Podcasts about texas water development board

*The upcoming economic and disaster aid package for farmers should be an improvement over the last one.  *A pair of lawmakers from Texas have introduced a bill to help Texas wildfire victims.  *Winter is just about over.  *A lot of Texas High Plains farmers have been adding sorghum silage to their crop mix.  *U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed tariffs and agricultural trade.  *Applications are being accepted for the Texas Water Development Board's agricultural water conservation grant program.  *What's the difference between pasture renovation and pasture rejuvenation?  *Hoof cracks can cause several problems in horses.  

 Today we had the privilege of hosting Peter Lake, former Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Peter was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to stabilize and strengthen the Texas electrical grid following Winter Storm Uri in 2021. He concurrently served as a Board Member of ERCOT and concluded his term with the PUCT in June 2023. Previously, Peter chaired the Texas Water Development Board. Since leaving public office, Peter has served as an independent strategic advisor and technical consultant through his firm, Cardinal Rose. We were thrilled to welcome Peter to our offices in Houston for a discussion of power systems broadly and his incredible experience tackling the Texas grid problems after the tragic events of February 2021. In our conversation, Peter provides candid insights into the post Uri rebuilding experience and discusses how and why Governor Abbott reached out to him to take on this incredibly hard role. We discuss the challenge in regaining public trust following the crisis and the strategies required to rebuild confidence in ERCOT, his very productive partnership with interim ERCOT CEO Brad Jones, the decision-making process at PUCT and its impact on power systems, ERCOT's unique governance structure and its relationship with PUCT, and the changes implemented after the 2021 storm. Peter shares his views on managing through a crisis, the importance of uniting stakeholders to facilitate efficient decision-making, and the rapid progress Peter and his team made with support from the Texas Legislature on projects that had previously been delayed. We explore the actions needed to address grid reliability, the challenges posed by Texas's rapid power demand growth, the need to expand transmission and dispatchable energy resources, the critical balance between renewables and reliable backup power, the importance of market-oriented solutions, concerns with over-reliance on batteries, problems brewing now in other US grids, and the federal government's role in system reliability. Peter also touches on the close relationship between water management and energy, the potential for adopting incentive models to improve power reliability, and much more. We walked away with a deeper appreciation for the efforts made by Peter and the teams at PUCT and ERCOT in 2021 to stabilize the grid and are grateful to Peter for sharing his unique insights. As Texans, we are all personally thankful to Peter and everyone else who stepped in to an unbelievably hard situation after the storm to improve the grid in Texas.    Mike Bradley kicked off the discussion by highlighting that this week looks to be starting out as a pretty slow and less volatile trading week for most markets. On the bond market front, over the last 4-5 weeks the 10yr bond yield has increased from ~3.6% up to ~4.2% due to a belief that the FED won't raise interest rates in 2024 as much as was previously expected. On the crude oil market front, WTI was up a couple dollars per barrel this week on talks of a further increase in Chinese stimulus. On the broader equity market front, the S&P 500 was down marginally this week after a significant runup over the past three months. Broader markets could trade sideways over the next couple of weeks as investors further digest the unexpected runup in interest rates, the beginning of Q3 earnings and the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election. On the energy equity front, a couple of oil service companies issued disappointing outlooks last week which weighed on the service industry. He also noted that this week's Q3 reporting would be peppered with a handful of electric utilities, mining companies, natural gas E&Ps and oil service companies. Jeff Tillery discussed the growing excitement in nuclear with major recent developments (Three Mile Island, tech offtake contracts, and tech company investments) but cautioned to stay mindful of potential challenges and realisti

Drought conditions across the state dropped a percentage point in May compared to the previous month, with 26 percent of the state in some stage of drought, primarily in West and South Texas and parts of the Panhandle. Massive storms in late April and into May caused flooding and wind damage in East and North Texas but did pull those regions out of drought. Some parts of Central and East Texas received three times their average rainfall in May, according to Mark Wentzel, hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board. Meanwhile, Texans are staring down another miserably hot summer and...Article Link

We dive into a conversation with Kevin Ward, the General Manager of the Trinity River Authority Kevin oversees a vast operation that includes water treatment and wastewater facilities, serving a wide area and managing a significant budget. His journey from a temporary role in the water business to leading one of the top utilities in the country is a testament to his dedication and adaptability.Kevin's career began out of necessity, leading him to the Texas Water Development Board and eventually to the Trinity River Authority. His work has significantly impacted water and wastewater management, emphasizing the importance of doing the job in front of you with excellence. Kevin highlights the evolution of the Trinity River Authority under his leadership, focusing on modernizing operations and fostering partnerships to enhance the organization's capabilities and impact.The discussion shifts to the challenges and strategies in water and wastewater management, including infrastructure aging, cost, and emerging contaminants like PFAS. Kevin emphasizes the importance of data, technology, and innovation in addressing these challenges, showcasing projects like wastewater recycling and biosolids management as examples of the Authority's proactive approach.Kevin also touches on the role of technology in improving operational efficiency and resilience, from data analytics to infrastructure materials. The conversation concludes with Kevin's perspective on leadership, employee development, and his legacy, highlighting his commitment to nurturing talent and advancing the water industry.Throughout the podcast, Kevin's insights into the complexities of water management, his strategic approach to leadership, and his vision for the future of the Trinity River Authority are evident. His story is a compelling example of how dedication, innovation, and collaboration can drive significant advancements in the water sector.More on Kevin: https://www.trinityra.org/leadership.phpAquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/

Texan is telling the story of the beef industry as a Beef Trailblazer. A leading figure in the Texas High Plains cotton industry is making a big career move.   More than 20 lawmakers from Texas are working to permanently kill the Death Tax.   The application period for the Texas Water Development Board's agricultural conservation grants is now open.   There's good news and not so good news for agriculture in the Texas Rolling Plains.   Horses commonly develop joint injuries, but rehab can help to heal those injuries.

