Water Wonks Hour: Online Monthly Lecture Series
The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance is pleased to introduce our 2024 Water Wonks Lecture Series. Mark your calendars for 3:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month.
Water Wonks will feature a host of experts sharing innovative ideas and details about their work in the world of water. The series is a free community education opportunity.
Water Wonks Hour Lecture Series Topics
Lecture #1: Wednesday January 24th | 3:30pm CST
Water Reuse in the Hill Country: Analyzing Opportunities in Comal County Texas. Presented by Rachel Hanes (GEAA Policy Director).
Lecture #2: Wednesday February 28th | 3:30pm CST
Use Of Comprehensive Models For Targeting Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Presented by Dr. Sheeba M. Thomas Dominguez (San Antonio River Authority Senior Technical Engineer).
Lecture #3: Wednesday March 27th | 3:30pm CST
Integrating Stormwater Ecosystem Services Into Local Governance. Presented by Danielle Craig (Graduate Part-Time Instructor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Texas Tech University)
Lecture #4: Wednesday April 24, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Comparative Analysis of Assured Water Supply Policies and Regulations Across the Western United States and Texas at the Municipal, County, and State Level. Presented by Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Policy Director Rachel Hanes.
Lecture #5: Wednesday May 22, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
The Regional Flood Planning Process and Why Conserving Floodplains are Important. Presented by Annalisa Peace (GEAA Exec Dir) and Debbie Reid (GEAA Tech Dir) with a video by David Skuodas (Director of Design, Construction, and Maintenance at the Mile High Flood District) that was presented to the San Antonio River Regional Flood Plan Group.
Lecture #6: Wednesday June 26, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Transportation, Growth, and Planning in the Greater San Antonio Region. Presented by Isaac Gonzalez (Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Short-range Transportation Planner II)
Lecture #7: Wednesday July 24, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
The Effectiveness of Using Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Meeting Urban Challenges. Presented by Lee Marlowe (Sustainable Landscape Ecologist at the San Antonio River Authority)
Lecture #8: Wednesday August 28, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Prioritization of Riparian Conservation Opportunities in the Upper Guadalupe River Basin (UGRB), South-Central Texas. Presented by Dr. Tasnuva Udita (Regional Climate Analyst, City of Austin Office of Sustainability)
Lecture #9: Wednesday September 25, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Building a Healthy Soil to Reduce Climate Change. Presented by Debbie Reid (Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Technical Director)
Lecture #10: Wednesday October 23, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Texas Legislature 101 – The 89th session and interim charges. Presented by Annalisa Peace (Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Executive Director) and Rachel Hanes (Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Policy Director)
Lecture #10: Wednesday October 23, 2024 | 3:30pm CST
Texas Legislature 101 – The 89th session and interim charges. Presented by Annalisa Peace (Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Executive Director) and Rachel Hanes (Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Policy Director)
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN OUR 2024 LECTURE SERIES!
We will be taking a break in November and December for the holidays.
We looking forward to seeing you in January as we kick off our new speaker line up in 2025!
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Lecture #10: Texas Legislature 101 – The 89th session and interim charges
Wednesday, October 23rd at 3:30pm CST
Synopsis: It’s looking like it’ll be another water session at the Texas Capitol! As we head into the 2025 Legislative Session, Ms. Peace and Ms. Hanes will provide an overview of the Texas Legislature and how our unique legislative sessions work. They’ll highlight what’s happening in the 2024 interim session; the key legislative initiatives, bills of concern, and bills of opportunity likely to pop up in 2025; and how GEAA members and friends can get and stay involved in the legislative process. The Legislative Session is always a wild ride in Texas, but don’t worry – GEAA is ready to help you not only stay in the saddle, but also take the bull by the horns and become an informed citizen who can advocate for your best interests and the best interests of Texas water.
REGISTER FOR LECTURE #10
2024 Water Wonks Hour Lecture Series Speakers
Rachel Hanes (Lecture 1 Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and a Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has multiple years of experience in the environmental and water policy fields and in working within and with nonprofits and local, state, and federal governments.
