Dr. Ross has been intrigued by the challenges of water management since, at 8 year old, she converted the family courtyard into a series of pools, dams, and canals to channel water around a mimosa tree under the El Paso, Texas desert sun. She has 3 degrees in civil engineering and is owner of Glenrose Engineering in Austin, Texas. During 4 decades of environmental work and political activism, Dr. Ross helped to pass the Save Our Springs citizen's referendum, close a hazardous waste facility in an East Texas African American community, and bioremediate soils in Post-Katrina New Orleans. She was the designer of the first privately-permitted composting toilet in Austin, the first Austin-permitted residential graywater system in 25 years, the first pervious pavement system to stack storm runoff treatment and flood detention beneath a parking lot, and Austin's first biofilter for storm runoff treatment. She is currently working on a riparian restoration project along Shoal Creek in Pease Park, and a pilot gray-water permitting program for Austin with Council Member Chris Riley. Dr. Ross is the Board President of the Austin Zen Center and a founding member of Activate Austin. She lives in the Zilker neighborhood with her partner, a cat, a pound of red wigglers, 3 compost piles, an outdoor shower and dry sanitation system, and 2,000 gallons of rainwater storage.

Dr. Ross has been intrigued by the challenges of water management since, at 8 year old, she converted the family courtyard into a series of pools, dams, and canals to channel water around a mimosa tree under the El Paso, Texas desert sun. She has 3 degrees in civil engineering and is owner of Glenrose Engineering in Austin, Texas. During 4 decades of environmental work and political activism, Dr. Ross helped to pass the Save Our Springs citizen's referendum, close a hazardous waste facility in an East Texas African American community, and bioremediate soils in Post-Katrina New Orleans. She was the designer of the first privately-permitted composting toilet in Austin, the first Austin-permitted residential graywater system in 25 years, the first pervious pavement system to stack storm runoff treatment and flood detention beneath a parking lot, and Austin's first biofilter for storm runoff treatment. She is currently working on a riparian restoration project along Shoal Creek in Pease Park, and a pilot gray-water permitting program for Austin with Council Member Chris Riley. Dr. Ross is the Board President of the Austin Zen Center and a founding member of Activate Austin. She lives in the Zilker neighborhood with her partner, a cat, a pound of red wigglers, 3 compost piles, an outdoor shower and dry sanitation system, and 2,000 gallons of rainwater storage.

Terry E. Mitchell is President of Momark Development L.L.C. based in Austin, TX (www.momarkdevelopment.com). As the principal of Momark he is heavily involved in the planning and development of various residential and mixed-use real estate developments involving approximately 6,500 residential units and related mixed-uses. Projects include The Austonian (development consultant and marketing manager), the Denizen, Plum Creek, Chestnut Commons, Edgewick, Gabardine, Macmora Cottages and The Sanctuary Lofts. Mr. Mitchell’s focus is largely set upon urban residential or mixed-use projects that create unique communities offering extraordinary lifestyles. From The Austonian to Chestnut Commons to The Denizen, each community has a unique and special personality. Prior to his arrival at Momark, Mr. Mitchell served in a number of management positions including as Vice President of Milburn Homes (D.R. Horton, Inc. division). In his 20-plus years in real estate, Mr. Mitchell has developed over 20,000 residential units and over $1.8 billion in residential community value. Mr. Mitchell received his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Texas in Austin. He also received his Masters of Business Administration from Saint Edward’s University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio. Mr. Mitchell is a past President of the Real Estate Council of Austin, and just retired from that organization’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors after 13 years. He also has served on the Board of Hill Country Conservancy, the Austin District Council for the Congress for New Urbanism and the District Council for ULI. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of HousingWorks Austin and the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Andrew Sansom is one of Texas’ leading conservationists. He is the director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University and former executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, executive director of the Texas Nature Conservancy, and founder of The Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas. For his commitment to the management and protection of natural resources, Mr. Sansom also is a past recipient of the Chevron Conservation Award, The Chuck Yeager Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Pugsley Medal from the National Park Foundation, and the Seton Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University and Austin College.

