory and policy... Read More →

Alan Day

General Manager, Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District

Alan was born and raised in Brownwood, Texas and has been a proud agriculturalist his entire life. He has served as the general manager of the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District since 2012. He has a master of science in animal science from Texas A&M University, and was... Read More →

John T. Dupnik, P.G.

Deputy Executive Administrator of Water Science and Conservation, Texas Water Development Board

John Dupnik joined the Texas Water Development Board in 2018 and oversees programs responsible for providing water science and data to support water supply and flood planning in Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and geology from Texas State University... Read More →

Sharlene Leurig

Managing Partner, Fluid Advisors

Sharlene Leurig is the founder and managing partner of Fluid Advisors. She was the founding chief executive officer of Texas Water Trade, a nonprofit that works to catalyze water transactions for people and nature. She served as board chair and interim chief executive officer of Vida... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CST
Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

Breakout Session, Science, Technology, and Data: Revolutionizing Water Management and Collaboration

10:30am CST

Bridging Data Silos: Collaboration in the Water Sector

Tuesday January 28, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST

Room 104, Meeting Level 1

In a state where we are continuously facing critical water issues, imagine the future we could unlock with better decision-making through data and collaboration. Reliable data allows us to work with greater certainty, efficiency, and impact. Find out how these panelists are using water data to make informed decisions and, more importantly, how they are building partnerships to make accessing data easier.

Speakers

Gregory Waller

Service Coordination Hydrologist, National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center

Greg Waller graduated from Texas A&M University in 1992 with a bachelor of science in meteorology. He joined the National Weather Service as an intern in May 1994 and transferred to the West Gulf River Forecast Center in December 2000. His duties include serving as the liaison to... Read More →

Taylor Christian

Water Data Scientist and Coordinator, Texas Water Development Board

Taylor Christian is a water data scientist and the data lead for the development of the Texas Water Data Hub, an intuitive website designed to index, document, search, and access water data in Texas. Taylor guides and supports programs across the state to implement FAIR (findable... Read More →

Ben Eldredge

Executive Director, Cibolo Conservancy

Ben Eldredge serves as the executive director of the Cibolo Conservancy, which emphasizes preservation of natural resources through conservation policy and conservation easements. Ben also serves on the board of directors for the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District. As a public... Read More →

Stacy Timmons

Associate Director of Hydrogeology, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources

Stacy Timmons is an associate director of hydrogeology programs at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the state geologic survey. As a hydrogeologist working with the Bureau since 2004, she has helped build the aquifer mapping and monitoring program, launched the... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Room 104, Meeting Level 1

Breakout Session, Science, Technology, and Data: Revolutionizing Water Management and Collaboration

1:15pm CST

#Twinning: Mirroring the Real World with GIS

Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST

Room 104, Meeting Level 1

(1 hour CEC available, approved by the TFMA)
From schools and water treatment plants to other essential infrastructure and flood mitigation applications, the ability to create a real-time digital representation—or digital twin—is revolutionizing many industries with this advanced technology. With new data to improve systems and planning, the opportunities for the water sector are endless. This discussion will look at examples of digital twins in action and explore the challenges and benefits of implementing this tool.
Moderator: Richard Wade, Texas Water Development Board
Panelists: Keith Owens, Fugro; Suzanne Pierce, Ph.D., Texas Disaster Information System; Elizabeth Savage, P.E., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Texas Community Watershed Partners Project Office

Speakers

Keith Owens

Commercial Director, Fugro

Keith Owens is the commercial director of remote sensing and mapping at Fugro. He has more than 28 years of experience acquiring, processing, and delivering geodata for three-dimensional mapping solutions.

Elizabeth Savage, P.E.

Project Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Texas Community Watershed Partners Project Office

Elizabeth Savage is the project director for the online Community Health and Resource Management (CHARM) digital platform development with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. CHARM is a mapping application that provides data, tools, and the digital environment to map and analyze... Read More →

Richard Wade

Deputy Executive Administrator of the Texas Geographic Information Office, Texas Water Development Board

Richard provides direction and management for all Texas Geographic Information Office (TxGIO) activities and programs and serves as the Geographic Information Officer for Texas. Richard is also the current president of the National States Geographic Information Council, an organization... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Room 104, Meeting Level 1

Breakout Session, Science, Technology, and Data: Revolutionizing Water Management and Collaboration

9:45am CST

Dr. Ecosystem: Improving Health and Providing Benefits

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST

Room 103, Meeting Level 1

(1 hour CEC available, approved by the TFMA)

Ecosystem restoration projects can improve the health of watersheds and provide measurable benefits to communities, even as development and population growth put a strain on natural resources and the environment. This panel of experts will explore the broad ways ecosystem services and collaborations bring value to Texas and the economy.

Speakers

Matthew Berg

Chief Executive Officer and Principal Scientist, Simfero

Dr. Matthew Berg leads Simfero, a science-based research and strategy firm. For more than 20 years, he has worked on diverse water issues across public, private, and academic sectors. Matthew has briefed U.S. Congress delegations, had his work cited in reports guiding key legislation... Read More →

Vanessa Puig-Williams

Senior Director of Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund

Vanessa Puig-Williams is a senior director on the climate resilient water systems team at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where she leads EDF’s efforts to advance sustainable groundwater management across the southwest. Before joining EDF, Vanessa served as executive director... Read More →

Karl Flocke

Water Resources Program Leader, Texas A&M Forest Service

Karl Flocke serves as the water resources and ecosystem services program leader for the Texas A&M Forest Service. In this capacity, he and his team promote healthy forest and woodland ecosystems and the countless benefits that they provide. He has a bachelor of science in renewable... Read More →

Sam Marie Hermitte

Assistant Deputy Executive Administrator of Water Science and Conservation, Texas Water Development Board

Sam Marie Hermitte’s responsibilities at the Texas Water Development Board include legislative implementation, drought policy, flood priority research projects, strategic planning, and such special initiatives as the development of the Texas Water Data Hub and TexasFlood.org. Additionally... Read More →

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Room 103, Meeting Level 1

Breakout Session, Science, Technology, and Data: Revolutionizing Water Management and Collaboration