2023 Highlights

On this page you'll find photos and videos from the conference, including each of the general sessions. The TWDB was proud to host this successful event. 

We hope to see you at Water for Texas 2025!


Videos



Gallery

  • TWDB Chairwoman Brooke Paup opened the Water for Texas 2023 conference and introduced the opening keynote speaker, Comptroller Glenn Hegar, on Tuesday, January 24.
  • Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, gave the opening keynote address on the state of Texas water.
  • Charles Porter, Ph.D., St. Edward's University; Robert Mace, Ph.D., P.G., Meadows Center for Water and the Environment; Gary Westbrook, Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District; and Billy Howe, Texas Farm Bureau, discussed groundwater availability in Texas on a panel moderated by the TWDB’s John Dupnik, P.G.
  • Panelists Christine Voudy, Georgia Environmental Protection Division; Andrew Chastain-Howley, Black & Veatch; and Cayton Germany, Crystal Clear Special Utility District, examined the role of water loss validation in Texas with moderator Will Jernigan, P.E., Cavanaugh and Associates, P.A.
  • Carla G. Guthrie, Ph.D., of the TWDB discussed the challenges and successes of FIRO with Kris Lander, P.E., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Aaron Abel, Brazos River Authority; David Curtis, Ph.D., WEST Consultants; and Jerry Cotter, P.E., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  • Reem Zoun, P.E., of the TWDB brought together representatives from regional flood planning groups, including Scott Hubley, P.E., Freese and Nichols, Inc.; Glenn Clingenpeel, Trinity River Authority of Texas; Alia Vinson, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; and Omar Martinez, City of El Paso, to talk about developments in state flood planning.
  • Exhibitors and attendees networking between sessions.
  • TWDB staff previewed the new Texas Water Data Hub in the TWDB Interactive Space.
  • The TWDB’s Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS) staff showcased flood data mapping technology with special guest Daniel Cornel, Ph.D., of VRVis Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization Research in Austria.
  • TWDB staff shared information on the agency’s TexMesonet program and data as part of the TWDB Interactive Space.
  • Panelists: Neil Deeds, Ph.D., P.E., P.G., INTERA, Inc.; Brian Perkins, P.E., Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority; and Esteban Ramos, Corpus Christi Water, shared the benefits and challenges of alternative water supplies such as desalination and aquifer storage and recovery with moderator Lorrie Council, P.G., Ground Water Protection Council.
  • TWDB Chairwoman Brooke Paup led a discussion on increased cybersecurity risks in the water sector with Jeremy Wilson, Texas Department of Information Resources; Doug Short, Trinity River Authority of Texas; and Ernesto Ballesteros, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
  • Tina Petersen with Harris County Flood Control District moderated a panel on selecting and prioritizing flood projects with Jorge Morales, P.E., City of Austin; Scott Elmer, Harris County Flood Control District; and Austin Bleess, City of Jersey Village.
  • Panelists Rusty Smith, Texas Produced Water Consortium; Bridget Scanlon, Ph.D., P.G., The University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology; and Jason Modglin, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, took a hard look at produced water, its unintended consequences, and feasibility for other uses with moderator Natalie Ballew of the TWDB.
  • A banjo and guitar duo entertained attendees during the January 24 luncheon, which featured keynote speaker Chet Garner of The Daytripper.
  • Chet Garner, host of "The Daytripper," spoke during lunch about the importance of storytelling and inspired attendees to explore the best of Texas.
  • Chet Garner, host of "The Daytripper," and George B. Peyton V, Board Member of the Texas Water Development Board.
  • Sharlene Leurig, Texas Water Trade; Daniel Nix, City of Wichita Falls; and Damian Higham, Denver Water, shared their experiences working with a “one water” approach during a panel led by Jennifer Walker of the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation.18. Sharlene Leurig, Texas Water Trade; Daniel Nix, City of Wichita Falls; and Damian Higham, Denver Water, shared their experiences working with a “one water” approach during a panel led by Jennifer Walker of the Texas Coast and Water Program at the National Wildlife Federation.
  • “Hot Topics in Texas Water,” moderated by the TWDB’s Executive Administrator, Jeff Walker, included a discussion between Stacey Allison Steinbach, Texas Water Conservation Association; Leah Martinsson, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts; and Lara Zent, Texas Rural Water Association.
  • Panelists Brian Epperson, Hess Corporation; Edwin Piñero, EcoMetrics LLC; and Audrey Templeton, P.E., Molson Coors Beverage Company spoke with Joni Carswell of Texan by Nature in the “Closing the Evaluation, Metrics, and Communication Gap in Corporate Water Sustainability” session.
  • Manuel Razo of the TWDB facilitated a conversation on the lifecycle of data with experts Kristine Blickenstaff, P.E., U.S. Geological Survey; Gregory Waller, National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center; and Suzanne Pierce, Ph.D., Texas Disaster Information System.
  • TWDB Board Member L’Oreal Stepney led the general session on “Global Water Innovations – International Ideas and Accomplishments” with panel members Daniel Cornel, Ph.D., VRVis Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization Research; David Maidment, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; and Lihy Teuerstein, IDE Water Assets, representing Austria, New Zealand, and Israel, respectively.
  • The TWDB’s Executive Administrator, Jeff Walker moderated the general session, “Movers and Shakers – Lessons from Leaders at Large Water Utilities” discussing the ins and outs of managing large water systems with Jenna Covington, P.E., North Texas Municipal Water District, and Troy Hayes, P.E., City of Phoenix.
  • The “Risky Business: Communicating Flood and Drought Risk” panel included John Honoré, Texas Division of Emergency Management; Keri Stephens, Ph.D., Technology & Information Policy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin; and Newsha Ajami, Ph.D., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with moderator Sam Marie Hermitte of the TWDB.
  • A discussion on lead and emerging contaminants included Mark Wyatt, TWDB; Michele Risko, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and Chris Harder, P.E., City of Fort Worth, and was led by Salvador Gandara, EPA Region 6.
  • TWDB Board Member George Peyton hosted an update on innovative Flood Infrastructure Fund projects with Edith Marvin, P.E., North Central Texas Council of Governments; Jose Landeros, El Paso County; Graciela Salinas, Cameron County; and Mark Mann, P.E., Sabine River Authority of Texas.
  • Dagmar Llewellyn, of the Bureau of Reclamation, spoke with Huilin Gao, Ph.D., Texas A&M University; Maxwell Strickler, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Kelly Payne, P.E., Lower Colorado River Authority (not pictured) about technological advances in reservoir monitoring datasets and the influence of evaporation on water supply.
  • Brianna Fuller, with the Texas Water Foundation, invited Floyd Hartman, City of Amarillo; Paula Paciorek, Houston Public Works; and Valerie Salinas-Davis, University of Texas at Austin, to share some “notes from the field” from the Texas Runs on Water campaign.
  • Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune visits with Senators Drew Springer and Charles Perry before the closing general session.
  • The closing general session, “Working for Texans: Policy Issues for the 88th Legislative Session,” was led by Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune and included a panel with Charles Perry, Texas Senate District 28; Drew Springer, Texas Senate District 30; Tracy O. King, Texas House District 80; and Cody Harris, Texas House District 8.