David Foster is a Dallas native and has lived in Austin since 1983. Foster lived for several years in Europe, speaks fluent German and passable French, and received an MA in Modern European History in 1989. He went to work for Clean Water Action in 1995, and became its Texas Program Director in 2004, and coordinates CWA's public outreach to numerous Texas communities, elected officials and regulatory agencies. Foster also served as Executive Director of Trans Texas Alliance, a statewide transportation reform group, from 2001-2003, successfully implementing a TXDOT pedestrian safety grant. He has served on the boards of many nonprofits, including Envision Central Texas, Liveable City and the Alliance for Public Transportation. He and his wife Virginia have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Bill Bunch. A native of San Antonio and Arlington, Bill left Texas to earn a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Bill returned to Texas in 1986 to practice environmental law in Austin, first with the law firm founded by Stuart Henry, later as a sole practitioner, and then as chief counsel with the Save Our Springs Alliance. Bill was part of the group that drafted and successfully campaigned for the City of Austin's Save Our Springs citizen initiative ordinance in 1992. Bil has been executive director of Save Our Springs Alliance since 2000. Save Our Springs Alliance advocates for conservation of land, water and wildlife in the Central Texas region.

Donna Klaeger moved to Burnet County in January of 1991 from San Antonio, Texas in which her 15 year career focused on Business Administration and Management. She is married and has 3 children and will be a first time grandmother at the beginning of 2013! Donna Klaeger was sworn into office as the Burnet County Judge on January 1, 2007 and is the first woman in history to serve on the Burnet County Commissioner's Court. She has served the community as Burnet County Treasurer, Executive Director of The Seriff Foundation and the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, and as Director of Development at Seton Highland Lakes Hospital. As County Judge, Klaeger sits on the bench every week, hearing criminal misdemeanor cases, and presides over all Burnet County Commissioners Court meetings and workshops. Klaeger serves as: • Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Committee of the Capital Area Planning Council of Govt. • a member of the Texas Association of Regional Councils • Chair of Texas Commission on Jail Standards, appointed by Gov. Perry • And, on the 33'd Judicial District Juvenile Probation Board Judge Klaeger serves on many committees locally and regionally, with a focus on the Drought Emergency Declaration and it's affect on the drinking water in Central Texas. Her favorite quote: (paraphrased) by Margaret Mead .... "never doubt that a small group can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". Klaeger is committed to work with regional leaders and citizens to address the current drought situation and advocate for long term water planning by the State and funding for additional water supply to ensure that Texas has the "water" it needs to continue to grow.

Susan Roth,P.E., PMP has over eighteen years of experience in the water and wastewater field. Her career includes experience with both private and government entities, including the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). She currently serves as President of Susan Roth Consulting, LLC. Her firm primarily specialized in conducting water and wastewater master plans for communities, as well as developing overall regional plans for counties and other political subdivisions. She has prepared Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) grant applications for water/wastewater facilities, developed regional plans for communities, managed preliminary and final engineering design projects, assisted with CNN and/or wastewater discharge permit application process, negotiated contracts, conducted utility impact fee studies, and facilitated group discussions. Mrs. Roth holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in civil engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, respectively. She is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas and is registered as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Mrs. Roth is a graduate of Leadership Austin, Past President of the Austin Branch of ASCE and currently serves on the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board.

J. David Bamberger is founder of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve (BRP), a 501-C-3 foundation, known as “Selah”. The ranch is in the Hill Country near Johnson City, Texas. In 1969 he bought what the locals called “The worst piece of real estate in Blanco County”, 5,500 acres of badly managed, degraded ranch land. He has spent the last 44 years restoring the ranch to health and productivity. It has been described as the largest habitat restoration project on private land in the state of Texas. Over the past 44 years he has demonstrated on his ranch how a damaged environment can be restored, which was a painstaking project involving selective clearing and planting of native trees and grasses. Over 88 species of grasses, most of them native, now thrive on the hillsides and valleys of Selah. With grasses covering much of the rangeland, dormant springs began to flow and creeks began to run so the story of Selah is also a story of water. In 2007 a book about this experience, Water From Stone, was published by Texas A&M University Press. One of Bamberger’s major interests is creating public awareness and educating private landowners about their roles. The most important challenge he has faced as a landowner is to exercise patience in working with nature; he says one must accept the limitations of the land, uncontrollable weather, and the interdependence of plant and animal species. In 1992, the ranch began researching a recovery project for the Texas Snowbell, Styrax texana. The ranch currently propagates, plants and protects 1,000 of this federally listed plant in their home watershed of Real, Edwards and Val Verde Counties of Texas. The ranch is designated the lead recovery team for this species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Mr. Bamberger is a frequent lecturer and speaker at workshops and conferences throughout the state. His work has been featured in newspapers, magazines and television across the country and most recently, he was honored with the prestigious Aldo Leopold Award for conservation by the Sand County Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Rebecca Leonard has outstanding experience in the areas of community planning, urban design, redevelopment, tourism planning, regional planning, and site design. Rebecca is a graduate of the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning where she received her master's degree in urban and regional planning. She focuses on projects that represent the heart of the community. Through her strategic initiative, she integrates in-depth knowledge of the area's environment, community and economy with strong physical design and public spaces. Rebecca is currently working on projects for the firm and business development opportunities from Austin, Texas.

