2025 Fall Conference Wrap UP

Thank you to all our attendees, sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors for joining us at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk and making this year’s Fall Conference one of the best yet! From keynote addresses by Texas State Senator Pete Flores and TCEQ Chairwoman Brooke Paup, to insightful presentations, networking events, and our volunteer service project, your participation and support help shape sound water policy in Texas.

Save the date! Our 2026 Annual Convention will be held in Fort Worth, March 11–13 — details coming soon.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

CLE & CERTIFICATES

Tell us about your conference experience! We value your feedback and would love your input to help inform future conferences. Please take a moment to complete a brief post-conference survey by November 7.

ATTENDEE SURVEY

Top row, left to right: TWA President Troy Allen, Delta Lake Irrigation District, TWA Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs Sarah Kirkle, Texas State Senator and Keynote Speaker Pete Flores, TWA Executive Director Stacey Steinbach; TWA volunteer group during the Apple Snail Removal Service Project; TWA kayak volunteers during the Apple Snail Removal Service Project; TWA attendees during the Membership & Services Committee Speed Networking Event.

Bottom row, left to right: Rebekah Pool, EPCOR; Jason Afinowicz, Freese and Nichols and Jace Houston, Freese and Nichols; Gary Westbrook, Post Oak Savannah GCD, Velma Danielson, Advance Water Solutions, and Lauren Willis, Freese and Nichols; Shane Simpson, San Jacinto River Authority, Daniel Smith, San Antonio Water System, Julen Navarréte, San Antonio River Authority

Conference Meetings & Presentations

Presentation materials are linked where available. Some sessions may not have accompanying PDFs.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Keynote – Texas State Senator Pete Flores

Keynote – Chairwoman Brooke Paup, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

TWDB Update – Bryan McMath, Texas Water Development Board

Rising Water Costs of Land Development – Sharlene Leurig & Brett Bovee, WestWater Research

Flood Modeling in the San Antonio River Basin – Erin Cavazos, San Antonio River Authority

Evaluating Unreasonable Effects in GCD Permitting – Leah Martinsson, Water Policy Consultant

Special Session Recap and Prop 4 – Sarah Kirkle, Texas Water Association

Current Issues in Groundwater Panel – Moderator, John Dupnik, Texas Water Development Board

River Authorities Panel

The Modeling Tools Used in the Texas New Mexico Lawsuit and Their Relevance to the Work Being Done on GMAs Related to Surface and Groundwater Interaction – William R. Hutchison, Ph.D., P.E., P.G., Independent Groundwater Consultant

General & Environmental Panel

Honoring U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 250 Years – Carolyn Ahrens, Booth/Ahrens

Groundwater Panel

A Century (1906-2024) of Groundwater and Land Subsidence Studies in the Greater Houston Region – Michael Turco, Harris-Galveston Subsidence District

Water Quality Committee

Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and Improvements – Kirstin Eller, San Antonio Water System

Seawater Desalination Updates and Developments – Randy Palachek, Civitas Engineering

Instream Effluent Tracing Using Sucralose – Eva Steinle-Darling, Ph.D., P.E., Carollo Engineers

Endangered Species Committee

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Unified Agenda Updates – Christine Westerman, SWCA Environmental Consultants

Caged Mussel Study – Web Mangham, Trinity River Authority

Potential Impacts of Groundwater Development on Endangered Species – Glenn Clingenpeel, Trinity River Authority

Federal Affairs Committee

Federal Affairs – Amy Stelter, Trinity River Authority

The Hazards of Not Having a Hazard Mitigation Plan – Cole Arreola-Karr, Special Districts Strategies, L.L.C.

What Happens in DC Doesn’t Stay in DC: Federal Policy Update – Julie Ufner, National Waterways Conference

CLE CREDITS + CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE

COURSE TITLE: Texas Water Association Fall Conference
COURSE DATE(S): October 22–24, 2025
COURSE LOCATIONS: San Antonio, TX
COURSE NO: 174297798
HOURS: Conference attendees are eligible for up to 5.5 hours of CLE credits

The TWA 2025 Fall Conference has been approved for up to 5.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit. NOTE that the hours will default to 6.00 hours but due to a cancellation you will have to manually change that number to 5.50 hours, assuming you attended all events listed below. Presentations eligible for credit as follows:

Thursday Speaker Presentations (0.50 hours CLE credit each, total 2.50 hours)

TWDB Update – Bryan McMath, TWDB
Texas State Representative Josey Garcia, HD 124 (session was canceled and is no longer eligible for CLE credit)
Unreasonable Impacts in Groundwater Permitting – Leah Martinsson, Water Policy Consultant
Texas State Senator Pete Flores, SD 24
TCEQ Chairwoman Brooke Paup
Special Session Recap & Prop 4 – Sarah Kirkle, TWA

Friday Committees and Panels (1.00 hours CLE credit each, total 3.00 hours)

Concurrent Sessions
– Endangered Species Updates & Meeting
– Water Quality Updates & Meeting
Current Issues in Groundwater Panel
Federal Affairs Updates & Meeting

For engineers, geoscientists, and other professionals who want to keep a record of continuing education, download this certificate of attendance with a copy of the conference program for your files. If you have any questions, please email Lindsey Ford.