Call To Action: Turning Plans into Pipelines

Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District and numerous local partners will host the 23rd Annual Bell County Water Symposium on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at the Cadence Bank Center, 301 W Loop 121 in Belton. The water symposium has been a mainstay in Bell County since 2001, providing insight into local and regional water strategies, policy, and regulatory responsibilities. Legacy partners include the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Bell County, the Bell County Engineers Office, and the Bell County Commissioners Court. Thirteen additional sponsors help make the day possible. The annual symposium is ultimately a place for stakeholders to understand the magnitude of a shared role in meeting the regional water needs of the many communities and industries in Central Texas.

The imminent need for water supply resiliency becomes more evident as the county navigates growth and climate variability. This year’s presentations will be a “Call to Action”. Since its inception, Clearwater’s investment in scientific endeavors has helped citizens, local leaders, and policymakers better understand water resources and the advantages of emerging technologies. More than a vision, the call to action is for Central Texas to start “Turning Plans into Pipelines” to ensure the viability of precious water resources for future generations.

Back by popular demand, the day’s Keynote will be delivered by Dr. Hal Needham, an Extreme Weather and Disaster Scientist from Galveston, Texas. Dr. Needham has fifteen-plus years of experience conducting data-driven risk analysis for disaster-prone communities. He specializes in science communication to professional scientists and the public and hosts the GeoTrek podcast, ranked by FeedSpot as the #1 podcast on natural disasters. This year, Dr. Needham, also known as Hurricane Hal, will provide attendees with a deeper look into common scientific communication strategies that often create misconceptions about the science itself. His presentation titled, “Communication: The Last Frontier in Science” is one not to miss.

Doors open for registration at 8:00 AM. Come early to enjoy hot coffee and visit the booths of our educational partners. Formal presentations begin at 9:00 AM. The Honorable Bell County Judge, David Blackburn, will welcome the day’s attendees and serve as a moderator of the event. The program will begin with his comments on the untethered county growth and the consequential unmet water needs, especially concerning citizens living in unincorporated rural areas. Judge Blackburn, in his many roles as County Judge, represents the county’s interest in the Regional Water Planning Group known as Brazos G which participates in the State Water Planning Process.

Presentations throughout the day will center around answering a looming concern – How does Bell County ensure the resiliency and viability of our region’s water supply over the next 50-plus years?

As part of a solution, Bell County along with regional water purveyors and stakeholders, have initiated discussions around implementing a more regionalized approach to water planning and development through the creation of the Central Texas Water Alliance. As Clearwater UWCD Board of Directors stated in a letter of support, “the necessity of the initiative cannot be overstated—it is a commitment to securing our water future and addressing the pressing needs of growth, development, and public safety.”

Our first speaker of the morning will be Mr. Graham Moore, Executive Director of Alliance Water since its establishment in 2014. Alliance Water is a Regional Water Authority formed to resolve long-term water needs for its partners in the Texas Hill Country. Mr. Moore will walk attendees through the creation of the Authority which serves as a model district for the concept of Bell County’s regional water authority. 

After a break for networking and refreshments, a panel of key leaders will discuss the detailed plans for creating the Central Texas Water Alliance. Key Legislators, Representative Brad Buckley, District 54, and Senator, Pete Flores, District 24, will sit alongside WCID 1 General Manager, Ricky Garrett, and Mr. Moore of Alliance Water to answer questions on legislative tasks and potential projects which include infrastructure, storage, and obtaining new water. 

In addition, General Manager, Dirk Aaron, and Assistant General Manager, Whitney Ingram, will provide an update on the groundwater resources across the county with specifics on current uses of groundwater, pending permits, and the status of the groundwater resources across the region. They will highlight the District’s most recent studies and initiatives.

Following a catered BBQ lunch and Keynote address, the District has invited Mr. Neil Deeds, Principal at INTERA, Inc. to showcase an innovative approach to extending current water supplies through Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) in Bell County. Under local leadership, two projects in a county-wide study assessed the feasibility of ASR to address the region’s water needs. Dr. Deeds will present findings from the two concurrent Aquifer Analysis projects both centered on the Lower Trinity, or the Hosston formation.

The county has 31 water purveying entities and most are rural water suppliers. To end the day, Mr. Scott Galaway, Financial Assistance Programs Outreach Specialist with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), will discuss the challenges that rural water suppliers face in the development and funding of large-scale system upgrades. The TWDB offers financial assistance on local projects through a variety of cost-effective loan and grant programs that provide support for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water-related infrastructure and other water quality improvements.

The Board of Directors and Clearwater UWCD staff look forward to another year showcasing the importance of both surface water and groundwater to Bell County’s robust economy. Sponsors of the 2024 event are KT Groundwater, Lloyd Gosselink Law Firm, KPA Engineers, MRB Group, Bell County WCID 1, Capital Farm Credit, Gamblin Engineering Group, LRE Water, Freese and Nichols, ICF, INTERA, Eno Scientific, and Advanced Groundwater Solutions.

Call 254-933-0120 to reserve your seat by November 8, 2024. For more information, please contact Dirk Aaron, General Manager at daaron@cuwcd.org, or Whitney Ingram, Assistant General Manager at wingram@cuwcd.org.