Before joining GEAA, Rachel served for three years as a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the Reclamation Law Administration Division and later in the Colorado River Binational Program, working to help manage and conserve water in the West. Rachel has also worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council on their decarbonization efforts, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on their Complete Streets and green infrastructure initiatives, the Tarrant County Tarrant Transit Alliance, the Office of Congressman Joaquin Castro, the League of United Latin American Citizens on environmental issues along the border, and the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio on local water issues.
Dr. Sheeba M. Thomas Dominguez (Lecture 2 Speaker) has been with the San Antonio River Authority since 2008 and currently holds the position of a Senior Technical engineer. She has over 16 years of experience with hydrology, hydraulics, and water quality models.
She is a licensed professional engineer with the State of Texas and has Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certifications. For more than a decade, her focus has primarily been on the development of comprehensive water quality models and tools to quantify issues and mitigation and she has presented her work on multiple local, state, and national platforms. These endeavors have earned multiple state and national recognitions. She enjoys occasionally teaching Water Resources Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Danielle Craig (Lecture 3 Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Landscape Architecture, and a Juris Doctorate, all from Texas Tech University. She is also currently working on her Ph.D. in Land Use Planning, Management, and Design and is a part-time instructor at Texas Tech University in the Department of Landscape Architecture.
She has taught undergraduates in design studios focusing on landscape systems and urban design, highlighting the importance of stormwater management and design. While at Texas Tech, her research has focused on stormwater policy in local governance and produced water. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the American Planning Association, for which she is currently serving as Secretary of the Northwest Section of the Texas Chapter.
Rachel Hanes (Lecture 4 Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and a Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has multiple years of experience in the environmental and water policy fields and in working within and with nonprofits and local, state, and federal governments.
Before joining GEAA, Rachel served for three years as a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the Reclamation Law Administration Division and later in the Colorado River Binational Program, working to help manage and conserve water in the West. Rachel has also worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council on their decarbonization efforts, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on their Complete Streets and green infrastructure initiatives, the Tarrant County Tarrant Transit Alliance, the Office of Congressman Joaquin Castro, the League of United Latin American Citizens on environmental issues along the border, and the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio on local water issues.
Brenda Chapa (Lecture 4 Contributor) is a fresh graduate from UT Austin as an international political-economy major and the newest policy-analyst fellow for GEAA. She recently completed a semester-long policy research project for GEAA which included a literature review of assured water supply policies, laws, and regulations at the municipal, county, and state level in the Western United States compared to those policies within Texas.
Annalisa Peace – GEAA Executive Director (Lecture 5 Speaker) holds an MS in Urban Administration from Trinity University and has over thirty years’ experience working with government and non-profit organizations in a variety of capacities, including as a San Antonio City Council Aide, Public Information Officer for the City of San Antonio’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Executive Director of Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, and Director of Development of the Carver Community Cultural Center. She has been instrumental in organizing citizens’ campaigns and has served on many governmental advisory boards, including as co-chair of the Kelly Air Force Base Restoration Advisory Board, the City of San Antonio Open Space Advisory Board, the City Task Force that drafted San Antonio’s water quality rules, the Southern Edwards Plateau Habitat Conservation Plan, the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program, and the City of New Braunfels Technical Committee for Stormwater Planning, and the City of New Braunfels Master Plan Committee for Water and Natural Resources.
Since 2004, Ms. Peace has been the Executive Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, which unites 58 organizations throughout a 21 county region in Central and South Texas behind a plan to protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, their contributing watersheds, and the Texas Hill Country. She currently serves on the Texas Water Development Board’s Regional Flood Planning Group for the Guadalupe watershed, the City of San Antonio’s Water and Natural Resources Stakeholder Group for the Climate Action Plan, the Environmental Advisory Committee of the San Antonio River Authority, the Steering Committee of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network, UTSA Urban Planning Advisory Committee, the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Project, and participates in many other efforts to maintain the environmental integrity of our region.