A new poll shows that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz is in a dead heat with BOTH Dallas U.S. Representative Colin Allred and San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez: https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-poll-raises-alarm-bells-texas-election-1862204 ...That same poll finds Allred well ahead of all Democratic challengers, but with a plurality of Texas Democratic primary voters still undecided: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2024-poll-allred-leads-democratic-senate-primary-plurality-are-undecided/ ...While Cruz swallows his own considerable pride to endorse Donald Trump for a third time: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/ted-cruz-donald-trump-endorsement-2024 ...And his own political future hangs on a U.S. Supreme Court decision on whether the Colorado Supreme Court can find Trump ineligible for that state's ballot: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-supreme-court-14th-amendment-republicans-congress-rcna134736 ...And the Houston Chronicle rebukes Cruz for his "betrayal" in Winter Storm Uri and recent jokes about it: https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-rebuked-largest-texas-newspaper-betrayal-1862503 A new Biden campaign ad features a Dallas OB/GYN who found herself without needed abortion care: https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1749161319519912355?t=zNL10Ckqsp8zvWX5gP8iHA&s=03 ...While a Texas A&M professor who also found her life threatened by Texas' abortion ban relates her horrific experience in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/i-miscarried-texas-doctors-abortion-law-1861677 A Salon op-ed accuses Governor Abbott of taking Texas to a dangerous brink over the border: https://www.salon.com/2024/01/22/greg-abbott-is-pushing-texas-to-the-brink/ Water supplies are at dangerously low levels heading towards the summer of '24 in multiple sections of Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-water-supply-reservoirs-drought/ ...While the Texas Water Development Board predicts that growth will far exceed water availability in Texas by 2070: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-population-is-projected-to-surpass-50m-by-2070-do-we-have-enough-water/3439855/ ERCOT made it through the MLK freeze, but our grid remains vulnerable: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/01/22/the-texas-grid-did-its-job-during-the-freeze-but-the-jobs-not-done/ ...While ERCOT's governing board, the PUC, has voted down their proposed system of fines and penalties for battery storage operators: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/battery-ercot-contested-regulations-1186-18614035.php And Tex-Mex ascends to the top of the most popular cultural culinary motifs in America: https://www.axios.com/2023/04/14/food-trends-us-restaurant-menu-tacos Thanks for listening! Find out how to support Progress Texas in our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Texas' population is projected to grow to 51.5 million by 2070, according to the Texas Water Development Board. While parts of the state are already battling low water levels or aging infrastructure, officials are developing plans to best use water resources.

Texas' population is projected to grow to 51.5 million by 2070, according to the Texas Water Development Board. While parts of the state are already battling low water levels or aging infrastructure, officials are developing plans to best use water resources.

Two leading analysts and advocates for a data-driven, comprehensive approach to water policy in Texas, Sarah Rountree Schlessinger, CEO of the Texas Water Foundation, and Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Analyst with Texas 2036 have a conversation with Larry on the water issues of Texas and the potential impact of Proposition 6 on meeting those challenges.Both Sarah and Jeremy are highly regarded for the important research and data they develop with their teams. They are both called on frequently to testify before Texas Legislative Committees, the Texas Water Development Board, other state agencies, the 16 Regional Water Districts of Texas, and other entities that are considering water policy.

HARLINGEN, Texas - Laura Haley, president of Cameron County Drainage District No. 6, is urging Texans to vote “yes” on a constitutional amendment in November. “If your readers don't know about SB 28 and Proposition 6, they to know about it. It is going to be on the November ballot. If voters approve this, this board will have a billion dollars to handle infrastructure and water projects,” Haley said.Haley made her comments in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service during a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) hearing at Harlingen City Hall recently. The board that will receive the $1 billion, should voters approve Proposition 6, is TWDB.  Haley, an attorney from Santa Rosa, spoke at the hearing. She later told the Guardian that CCDD6 is the newest drainage district in Cameron County.“We're not even two years old yet. We're a little over a year and a half old. We were on the ballot in November of 2021. And then the voters passed by remarkable numbers - 84 percent - the creation of our district. Then, after we were created, they voted for a tax of 16 cents. And since then, we've been cranking and building infrastructure.”CCDD 6 covers the far western edge of Cameron County, including Santa Rosa, La Feria and part of Primera.The general manager of Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 also spoke to the Guardian at the TWDB hearing. Rolando Vela said TWDB is going to study the drainage needs of the Harlingen area.“I think this is amazing, to have this board here,” Vela said. “We actually took them on a tour. We showed them the drainage system, the challenges we have. We have an artificial drainage system and they get it. I think the study that they're going to be working on, that was part of House Bill 4742… they're going to start working on it to come up with some solutions to help address some of the problems we have.”HB 4742 was one of state Rep. Janie Lopez's top priorities during the 88th legislative session.Here is a podcast featuring some of the highlights from the TWDB hearing. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

