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

The One Water Movement: Gaining Momentum in Texas

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

Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

One Water is a holistic management approach that works to utilize every drop of water and is making strides in Texas. Attend this session to learn how One Water applications can benefit your water system, your community, and the state's overall water supplies. Explore current One Water trends and the vision for a sustainable water future beyond our lifetimes.

Speakers

Marisa Bruno

Water Program Manager, Hill Country Alliance

Marisa Bruno is the water program manager at Hill Country Alliance, where she works with local partners, including city and county officials, groundwater conservation districts, and grassroots water advocacy groups, to promote policies and projects that advance water supply resilience... Read More →

Mami Hara

Chief Executive Officer, US Water Alliance

Mami Hara is the chief executive officer of the US Water Alliance, a national nonprofit advancing policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all. Mami’s experience was earned in public sector, private practice, and nonprofit roles in which she guided award-winning... Read More →

Shay Ralls Roalson, P.E.

Director, Austin Water

Shay Ralls Roalson became the director of Austin Water in January 2023. She leads a team of 1,400 employees committed to providing high-quality drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services to more than 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area.

Jenna Walker

Director of Watershed Services, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Jenna Walker is the director of the watershed services division of the Meadows Center at Texas State University. She currently manages several grant-funded programs, including the Clean Coast Texas initiative, the Blanco/Cypress Creek Watershed Protection Plan, and the Texas Stream... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CST
Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

Breakout Session, Innovation and Legacy: Embracing New Solutions

1:15pm CST

Leading the Way: A Texas-Sized Flood Planning Effort

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

Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

(1 hour CEC available, approved by the TFMA)

Texas leads the nation with its groundbreaking inaugural state flood plan. The unique, bottom-up process has revealed important data about flood risk, solutions, and implementation costs. This panel will discuss the plan’s flood risk management recommendations aimed at reducing loss of life and property due to flooding and will compare practices from other states and abroad.

Speakers

Travis Pruski

Chief Operations Officer, Nueces River Authority

Travis Pruski has experience as a public official and a public administrator. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Texas in 2002, Travis returned home to Poth, Texas, where he served as mayor from 2004 to 2013. In 2017, he was appointed by the... Read More →

Tina Petersen, Ph.D., P.E.

Executive Director, Harris County Flood Control District

Dr. Tina Petersen is the executive director for the Harris County Flood Control District, serving the nation's third-largest county with a population of more than 4.5 million residents. She has served in this role since January 2022, when she was unanimously appointed to the position... Read More →

Bee Kothuis

Chief Representative, Netherlands Business Support Office, Texas

Bee Kothuis is a design anthropologist serving as the Netherlands Business Support Office chief representative for the Netherlands, which is based in Houston. Before moving to Texas in 2021, Bee facilitated multidisciplinary collaborative projects focusing on water management, hydraulic... Read More →

Jack Krolikowski

Flood Planning Director, American Flood Coalition

Jack Krolikowski is the flood planning director for the American Flood Coalition, where he works to promote risk-informed flood planning at all levels of government. Jack was previously the deputy state hazard mitigation officer in Georgia, where he coordinated natural hazard mitigation... Read More →

Reem Zoun, P.E.

Director of Flood Planning, Texas Water Development Board

Reem is the assistant deputy executive administrator of the office of planning at the Texas Water Development Board, and she led the effort to develop Texas’ first state flood plan that was adopted in August 2024. She has more than 23 years of private and public sector experience... Read More →

Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

Breakout Session, Water Supply and Flood Planning: Navigating a Resilient Tomorrow

8:30am CST

Nature-based Solutions: New Shades of Green Infrastructure

Wednesday January 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

(1 hour CEC available, approved by the TFMA)

Nature-based solutions can build a community's flood resiliency, enhance water quality, and improve the overall quality of life in a watershed. This panel will provide an update on the TWDB‘s statewide guidance manual on the application of nature-based solutions for flood mitigation in Texas, discuss opportunities and challenges of implementing these solutions, and share insights and experiences from practitioners across the state.

Speakers

Krista Bethune Melnar, P.E.

Stormwater Practice Leader, Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Krista Bethune Melnar serves as the stormwater practice leader at Freese and Nichols, where she is responsible for advancing a portfolio of stormwater and flood resilience solutions across the country. She has 25 years of experience addressing water resource challenges and implementing... Read More →

Charriss York

Program Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Charriss York is a program director at Texas Community Watershed Partners (TCWP), a program of the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit. Charriss leads the Green Infrastructure for Texas team working with communities to find nature-based solutions... Read More →

Jonathan Holley

Environmental Services Department Manager, Harris County Flood Control District

Jonathan Holley has worked at the Harris County Flood Control District since 2009 in several positions related to stormwater quality and environmental regulatory compliance. His current responsibilities include managing the district’s environmental services and mitigation banking... Read More →

Joshua Oyer

Coastal Resiliency Program Manager, Texas General Land Office

Josh is the coastal resiliency program manager at the Texas General Land Office with 17 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and outreach. He has worked for several agencies throughout his career including the Texas Water Development Board, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department... Read More →

Kelley Rich, P.E.

Senior Water Resources Engineer, Texas Water Development Board

Kelley is a water resources engineer with the Flood Science and Community Assistance Division at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). She has worked on flood modeling and mapping efforts, flood risk reduction studies, and stream restoration projects in both the private and public... Read More →

Wednesday January 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

Breakout Session, Water Supply and Flood Planning: Navigating a Resilient Tomorrow

9:45am CST

Could you, Would you, Should you? Perspectives on Groundwater Exportation

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

Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

(1 hour MCLE available, approved by the State Bar of Texas)

From dry, arid hills to humid bayous and wetlands, Texas' landscape represents 10 diverse ecoregions and massive variations in water availability, population, and development. This panel will deliberate how water can be moved to where it’s needed as well as the feasibility and implications that should be considered, such as future needs and impacts to local economies.

Speakers

Jeremy Mazur

Director of Natural Resources and Infrastructure Policy, Texas 2036

Jeremy serves as the director of infrastructure and natural resources policy for Texas 2036. Before joining Texas 2036, Jeremy’s legislative career began in the late 20th century as a policy analyst with the Sunset Advisory Commission. From there, he served as chief of staff for... Read More →

Natalie Ballew, P.G.

Director of Groundwater, Texas Water Development Board

Natalie Ballew is the director of the Groundwater Division at the Texas Water Development Board, which collects, interprets, and provides accurate and objective information on the groundwater resources of Texas to citizens, groundwater resource managers, policy makers, and lawmakers... Read More →

Natasha Martin

Attorney, Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody, PC

Natasha’s practice focuses on administrative and regulatory litigation with an emphasis in environmental and utility law. She has experience counseling clients on regulatory permitting and enforcement on air, water, and waste issues. Natasha has represented clients obtaining electric... Read More →

Shannon Rutherford

Partner, Terrill & Waldrop

Shannon S. (Shan) Rutherford is a partner at Terrill & Waldrop, where his practice focuses on groundwater supply project development and permitting. Shan also serves as general and special counsel for numerous special utility districts and nonprofit water supply corporations, representing... Read More →

Wednesday January 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Amphitheater 204, Meeting Level 2

Breakout Session, Water Supply and Flood Planning: Navigating a Resilient Tomorrow