Debbie Reid – GEAA Technical Director (Lecture 5 Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Crop Management and a Master of Science in Horticulture from Texas A&M University. She has over 30 years of experience in these areas with an emphasis on natural resource management in the last 15 years.
She worked for the City of San Antonio as the Nature Preserve Coordinator at Friedrich Wilderness Preserve and as the City Arborist implementing the Tree Preservation, Landscape, Streetscape and Irrigation ordinances. During this time, she assisted in developing and implementing new ordinances or guidelines to incentivize the preservation of native trees and their associated native plants and to preserve natural waterways.
She has been a member of many committees such as those to create the Linear Creek Corridors and a variety of codes and ordinances including Smart Growth, Conservation subdivisions and Low Impact Development. During her career in San Antonio, she has worked with numerous agencies and non-profits to promote environmental projects, programs and workshops including the Releaf Our City Parks, VIA Bus Stop Tree Planting, Master Naturalist volunteer program (Co-creator), Native Plant Landscape Certification program (Co-creator), and the EPA’s Managing Stormwater with Green Infrastructure workshop.
And most recently, she has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Mexico and Guatemala where she shared her knowledge with residents living in rural mountainous areas while promoting best management practices for stormwater management and maintaining habitat for native songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators.
David Skuodas (Lecture 5 Video Presenter) is an Urban Stream Advocate, Engineer, Storyteller and AEC (Architectural Engineers Collaborative) Professional. He has extensive work experience in the field of engineering and environmental science. In 2010, David joined Mile High Flood District as a Project Manager, overseeing the design, construction, and maintenance of projects and later took on the role of Watershed Manager.
Currently, David serves as the Design, Construction, and Maintenance Director at Mile High Flood District- Located in the Denver area.
Isaac Gonzalez (Lecture 6 Speaker) joined the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Office (AAMPO) in 2023 as the Short-Range Transportation Manager. He specializes in business analytics and project management. Prior to his joining the AAMPO, he worked with the Center for Health Care Services in Bexar County and the State of Colorado, bringing evidenced-based, data-driven ideas and solutions to the public sector. He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon in 2020, is a native of San Antonio, Texas, and enjoys woodworking in his free time.
Lee Marlowe (Lecture 7 Speaker) is a restoration ecologist with over 25 years of professional experience working in the field of ecological restoration and natural resource management including sustainable landscape practices and applications for improved ecological functions. Her expertise includes the use of native plants to provide wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quality benefits, bank/site stabilization and aesthetic beauty in landscapes of all sizes. She is an experienced project manager and technical expert for projects incorporating sustainable design techniques including Low Impact Development, Conservation Development, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Nature-based Solutions including public and private development projects, parks, and conservation areas. She has been involved in all aspects of ecological projects including assessing, planning, designing, permitting, constructing, managing, monitoring, and providing public education and outreach. She has developed and implemented specialized training and educational programming on a variety of topics for technical audiences and the general public.
Ms. Marlowe received her Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of Minnesota and currently serves as the Sustainable Landscape Ecologist for the San Antonio River Authority as a member of the Engineering Department, providing ecological expertise to support a variety of projects and efforts. She is an active member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Network for Engineering With Nature, Texas Society for Ecological Restoration, Hollywood Park Tree Advisory Board, and the Land and Water Committee for Green Spaces Alliance.
Dr. Tasnuva Udita (Lecture 8 Speaker) is originally from Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh and has spent most of her academic life working towards finding nature-based, sustainable solutions to existing environmental problems.
Dr. Udita is currently working with the City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability to facilitate the city’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program by assisting in the development of regional and community-wide greenhouse gas inventory. Additionally, she analyzes energy data from multiple sectors (e.g., transportation, residential and commercial buildings, wastewater) to determine their reduction measures.
Prior to this role Dr. Udita worked for The Texas Water Company where she utilized the USGS Groundwater Toolbox to calculate and identify baseflow pattern, use climatic and other related variables to conduct a comparative and causal analysis between baseflow and all variables. In doing so, she acquired data from multiple sources and harmonized them to create an integrated database.
Dr. Udita has worked as both a Graduate Instructional Assistant and a Doctoral Instructional and Research Assistant at Texas State University as well as serving as a GIS Analyst and Research Assistant at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
Debbie Reid – GEAA Technical Director (Lecture 9 Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Crop Management and a Master of Science in Horticulture from Texas A&M University. She has over 30 years of experience in these areas with an emphasis on natural resource management in the last 15 years.
Debbie worked for the City of San Antonio as the Nature Preserve Coordinator at Friedrich Wilderness Preserve and as the City Arborist implementing the Tree Preservation, Landscape, Streetscape and Irrigation ordinances. During this time, she assisted in developing and implementing new ordinances or guidelines to incentivize the preservation of native trees and their associated native plants and to preserve natural waterways.
She has been participating in committees to create the Linear Creek Corridors and to implement a variety of codes and ordinances for the City of San Antonio including Smart Growth, Conservation subdivisions and Low Impact Development. During her career in San Antonio, she worked with numerous agencies and nonprofits to promote environmental projects, programs and workshops including the Releaf Our City Parks, VIA Bus Stop Tree Planting, Master Naturalist volunteer program (Co-creator), Native Plant Landscape Certification program (Co-creator), and the EPA’s Managing Stormwater with Green Infrastructure workshop.
Debbie has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Mexico and Guatemala where she shared her knowledge with residents living in rural mountainous areas while promoting best management practices for stormwater management and maintaining habitat for native songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators.
Annalisa Peace – GEAA Executive Director (Lecture 10 Speaker) holds an MS in Urban Administration from Trinity University and has over thirty years’ experience working with government and non-profit organizations in a variety of capacities, including as a San Antonio City Council Aide, Public Information Officer for the City of San Antonio’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Executive Director of Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, and Director of Development of the Carver Community Cultural Center. She has been instrumental in organizing citizens’ campaigns and has served on many governmental advisory boards, including as co-chair of the Kelly Air Force Base Restoration Advisory Board, the City of San Antonio Open Space Advisory Board, the City Task Force that drafted San Antonio’s water quality rules, the Southern Edwards Plateau Habitat Conservation Plan, the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program, and the City of New Braunfels Technical Committee for Stormwater Planning, and the City of New Braunfels Master Plan Committee for Water and Natural Resources.
Since 2004, Ms. Peace has been the Executive Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, which unites 58 organizations throughout a 21 county region in Central and South Texas behind a plan to protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, their contributing watersheds, and the Texas Hill Country. She currently serves on the Texas Water Development Board’s Regional Flood Planning Group for the Guadalupe watershed, the City of San Antonio’s Water and Natural Resources Stakeholder Group for the Climate Action Plan, the Environmental Advisory Committee of the San Antonio River Authority, the Steering Committee of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network, UTSA Urban Planning Advisory Committee, the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Project, and participates in many other efforts to maintain the environmental integrity of our region.
Rachel Hanes – GEAA Policy Director (Lecture 10 Co-Speaker) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX and a Master of Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has multiple years of experience in the environmental and water policy fields and in working within and with non-profits and local, state, and federal governments.
Before joining GEAA, Rachel served for three years as a program analyst for the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the Reclamation Law Administration Division and later in the Colorado River Binational Program, working to help manage and conserve water in the West.
Rachel has also worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council on their decarbonization efforts, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on their Complete Streets and green infrastructure initiatives, the Tarrant County Tarrant Transit Alliance, the Office of Congressman Joaquin Castro, the League of United Latin American Citizens on environmental issues along the border, and the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center in San Antonio on local water issues.
A Texas native, Rachel grew up in Fort Worth and made frequent trips throughout Hill Country. After short stints in Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Denver, Rachel is thrilled to be back in San Antonio, where she can merge her interests in water and environmental policy with her love of her home state and adopted city.