On the latest episode of the Debtwire Municipals Muni Lowdown podcast, Managing Editor Paul Greaves speaks with one of the team's journalists, Deb Pace, to discuss water issues in the Southwest focusing on Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.Deb begins the podcast by discussing the efforts of the Texas Water Development Board, their recently released water report that showed that 31% of Texas is under drought conditions, and nearly 40% of the state is vulnerable to drought soon. Deb turns her attention to the agreement reached in the Texas legislature to allocate USD 1bn toward addressing the state's water challenges and highlights a few of the projects funded. The conversation then turns to Arizona and specifically how the state has stopped approving development projects in Phoenix over water concerns. There are also projects highlighted that are benefiting from federal funding. The discussion swings to the USD 1bn in funding over three years to the state's Water Infrastructure Financing Authority to help boost water supply through alternative water projects.The dialogue moves toward Nevada, with Deb discussing its mitigation efforts. Specifically, a state law signed allowing the Southern Nevada Water Authority to limit residential water use during a declared federal emergency water shortage through flow-limiting devices. Deb then highlights pipeline construction efforts in the state. The podcast concludes with the latest plans for the Las Vegas Valley Water District.As a reporter for Debtwire Municipals, Deb Pace covers transportation, utilities, and tax-backed credits in the State of Illinois.#water #drought #conservation #muniland

WESLACO, Texas - On the eve of a visit to the Rio Grande Valley by the leadership of the U.S. side of the International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has announced increased funding for the agency. The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) is a federal government agency and the U.S. component of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), which applies the boundary and water treaties of the United States and Mexico and settles differences that may arise in their application. The USIBWC is headed by Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner. Giner is slated to visit the Valley on Wednesday July 19.“One of the things that I did even as our Republican colleagues we're cutting everywhere - I think they're going to cut about $131 billion - I was able to get an increase of over $36 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission. That's almost a 25 percent increase,” Cuellar said, in a webinar with news reporters.“The reason this is important is… the International Boundary and Water Commission will be able to - and I put some language (in the appropriations bill) specifically (for this) - there'll be able to improve the predictability and reliability of water delivery fees for the border.”Giner is slated to give the opening remarks at what is being dubbed a “Federal-State Stakeholder Meeting.” It takes place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center's main building auditorium in Weslaco on July 19. The meeting is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. and finish at 5:00 p.m. Other agencies to be featured at the stakeholder meeting are the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Water Development Board.The address of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center is 2415 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596.For more information about the stakeholder meeting call Esther Cortez, public affairs assistant for USIBWC at 915-317-5915. Or, email her at: esther.cortez@ibwc.gov.Here are Rep. Cuellar's remarks about the IBWC during the webinar.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

The Texas Water Development Board is partnering with the Texas Water Foundation's statewide water campaign, Texas Runs on Water, to host the My Texas Water Photo Campaign to inspire Texans to draw a connection to the water that keeps Texas running. The organizations invite all Texans to share photos, reels, stories, or videos on Instagram from past or present experiences that represent their unique ties to Texas water. Past photo entries have included trips to the Gulf Coast; scenic views of Texas lakes, rivers, or springs; fishing and outdoor recreation, and tubing trips with friends. Submissions will be accepted through...Article Link

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Senate committee moves bill to help Texas Tech and University of Houston systems get more funding but it's just another drop in the bucket effort. The issue will never be resolved until enough legislators set aside pride, envy, and a host of other sins and agree to let the Permanent University Fund (PUF) fund more than A&M and UT.Also, Senator Charles Perry has made future water resources in Texas a big priority of his service and the Senate has passed his SB 28 / SJR 75. However, legislators are making a big long (or short?) term mistake in continuing to add to the clout of the Texas Water Development Board – they are funding, growing, and empowering a Leftist Leviathon that will, at some point, turn on us and do so with little direct political accountability.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Sales tax collections up but retail is in the dumps.Trump's indictment by a local prosecutor isn't unique – the same was done in Texas to Rick Perry to kill his presidential campaign: Trump Isn't The First GOP Candidate Indicted By Local Democrats.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Texas Water Journal and Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, talks with Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Advisor for Texas 2036, about water policy priorities in Texas. Mazur directs Texas 2036's work in the area of natural resources, which includes water, oil and gas, and energy.  Since joining Texas 2036 in September 2021, Mazur has played a leading role in Texas 2036's energy expansion project, charting an energy future that includes cleaner oil and gas and renewable sources of energy.  Mazur also directs research and policy development in water.  His current projects include a study on water markets, developing a strategic implementation plan for recent federal water legislation, and improving the state's infrastructure and resilience to extreme weather. Drawing on over 20 years of experience working in the Texas legislature and critical state agencies, Mazur works directly with state and legislative leaders on policy changes needed for Texas' energy and water future. Before coming to Texas 2036, his legislative career began in the late 20th century as a policy analyst with the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. From there, he served as a Chief of Staff for Texas State Representative Bill Callegari and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Texas State Senator Van Taylor.  He also served as Director of Governmental Relations for two state agencies essential to Texas' future: the Texas Water Development Board and, more recently, the Railroad Commission, Texas' leading oil and gas, pipeline safety, and surface mining regulator.

Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, talks with Carlos Rubinstein, Principal at RSAH2O, LLC, about water markets and the Rio Grande. Rubinstein has over 38 years experience in state and municipal management and regulation having served as Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, Commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and City Manager of Brownsville, Texas. His experience includes a strong emphasi​s in water management, water resources, international water treaties, water quality, environmental enforcement and compliance issues as well as waste management.

Featuring Darrell Tompkins, CIO of the Texas Water Development BoardConnect with Darrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-tompkins-0992132/SummaryIn the podcast episode featuring Darrell Tompkins, the CIO of the Texas Water Development Board, the importance of customer service in the IT profession was discussed. Darrell's background in hospitality and technology helped him to anticipate customer needs and provide solutions before they were asked for. He emphasized the importance of providing excellent customer service and how it can make a customer's life easier. Additionally, Darrell discussed the role of the Texas Water Development Board in providing loans to local governments and communities for water supply and water quality projects, as well as new flood mitigation initiatives.Timestamps0:00 - Intro 3:15 - Customer service and relationships are critical pillars to success 7:46 - First solutions implemented at the Four Seasons 9:30 - The 3P's: People, Product, & Profit 12:55 - Why are people and culture so important to any organization 16:12 - The importance of culture in sports 20:14 - Building a winning team 23:58 - The types of projects the Texas Water Development Board engages in throughout the state.⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoy listening to the podcast, ⁠please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts⁠ and let us know in your review who you want to see next on the podcast. Thanks!You can also Tweet us on ⁠@thejoetoste⁠ and tell us what lessons you learned from the episode so we can thank you personally for tuning in

Featuring Darrell Tompkins, CIO at the Texas Water Development Board Connect w/ Darrell: LinkedIn, Twitter Sponsor: Nagarro Public Sector And a huge thank you to Nagarro Public Sector. This live podcast would not be possible without the support of Nagarro. Nagarro Public Sector excels at helping senior technology leaders in digital disruption from Cloud, AI, Big Data, and digital product engineering to system integration work across platforms. To learn more about Nagarro, check out nagarro.com Sponsor: The TechTables Live Podcast Tour Join us for these small, intimate live podcast conversations across the U.S. Stay in contact with the latest events on https://www.techtables.com/en. Show Notes: [01:51] Darrell shares how his experience in the hospitality industry prepared him to serve his current team at the Texas Water Development Board. [09:19] The 3 P's of an effective team: People, Product, Profit [14:32] The critical differences between correcting mistakes vs adjusting attitudes within a team, and the role accountability plays in each. [23:44] The latest in how Darrell and his team are leading the state's efforts to ensure a secure water future for Texas and its citizens   Quotes: It's a players game. Players can go where they want, but if you can touch their heart, And you can somehow figure out, 'Hey, this is the impact that you're going to make...' People just gravitate towards you and they gravitate towards your organization ~ Darrell Tompkins Customer service and relationships are critical pillars to success for any operation, and especially in IT ~ Darrell Tompkins   ---------------------- Want to dive deeper? Check out my episode on TechTables - https://www.techtables.com/ And if you're a CIO or technology leader interested in coming on TechTables, shoot me an email at joe@techtables.com Thank you for supporting Levity Media LLC ❤️, a small business growing private and public sector technology communities through fun and engaging conversations with top technology leaders. Learn more about Joe Toste (me) at https://www.techtables.com/about/ See what episodes I'm creating at https://www.techtables.com/

Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Jennifer Walker, President and CEO of Watearth, Inc. about Small Business Opportunities, Nationwide Projects, and Vegan Eating.   Read her full bio below. Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form  Showtimes: 1:17  Nic & Laura Segment8:51  Interview with Jennifer Walker Starts13:12  Small Business Opportunities15:41  Nationwide Projects22:55  Veganism & Travel28:07  Policy & Field Stories Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Jennifer Walker at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwalker-watearth/Guest Bio:Jennifer Walker, President of Watearth, Inc., has an earned reputation for bringing unique insights to projects, whether the focus is green infrastructure or gray. As a water resource engineer chiefly concerned with developing sustainable and resilient solutions, 30 years of practice producing foundational environmental documentation and master plans, nuanced and complex hydraulic and hydrologic models, and civil designs grounded in solid science and reality have prepared Walker to work on a variety of project types. Walker is widely considered an expert in stormwater, water quality, flood control, green infrastructure, hydrology and hydraulics, water resources, and complex projects with multiple stakeholders.Walker has provided operations training and continuing education to more than 10,000 client staff and engineers the world over through programs at ASCE, CASQA, FMA, USACE, and Stanford University. For the truly sensitive matters of litigation, Walker has been called upon time and time again as an expert witness.  Walker excels in environmental science and water resources largely because due to understanding the value of niche focus. Walker and the adept team at Watearth provide efficient project management, operating within their expertise at a capacity and level of elegance that suggests a larger firm.  By understanding systems at both ends of the spectrum, Walker has routinely proven an asset to project teams in need of a nuanced approach that addresses upstream and downstream project concerns. Walker's resume includes highlight projects across our nation's geography. Walker has consulted at a principal level for more than a dozen years, with projects for major municipal clients in California and Texas carrying fees and construction costs over $22M. Walker navigates grant funding and regulatory policy deftly and will provide your project with the same on-budget and on-schedule success provided to clients like Los Angeles County, Texas Water Development Board, San Francisco Estuary Institute, City of Houston, Caltrans, and City of Austin. Walker is looking to the future and developing solutions accordingly. Walker is ahead of the curve at integrating climate change adaptation into projects and assessing cost-benefit. Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs MullerSupport the show (https://www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form)

The Cattle Contract Library Act passed the House. The phenomenal growth of the dairy industry on the Texas High Plains continues. There have been several successful farm and ranch water conservation projects funded by the Texas Water Development Board. About 10 percent of equine colic cases require surgery. We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.