Dr. Hardy holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology and a B.S. in Secondary Education. Dr. Hardy is a member and Certified Fisheries Scientist of the American Fisheries Society, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Photogrametry and Remote Sensing, the American Water Resources Association, the International Association for Hydraulic Research and the International Aquatic Modeling Group. He is on the Executive Committee of the International Aquatic Modeling Group and President of the Ecohydraulics Section of the International Association for Hydraulic Research. Dr. Hardy was the Associate Director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory at Utah State for 10 years and is currently the Chief Science Officer of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. Dr. Hardy oversees research on the development, testing, validation, and application of multi-disciplinary methodologies for impact assessments in water resource systems and in particular ecohydraulics and instream flow assessments. He has accumulated extensive research and consulting experience since 1977 involving aquatic ecosystems modeling, trophic level dynamics, benthic and macro-invertebrate studies, river and reservoir water quantity and quality modeling, remote sensing and image processing, and development and application of impact assessment methodologies in natural systems. He is a recognized national and international expert on instream flow modeling and multi-disciplinary impact assessments.

James R. Nuse, P.E., joined the City of San Marcos as City Manager on December 6, 2010 following a 27 year career at the City of Round Rock, including eight years as City Manager. In San Marcos, Jim leads a team of 550 employees with an annual budget of $160 million. The City of San Marcos provides a wide array of community services, including general government (administration, legal, human resources, finance, technology services, municipal court), public safety (police, fire and emergency management), capital improvements, community services (parks, recreation, library, WIC, health/ animal services) development services (planning, permits, neighborhood services, GIS) , public services (transportation, electric, drainage, water and wastewater utilities), and a general aviation airport. Jim was Round Rock’s City Manager from 2002-2010, where he led a staff of 840 employees with an annual budget of $130 million. Before that, he was Public Works Director for 18 years. He began work for the City of Round Rock in 1983, helping it grow from a population of 13,000 to more than 100,000 today. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming, and has done master’s coursework at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

John David Carson is the Urban Development Principal at Carson Properties, where he has spearheaded a shift to “complete” neighborhood and urban real estate products. Under his direction, the firm recently permitted the first SmartCode land development in San Marcos (the South End) and has heavily invested in downtown assets. He serves on the Board of the Wimberley Central Improvement Area, a non-profit that promotes public infrastructure for downtown Wimberley, and will be speaking on wastewater’s role in a sustainable future. John David is a graduate of the University of Michigan, a CNU-Accredited professional, and a licensed real estate broker in the State of Texas.

Mark Mathis joined Aqua Water Supply Corporation in 2011. He is the Manager of Administration and Water Loss Control, in this position, he is responsible for maintaining meter accuracy, all meter reading aspects, locating line loss, billing software analysis and all other aspects relating to water loss. Prior to Aqua, Mr. Mathis worked for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and developed the No. 1 Water Loss Control program for state agencies in the United States. He has over 12 years in the water loss/accountability industry. He is a member of the AWWA “Water Loss Control Committee” and while at the TWDB, he authored the “Water Loss Audit Manual for Texas Utilities”. Mr. Mathis has a B.S. degree in Physical Geography from Southwest Texas.

George Murfee, P.E., President, Murfee Engineering Company, Inc. Mr. Murfee has more than 30 years of engineering experience. His professional affiliations include: American Society of Civil Engineers; Austin Contractors and Engineers Association; Consulting Engineers Council, National Society of Professional Engineers; Society of American Military Engineers; Texas Water Conservation Association; and Water Environmental Federation. He has been active in the community and taken on many civic duties. Most recently, he served on the Special Legislative Committee for Permit Processing at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Previously, Mr. Murfee served on the Stormwater Quality Management Advisory committee to the TCEQ, Water Quality Advisory Work Group, for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and served on the non-profit Sources of Pollution Committee for the Water Environmental Federation. Mr. Murfee’s master planning abilities include delineation of floodplains, locating centralized stormwater detention facilities, recharge enhancement alternatives, analyses of impact of development on water quality, land planning, water and waste water facility alternatives, cost estimates for construction, and financial feasibility of districts. He has been instrumental in the creation, organization, and plan approval for 21 utility, conservation, and road districts and investor-owned utilities districts as well as numerous Regional Wastewater and Regional Water Supply Systems in the Central Texas area. Mr. Murfee’s experience and knowledge in hydrology issues and engineering have solved many water problems and contributed to the successful completion of numerous developments in the area. Mr. Murfee holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Health Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

Brian Long is a supervising engineer at the City of Austin’s Water Utility.

Mike Gershon is an attorney who represents water utilities, groundwater conservation districts, municipalities, landowners, and various business interests on matters involving water resource development, management and transactions, water rights, water quality, endangered species, service area disputes, rates, litigation, and board governance. He was admitted to State Bar of Texas as well as the College of the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Gershon earned a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a B.B.A. in Accounting, The University of Texas at Austin.

First elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2012, State Representative Paul Workman has served the people of House District 47 in the Texas House of Representatives since January 2011. House District 47 includes most of western Travis County as well as portions of southern Travis County. During the 81st Legislature, Representative Workman served as member of the House Committee on Business & Industry, the House Committee on Corrections, and the House Committee on Rules & Resolutions. He serves by appointment on The Energy Council, which helps facilitate the development of national energy policy matters among the Southwestern states. During his first term, Representative Workman was named a "Taxpayer Champion" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, a "Champion of Free Enterprise" by the Associated Builders and Contractors, a "Fighter for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business, and a "Courageous Conservative" by the Texas Conservative Coalition. Paul earned a B.S. in Building Construction from Texas A&M University in 1973 before joining the U.S. Army Reserves where he retired at the rank of Captain after 10 years of service. A Rotarian since 1976, Paul has been active in several civic organizations, including the Associated General Contractors, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, and the Real Estate Council of Austin. Paul is the founder of Austin-based Workman Commercial Construction Services, Ltd. He and his wife Sherry have two children and six grandchildren and are active members of the Pedernales River Fellowship

Donna Klaeger moved to Burnet County in January of 1991 from San Antonio, Texas in which her 15 year career focused on Business Administration and Management. She is married and has 3 children and will be a first time grandmother at the beginning of 2013! Donna Klaeger was sworn into office as the Burnet County Judge on January 1, 2007 and is the first woman in history to serve on the Burnet County Commissioner's Court. She has served the community as Burnet County Treasurer, Executive Director of The Seriff Foundation and the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, and as Director of Development at Seton Highland Lakes Hospital. As County Judge, Klaeger sits on the bench every week, hearing criminal misdemeanor cases, and presides over all Burnet County Commissioners Court meetings and workshops. Klaeger serves as: • Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Committee of the Capital Area Planning Council of Govt. • a member of the Texas Association of Regional Councils • Chair of Texas Commission on Jail Standards, appointed by Gov. Perry • And, on the 33'd Judicial District Juvenile Probation Board Judge Klaeger serves on many committees locally and regionally, with a focus on the Drought Emergency Declaration and it's affect on the drinking water in Central Texas. Her favorite quote: (paraphrased) by Margaret Mead .... "never doubt that a small group can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". Klaeger is committed to work with regional leaders and citizens to address the current drought situation and advocate for long term water planning by the State and funding for additional water supply to ensure that Texas has the "water" it needs to continue to grow.

Mayor Debbie Holland has been a resident of Hutto since 1977 and was elected to City Council in May of 2004, and served as a Council Member, Place 2 until May 2011. May 14, 2011 she was elected the first female Mayor of Hutto. Community Service - Volunteer at Trash-Off, Arbor Day, Treats on East Street and Olde Tyme Days. - Co-Chaired the first Hutto Holiday Co-Op Market. - Member of Hutto Lions Club. Current Service - CACOG General Member - CAEDD Board member (Capital Area Economic Development District) - Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter Executive Committee - Hutto Chamber of Commerce - Hutto ISD/City Council Coordination Committee - Board Member for Envision Central Texas Past Service - Council member from August 1985 to May 1989. - Appointed Animal Control Commissioner in April 1987. - Past President, Hutto Chamber of Commerce. - Past Secretary/Treasurer, Hutto Economic Development Corporation.

Katherine Lieberknecht is a lecturer in the Community and Regional Planning program in the School of Architecture at UT Austin. She is also a fellow with the School's Center for Sustainable Development. Her professional and academic background in planning, environmental studies, and biology informs her research, teaching, and professional work. She currently teaches courses on urban agriculture systems and water resources planning and has taught courses on land conservation, non-profit management, and property rights. Her current research focuses on 1) creating a regional land conservation plan for the Texas Triangle megaregion. The Texas Triangle includes Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin and is projected to be home to about 35 million people, or 70 percent of the population of Texas, by 2050; 2) developing a multi-city analysis of sustainable municipal economic growth policies; and 3) identifying successful models of land access and secure tenure for urban and peri--urban agricultural uses. Dr. Lieberknecht's recent service work includes serving as a representative to the Eugene Neighborhood Leaders Council Committee on Sustainability, co-chairing the Fairmount neighborhood history project, and organizing neighborhood urban agriculture events such as seed swaps, gleaning parties, and garden community-builds. Prior to joining the UT Austin faculty, she worked as a planner in private practice and as staff member at a conservation land trust.

Jorge Arroyo is a Civil Engineer with the Texas Water Development Board's Water Science and Conservation Office where he works as director on the Innovative Water Technologies Division. For the past 20 years Mr. Arroyo has worked for the State of Texas in various capacities ranging from utility rate design; planning and designing water and wastewater treatment facilities for communities located in the Texas-Mexico border; and implementing regional and state water planning. In 2002 he was asked to organize the Innovative Water Technologies Team overseeing desalination, water reuse, rainwater harvesting, and, more recently, aquifer storage and recovery activities. In 2008 he was awarded the International Desalination Association's Fellowship to conduct research on desalination and water reuse with the Singapore Public Utilities Board. Previous to his work for the State of Texas he worked for the United States Agency for International Development overseeing a community grants programs for civil infrastructure projects in Costa Rica.

Laura Huffman State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas As state director of The Nature Conservancy in Texas, Laura Huffman heads a statewide team of scientists, conservation experts and support staff whose work supports the Conservancy’s 38 statewide preserves and touches every corner of Texas. She has authored a number of articles and op-ed pieces on a variety of conservation topics, including drought, water scarcity and Gulf of Mexico protection, and emerged as a national thought leader in the wake of the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. She advocated tirelessly for passage of the RESTORE Act and succeeded in connecting a diverse coalition of stakeholders around a central idea: that a healthy Gulf of Mexico is vital to America’s success and Texas can be an incubator for best practices in marine science. Huffman has also worked closely with Texas legislators to draft legislation with far-reaching ramifications for water conservation and spearheaded the expansion of water protection funds for Austin, San Antonio and surrounding counties. These citizen-approved funds have generated more than half a billion dollars to protect water in two of the fastest growing cities in the country, and emerged as a proven best practice for cities needing a practical, customizable way to protect water quality and quantity. In 2012, Huffman was invited to attend the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting and later met with officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss urban conservation. She is leading the Conservancy’s North American Urban Conservation Strategy, designed to ensure the Conservancy will take the lead in establishing the next generation of urban policies and strategies that guarantee the protection of natural resources at the whole system scale. A native of Austin, Huffman has been in public service for more than 20 years; prior to The Nature Conservancy, she served as deputy city manager for the city of San Marcos and assistant city manager for the city of Austin.

Sarah Dooling is interested in the patterns and processes associated with urbanization, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations (e.g., low-income families and water birds) and vulnerable spaces (e.g., urban parks, urban creeks and gentrifying neighborhoods). Integrating natural and social science disciplines, my work focuses on the ways in which social and ecological components of urban systems come together in unanticipated ways. Out of work that analyzed connections between homelessness and public urban parks, I have developed the concept of ecological gentrification, which I currently define as the implementation of an environmental planning project related to public green spaces that results in the production of unequal distribution of economic benefits, while espousing an environmental ethic, and the displacement or exclusion of select human populations. My current research projects include: (1) analyzing the integrated social and ecological consequences of low-income households who have relocated out of center city neighborhoods in Austin to the urban fringe; and (2) establishing multiple sites for long-term monitoring along the spatial gradient in the Austin metropolitan region, in order to conduct longitudinal analysis of ecological and social change under conditions of increasing uncertainty (e.g., climatically and economically).

Mr. Weber graduated with a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Minnesota at Duluth in 1980. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 1978. He has published and supported scientific studies that focused on freshwater aquatic stream systems and their response to pollutant inputs. He has over thirty years of professional experience in the public sector, in the management of environmental protection programs and staff, as well as positions conducting technical reviews of environmental matters. Mr. Weber has broad experience in surface and groundwater quality, drinking water, solid waste management, and compliance/enforcement regulatory programs. He began employment in his current position with Travis County in 2008. Prior to coming to Travis County, he was employed from 1984 to 2008 with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and its predecessor water resource agencies. Prior to his career with TCEQ, he was a chemist for the City of Michigan City (Indiana) with responsibilities over a 20 million gallon/day surface water filtration facility that treated and supplied drinking water to a large municipality. Mr. Weber is currently active with community-based organizations that include the Friends of Barton Springs Pool, Austin Parks Foundation, and the Western Trails Neighborhood Association in South Austin