Prepare now for input shortages coming in 2022. As the drought gets worse in the Texas High Plains, the likelihood of a forage shortage is growing. The Texas Water Development Board has funding to help Texas farmers conserve water. The Central Texas Blacklands have received some moisture this fall. We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.

The Texas Water Development Board will hold a Groundwater Management Area 13 Joint Planning Meeting virtually on Friday, March 19, at 9:30 a.m. via web conference. Attendees will review groundwater management plans, accomplishments of the management area, and proposals to adopt new or amend existing desired future conditions for the relevant aquifers within a management area. Attendance is free and open to the public. To join in the meeting, go to https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/575712197 and use access code 575-712-197. Attendees may also join by phone at 224-501-3412.Article Link

Citizens in Groundwater Management Area 13 interested in planning for their groundwater resources are invited to attend a virtual meeting Friday, Feb. 5, at 9:30 a.m. Attendance is free and open to the public. The meeting will be held via web conference; visit https://global. gotomeeting.com/join/907045893 and enter access code 539-867-581, or join by phone at 872-240-3311, with access code 907-045-893. The groundwater conservation district will review groundwater management plans, accomplishments of the management area, and proposals to adopt new or amend existing desired future conditions for the relevant aquifers within the management area. The Texas Water Development Board will calculate...Article Link

Conducting farmer education meetings this winter is no easy task with COVID-19. A virtual American Farm Bureau convention highlights the need for rural broadband. Agricultural water conservation grants are available from the Texas Water Development Board. We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.

As hurricane season heats up, a growing number of properties located outside of FEMA-designated high-risk flood zones are actually flooding.  The problem is especially bad in the urban areas of America's cities.  A national survey shows nearly 85% report experiencing urban flooding.  Insurance claims are on the rise, too.Host Lisa Miller, a former deputy insurance commissioner, talks with Sam Brody of Texas A&M University about his latest research and fellow scientist and resiliency expert Alec Bogdanoff on how we can protect more homes and businesses from flooding.Show Notes“Urban flooding is kind of this hidden danger among all flood risks in the United States,” according to Dr. Sam Brody of Texas A&M University and Director of the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores.  It occurs mostly in high growth areas, where development brings rain impervious surfaces, such as roads, driveways, and parking lots, which change the natural drainage pattern of the land.  “It's bringing flood impacts to unexpected areas, sometimes miles outside of the FEMA-designated 100-year flood plain.”Brody's joint study with the University of Maryland is titled, The Growing Threat of Urban Flooding: A National Challenge 2018.  The report revealed neighborhoods that were miles away from known flood risk zones but were surrounded by man-made barriers, such as roads, railroad tracks, and sound walls, referred to as “built environment barriers.”“These features of the built environment are creating the flood hazard and the associated impact.  They're either exacerbating or entirely creating the situation of risk.  FEMA's models, which are all based on stream channels, don't account for these growing areas of risk and impact,” Brody said.   He noted that 2017's Hurricane Harvey, one of the largest flood events in U.S. history, exposed a lot of underlying conditions of urban flooding, especially in Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the country.The study looked primarily at rainfall, but urban flooding can occur with tidal events, too, including high-tide or “sunny day” flooding, as seen in some South Florida communities.  Dr. Alec Bogdanoff is Principal Scientist and Co-Founder of Brizaga, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida based firm that assists businesses and communities in becoming more resilient to the effects of sea level rise and long-term environmental changes.  He said some storm water systems, which are meant for collecting and sending rainwater out to sea are instead becoming conduits for saltwater to back up into communities during this period of sea level rise.“The challenge comes if you end up with a high-tide sunny day flooding example and instead of it being a sunny day, it's a rainy day.  You now have to wait for the tides to go down before that rainwater is going to go out,” Bogdanoff said.The study included a survey of more than 400 flood control professionals across all 50 states.  It found that 83% had experienced urban flooding and 46% indicated it has occurred in numerous or most areas.  “To me, the number one surprising result was that 85% of respondents experienced urban flooding outside of the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which means this is a problem and it's growing nationwide,” said Brody.  “There are hotspots like Miami, Palm Beach, and Houston of urban flooding but this is something that needs to be addressed at all scales starting from the national level down to the local.”“This phenomenon is greatly affecting businesses and homes to the point that I think it should become a part of the conversation when it comes to insurance, to cover the losses that occur,” said host Lisa Miller.  She pointed to the flood protection gap, which is the difference between the insured and the actual value of flood damage.  In Hurricane Harvey, the estimated insured losses were $30 billion but the overall value of damage was nearly three times greater, at an estimated $85 billion.  More than 75% of those flooded properties, some in urban areas, had no flood insurance to pay for their losses.Part of the problem is adequately communicating risk to property owners.   Miller and her guests discussed the limits of FEMA's flood insurance rate maps, whose flood zones area binary, showing simply whether a particular property is in or out of a zone. “We've worked with clients who are in the hundred-year flood zone, so they think they have a one-percent chance every year of being flooded, but the reality is you can be in a much higher-risk zone within that hundred-year flood zone than FEMA dictates from their maps,” Bogdanoff pointed out. “We're trying to have people understand that it's not if you're in or out, it's how far you are from that boundary and there are gradients of risk extending outward from the hundred-year flood plain that people need to be aware of,” Brody said.  The podcast also discussed solutions.  Brody said his team, with support from FEMA, has developed a new method to predict and map hazards and risk.  Instead of hydrology and hydraulics models, they are using statistics and machine learning techniques to improve flood prediction.  “We may not replace the FEMA floodplain maps but we can augment them and complement them to help resident be more prepared and mitigate impacts,” he said.Bogdanoff said Broward County, Florida has developed a series of “incremental but fairly significant” changes to improve resiliency.  They include a one-hundred year flood map that guides future development, a Fort Lauderdale seawall ordinance to provide better flood protection, another ordinance requiring flood disclosure, new infrastructure improvements, and efforts to encourage resilient building design.  “Ultimately what you want is insurance to be the last risk transfer.  We want to do as much as we can to protect people so that they don't have to use insurance,” he said.Host Miller also noted FEMA's planned rollout this fall of its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.   BRIC focuses on pre-disaster mitigation by helping local and state governments fund projects that will reduce risk from natural hazards and disasters, such as flooding.  It replaces the existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation program.  Under BRIC, FEMA will set aside 6% of estimated disaster expenses for each major disaster to fund a mitigation grant program.  With demand expected to exceed the program's resources, both Brody and Bogdanoff favor focusing on projects of regional importance to maximize the federal funding.“Water doesn't care about political boundaries,” said Bogdanoff.  “If you build resiliently in one community, build higher in one community, you could end up hurting another community.”  He pointed to the Central and South Florida Flood Control System with its thousands of miles of canals extending from Lake Okeechobee as an example of a regional solution providing flood control, water supply, and salt water intrusion protection for multiple counties. Brody agreed.  “If we don't think regionally, we're going to come up with the wrong answer.”  He said Hurricane Harvey was a “wake-up call” for Texas.  The Texas Water Development Board now has a new program that divides the state by water sheds and is creating collaborative plans to deal with unintended consequences of upstream development on downstream communities.  “Over the long-term, there's going to be less need for federal funding and outside support, because these communities will be more resilient in the first place,” Brody said.    Host Miller reminded listeners that flooding is the most frequent disaster, the most expensive, and can leave lasting economic devastation to communities and to those who cannot afford to repair or replace their buildings without insurance.  “If you don't have flood insurance, your possessions and life savings are at risk.  And further, we're on the hook as taxpayers having to subsidize those neighbors without flood coverage.  As our guests on today's program have said, the water doesn't understand a line on a map.  Just because it says you're not in a high-risk area doesn't mean that you're not high-risk,” said Miller.  Links and Resources Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Center for Texas Beaches and Shores and Interactive WebtoolsThe Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (Texas A&M University)BrizagaThe Growing Threat of Urban Flooding: A National Challenge 2018  (University of Maryland and Texas A&M University)Lower-Risk Properties Flooding More (LMA Newsletter of June 8, 2020) Flood Season Is Coming. Homeowners in These Cities Need More Insurance (ValuePenguin, May 18, 2020)Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program (FEMA)Lisa Miller & Associates Flood Insurance & Resiliency webpage (resources for private flood insurance)www.floodsmart.gov (The National Flood Insurance Program)** The Listener Call-In Line for your recorded questions and comments to air in future episodes is 850-388-8002 or you may send email to LisaMiller@LisaMillerAssociates.com **The Florida Insurance Roundup from Lisa Miller & Associates, brings you the latest developments in Property & Casualty, Healthcare, Workers' Compensation, and Surplus Lines insurance from around the Sunshine State.  Based in the state capital of Tallahassee, Lisa Miller & Associates provides its clients with focused, intelligent, and cost conscious solutions to their business development, government consulting, and public relations needs.  On the web at www.LisaMillerAssociates.com or call 850-222-1041.  Your questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome!  Date of Recording 7/23/2020. Email via info@LisaMillerAssociates.com   Composer: www.TeleDirections.com  © Copyright 2017-2020 Lisa Miller & Associates, All Rights Reserved

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Chairman Peter Lake joins us to discuss water infrastructure financing in Texas and more. Chairman Lake provides a wide-ranging interview showcasing his knowledge on water infrastructure finance, risk and creditworthiness assessment, opportunities for private capital, water markets, and much, much more. In this session, you'll learn about: Pete's background and how a finance expert wound up on the TWDB TWDB's SWIFT Program (State Water Implementation Fund for Texas) The TWDB's regional planning process for water supply Issues in marketing TWDB's $1 billion bond portfolio to investors Water & its relationship with economic development and the business community Why institutional investors look for positive stories, needed services and creditworthiness when assessing an investment TWDB's programs assessing borrower creditworthiness and implementing post-loan compliance The increasing role of climate risk and the importance of local participation in climate planning P3s & investment portfolios and the relationship with regulatory risk and technology risk Two examples of opportunities where private capital might be leveraged to create value in water supply by lowering technology and regulatory risk Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Pete's LinkedIn page Pete's Twitter handle: @twdb_peter Texas Water Development Board website TWDB's SWIFT homepage Slaking Texas' Thirst with Carlos Rubinstein Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven't done so already. And don't forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don't forget to join The Water Values mailing list!

Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Chairman Peter Lake joins us to discuss water infrastructure financing in Texas and more. Chairman Lake provides a wide-ranging interview showcasing his knowledge on water infrastructure finance, risk and creditworthiness assessment, opportunities for private capital, water markets, and much, much more. In this session, you’ll learn about: Pete’s background and how a finance expert wound up on the TWDB TWDB’s SWIFT Program (State Water Implementation Fund for Texas) The TWDB’s regional planning process for water supply Issues in marketing TWDB’s $1 billion bond portfolio to investors Water & its relationship with economic development and the business community Why institutional investors look for positive stories, needed services and creditworthiness when assessing an investment TWDB’s programs assessing borrower creditworthiness and implementing post-loan compliance The increasing role of climate risk and the importance of local participation in climate planning P3s & investment portfolios and the relationship with regulatory risk and technology risk Two examples of opportunities where private capital might be leveraged to create value in water supply by lowering technology and regulatory risk Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include: Pete’s LinkedIn page Pete’s Twitter handle: @twdb_peter Texas Water Development Board website TWDB’s SWIFT homepage Slaking Texas’ Thirst with Carlos Rubinstein Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!

Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, talks with Robert Mace and Sharlene Leurig about a new study that is exploring the science behind Comanche Springs’ recent reawakening and the efforts that could help Fort Stockton reclaim its title as the Spring City of Texas. Once one of the five largest springs in Texas, Comanche Springs ceased flowing in the 1950s due to significant groundwater pumping upstream from the springs. Over the last decade, however, the once-quiet springs have begun flowing again in the late winter months. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University and Texas Water Trade are conducting a feasibility assessment of a market-based restoration of Comanche Springs. The assessment will evaluate what it would take to restore perennial flows using voluntary, market-based cooperation of groundwater owners in the Comanche Springs’ contributing and recharge zones. Sharlene Leurig is the Chief Executive Officer of Texas Water Trade. She is a sustainable water finance expert with extensive experience in Texas on long-range water planning, infrastructure finance and water transactions. Formerly, she directed the Texas Environmental Flows Initiative, a collaboration of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Harte Research Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and several other groups, to purchase water for the bays and estuaries of the Texas Gulf Coast. She also chaired the Austin Water Forward Task Force, which developed a groundbreaking 100-year water plan approved unanimously by the Austin City Council in 2018. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and English from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was a fellow in the MIT-USGS Science Impact Collaborative, focusing on the role of science in multi-stakeholder resource planning and dispute resolution. Robert Mace is the Interim Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. He has over 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes and water policy, mostly in Texas. Before joining Texas State University in 2017, Mace worked at the Texas Water Development Board for 17 years ending his career there as the Deputy Executive Administrator for the Water Science & Conservation office. While at the Board, Robert worked on understanding groundwater and surface water resources in Texas; advancing water conservation and innovative water technologies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse, and rainwater harvesting; and protecting Texans from floods. Prior to joining the Texas Water Development Board, Robert worked nine years at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin as a hydrologist and research scientist. Robert has a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics and a Master of Science in Hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a doctorate in hydrogeology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks with Peter Lake, the Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board. Lake has served as a Board member of the Texas Water Development Board since December 15, 2015. Governor Greg Abbott designated him Chairman in February 2018.Lake has held a variety of financial roles across a number of industries. Previously, he acted as director of research and head of automated trading at Gambit Trading, a member firm of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In this capacity, he led the firm's market research initiatives and directed the development of its first automated trading programs. As one of the firm’s proprietary market makers he also traded interest rate derivatives, primarily focusing on U.S. Treasury bond futures.He has also served as director of business development for Lake Ronel Oil Company, where he focused on financial analysis of upstream oil and gas opportunities. In addition, he served as director of special operations for VantageCap Partners. In this position he played a key role in the due diligence, valuation, and transactional aspects of the successful divestment of the firm’s primary investment.

LAS MILPAS, RGV - Eduardo “Eddie” Anaya, a leader with Valley Interfaith, is urging a “yes” vote for Proposition 2 in the November constitutional amendment elections.Anaya was a guest of Rio Grande Guardian presenter Mari Regalado on a Facebook LIVE event last week.While much of the interview was in English, Anaya did also urge voters to vote “yes” in Spanish. The above podcast focuses on the conversation Regalado and Anaya had in Spanish. Proposition 2 is Valley Interfaith’s top issue right now. It would allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue general obligation bonds on a continuing basis as long as the outstanding principal does not exceed $200 million for the state's Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP). The ballot measure would require the bonds to be used for developing the water supply and sewer service in areas defined as economically distressed.Anaya, an attorney based in Las Milpas, made the point that EDP effectively originated in his community. In the 1980s community activists in Las Milpas, led by his mother, Carmen Anaya, pushed for water and wastewater services in their community. They succeeded in pushing for various colonia improvement bills. Anaya says Las Milpas, now incorporated into the City of Pharr, has been transformed thanks to the community victories of 30 years ago.

WESLACO, RGV - State Sen. Eddie Lucio says he will be bringing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath to the Rio Grande Valley.Speaking at a meeting of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, Lucio said the visit would not be political in nature.Rather, it would include a town hall meeting in October that would focus on the increased funding state legislators approved for public education. Lucio also expressed support for a constitutional amendment that is on the November ballot. The amendment would allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue $200 million in bonds for water supply, sewer service, and drainage projects in areas defined as economically distressed.

"Efficiency is about going from inputs to outputs. But effectiveness is about going from outputs to outcomes." So says Charles Chandler, author and podcaster, who discusses his model for organizational sustainability and effectiveness. What makes a project and, by extension, an organization, truly effective and great? You must distinguish between "efficiency" and "effectiveness," and understand the importance of measuring effectiveness based on Outcomes (Uptake, Adoption, and Use) rather than Outputs. By looking at organizations as complex adaptive systems, it becomes clear that the true goal of all organizations is basically the same: to be effective in their particular environment. Rather than top-down goal-setting, the directives should ideally come from below, where team members are closer to the environment and customer interaction. Listen, learn, and get a free PDU! PDU Information Use the following information in PMI’s CCRS system to register the PDUs for this podcast: PDU Category: Online or Digital Media   Provider Number: 4634   PDU Claim Code:  4634M2DQT8   Activity Number: PMPOV0057   PDUs for this episode: 1 Charles G. Chandler graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (B.S. and Ph.D.) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.S.), where he studied engineering sciences. He served in the US Peace Corps in Nepal, and later worked at the Texas Water Development Board in Austin, where he managed the state’s program in water conservation and drought contingency planning. In 1982 he founded Assumption Analysis, Inc., a management consulting firm. His clients include USAID, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Programme, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.  

Today we continue in our water law series by focusing on surface water. If you missed the episode focused on groundwater, click here. I'm joined by Carlos Rubenstein.  His experience in Texas water is vast, including former Rio Grande Water Master, to a Commissioner on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to Chair of the Texas Water Development Board.  Water is certainly a passion of Carlos' and he has had really interesting experiences. We walk through the definition of surface water in Texas, the legal concept of prior appropriation that governs the vast majority of surface water in Texas, the TCEQ permitting process, and how people can go about obtaining rights to use surface water.  We also talk a bit about the role of watermasters in Texas. We then talk about a number of disputes and cases including the LCRA curtailing water rights for rice farmers, Texas Farm Bureau v. TCEQ, The Aransas Project v. TCEQ, Texas v. New Mexico, the 1944 Texas-Mexico Treaty on the Rio Grande, and issues on the San Saba River. When asked about a law he would like to see changed, Carlos said he would like to modify the current rules regarding interbasin transfers of surface water.  In Texas, a person who utilizes an interbasin transfer (moving water from one basin for use in another) does not maintain seniority of right from the original basin.  Instead, the user in the new basin is deemed junior. For restaurant recommendations, Carlos offers Palermo Pasta House in Round Rock--order the homemade pasta--and Manuel's in Downtown Austin--get the mole enchiladas. Contact Info for Carlos Rubenstein (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-rubinstein-9b1a8081/  (Twitter) @Carlos_TXH20

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Stephen Colley on earthen construction. Stephen currently practices architecture and runs his own architecture firm and is a long-time practitioner of green design and sustainable living. From 2010-2012 he served as the Program Manager in Green Initiatives for Palo Alto College in San Antonio developing training courses related to sustainable design and construction.Stephen also participated in the Alamo Colleges Chancellor’s Council on Sustainability helping to write a new more sustainable policy for the Alamo College District. The new policy was approved by the Board of Alamo Colleges in August of 2012. In his previous position as the Green Building Coordinator for Build San Antonio Green, he developed the criteria for San Antonio’s residential green building program, Build San Antonio Green, recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders as the Green Building Program of the year in 2009, and served on the Mayor’s (San Antonio, Texas) task force on Sustainable Policy as the City charted a significant shift away from conventional building, development, and transportation policy. Stephen was chosen by the National Association of Home Builders as one of the original stakeholders to write the Green Policy for the organization as basis for their nation-wide residential green building program, National Green Building Standard™.In 2005, he co-authored the Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting for the Texas Water Development Board (3rd edition). The Manual is widely distributed and used as a reference for potable and non-potable rainwater harvesting system publications. He is also the former Chair of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment, a LEED® Accredited Professional, and President of Earthen Construction Initiative, a non-profit organization to advance and promote earthen construction.

Join Ron Comacho, host of The Business Hour when he talks with Dr. Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Administrator for Water Science & Conservation at the Texas Water Development Board to learn about the range of new techniques to insure that even as we suffer climate changes - there will be new sources of safe, clean, abundant water.

This week on Dialectica: Producer/Host Sachin Shah examines the role of state water policy in managing droughts and other water needs of Texans. Guests include Bob Joseph, Director of the U.S. Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center, Dr. Bill Hutchison, Director of the Groundwater Resources Division of the Texas Water Development Board.Download the show by right-clicking here (and select Save Link/Target As...) or use the player below: