Master of Ceremonies
Sarah Schlessinger, Executive Director, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
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Sarah Rountree Schlessinger joined the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) as their Executive Director in 2015. She currently serves as an appointed member of the Water Conservation Advisory Council and an alternate member for the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee. She previously worked with the Bandera County River Authority & Groundwater District, and has experience with international non-profits with interest in water policy. Sarah holds a Master of Science in Water Science, Policy and Management from Oxford University.
Welcome
Honorable Mike Sutherland, Burleson County Judge
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Mike Sutherland was elected Burleson County Judge in November 2002 and took office January 1, 2003. He served the United States by serving in the Navy. Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1990. He is married to Debra Womble and they have two daughters, both graduates of Caldwell High School.
Groundwater Availability Models
Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board
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Dr. Robert E. Mace is a Deputy Executive Administrator at the Texas Water Development Board. He leads the agency’s Water Science & Conservation office, a department of 70 scientists, engineers, and specialists dedicated to better understanding groundwater and surface water resources; advancing water conservation and innovative water technologies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse, and rainwater harvesting; and better preparing Texas for floods. Prior to joining the Texas Water Development Board in 1999, Robert worked for almost nine years at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin as a hydrologist and research scientist. Robert has a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics and a Master of Science in Hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a Ph.D. in Hydrogeology from The University of Texas at Austin. His residential consumption of water is less than 30 gallons per person per day.
Desired Future Conditions
Larry French, P.G., Division Director, Texas Water Development Board
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Larry French is the Director of the Groundwater Division at the Texas Water Development Board. The Division staff conduct basic research and monitoring of the characteristics and conditions of the state’s aquifers, develop and use specialized models to predict groundwater availability, and provide technical assistance to organizations working to manage groundwater in Texas. Larry is licensed as a Professional Geoscientist in Texas, California, and Arkansas. He received a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from the University of California at Riverside and a Master of Art in Geological Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.
Impacts of Production in the Carrizo-Wilcox Panel
Moderator – Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board
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Dr. Robert E. Mace is a Deputy Executive Administrator at the Texas Water Development Board. He leads the agency’s Water Science & Conservation office, a department of 70 scientists, engineers, and specialists dedicated to better understanding groundwater and surface water resources; advancing water conservation and innovative water technologies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse, and rainwater harvesting; and better preparing Texas for floods. Prior to joining the Texas Water Development Board in 1999, Robert worked for almost nine years at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin as a hydrologist and research scientist. Robert has a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics and a Master of Science in Hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a Ph.D. in Hydrogeology from The University of Texas at Austin. His residential consumption of water is less than 30 gallons per person per day.
Kevin Spencer, P.G., President, R.W. Harden & Associates — Presentation Slides
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Kevin J. Spencer, P.G., is a hydrogeologist and President of R.W. Harden and Associates, Inc. He has more than 25 years of experience developing fresh and brackish groundwater resources, assessing the impacts of groundwater development, well field layout and design, development and evaluation of drilling and testing programs, and groundwater modeling. Kevin has been the principal investigator and project manager for the development of more than 75 million gallons per day of groundwater from public and industrial supply wells in Texas. Current and past projects include evaluations of availability, cost and impacts from large-scale production of groundwater. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Geology from Baylor University, is a Licensed Professional Geoscientist in the state of Texas, is a Registered Professional Geologist in the State of Mississippi, and is a Certified Professional Geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
Chad Norris, Aquatic Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife — Presentation Slides
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Chad Norris has a B.S. in Environmental Geology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a M.S. in Aquatic Biology from Southwest Texas State University. He has worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for 19 years and is part of the Water Resources Branch where his duties are primarily groundwater-related. Duties include gathering biological and hydrological data on springs across the state of Texas, assisting private landowners and other entities with technical guidance related to springs conservation and restoration efforts, and assisting with water planning activities. He currently sits on science committees for the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, the Barton-Springs-Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, and the State Water Supply Enhancement Plan. He is also a non-voting member of the Region J Regional Water Planning Group.
Toya Jones, Hydrogeologist, Intera — Presentation Slides
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Toya Jones has 30 years of experience in the areas of aquifer characterization and the development and application of numerical models for water resources, environmental restoration, and regulatory compliance projects. Her experience with water resource evaluations includes the collection and synthesis of data to develop conceptual and numerical models based on site-specific hydrogeologic information. She has served in key technical roles for the development of groundwater availability models for numerous aquifers in Texas, where her efforts include compiling and analyzing aquifer water-level data, establishing regional groundwater flow and pre-development aquifer conditions, and evaluating groundwater and surface water interaction. Toya has experience in developing and accessing transport parameters for large-scale regional groundwater transport models to assess environmental impacts to groundwater from historical disposal of radioactive waste, for site characterization related to waste isolation projects, and in support of environmental restoration projects.
POSGCD Rainwater Harvesting Grant Program
Drew Gholson, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
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Drew M. Gholson, Ph.D., is an Extension Program Specialist in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Drew’s primary areas of focus are developing educational and applied research programs involving water resource management. These programs include groundwater and private water well protection, water conservation, water quality, and rainwater harvesting. Outreach includes developing and delivering educational programs involving supporting source water protection for residents using water wells, residential water conservation, and being a member of the Texas A&M AgriLife’s rainwater harvesting task force efforts.
Welcome Back
Honorable David Barkemeyer, Milam County Judge
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Dave Barkemeyer was sworn into office as the Milam County Judge on January 1, 2011. Dave is a native of Milam County and graduated from Yoe High in Cameron in 1961. He then went on to Texas A&M University and achieved a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in 1965 and continued his education with a MBA from the University of Houston in 1969. Dave spent 32 years working for Dow Chemical and retired in 1998 as Vice President of Human Resources before coming back home to Milam County. Since being back, Dave has been busy as a rancher and real estate appraiser. He also served as Mayor for the City of Cameron prior to being elected County Judge. He is a member of Cameron, Rockdale, and Thorndale Chambers of Commerce. He is also a member of the Buckholts Evening Lions Club and a Past President of the Cameron Rotary Club.
General Managers of Groundwater Management Area 12
Alan Day, General Manager, Brazos Valley GCD
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Alan M. Day has served as the General Manager for the Brazos Valley GCD for five years. Brazos Valley GCD serves Brazos and Robertson counties. Alan graduated from Texas A&M University with his bachelors and master’s degrees in Animal Science. He then served as the Bosque County Extension Agent for over 7 years before becoming a Ranch Manager in Bosque County for 27 years. Alan served on the Middle Trinity GCD Board of Directors for 3 years before moving to the Brazos Valley.
David Van Dresar, General Manager, Fayette County GCD
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David Van Dresar began working for Fayette County GCD in October 2006. From 1998 to 2006, he was the Director of Utilities for the City of Texas City. David brings 30 years of water and wastewater knowledge to groundwater management, with experience in operations, management, regulation enforcement and instruction. Additional service to his community has been in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services. David studied Natural Sciences at Blinn College and the College of the Mainland. Currently, he serves on the Texas Drought Preparedness Council and the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee as the Texas Alliance of Groundwater District representative. He also represents Fayette County and Water Districts on the Region K Water Planning Group and represents the FCGCD in Groundwater Management Areas 12 and 15.
Jim Totten, General Manager, Lost Pines GCD
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Jim Totten joined the staff of Lost Pines GCD in November of 2012 in the role of assistant general manager and assumed the role of general manager in January of 2015. Prior to working at the Lost Pines GCD, he studied municipal water conservation programs as a doctoral student in the Water Management and Hydrologic Sciences graduate program at Texas A&M University. Jim worked as a laboratory manager researching the occurrence, transport, and fate of pathogens in ground and surface water before attending his graduate studies. He has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a master’s degree in Biochemistry – both from Texas A&M University.
David Bailey, General Manager, Mid-East Texas GCD
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David Bailey currently serves as the General Manager for the Mid-East Texas GCD and has held that position since 2010. David is a lifelong resident of Madison County and graduated from Madisonville High School in 1978. After receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Sam Houston State University in 1982, he began working in various positions with the Madison County Appraisal District until 1998. He then worked for 11 years at the Walker County Appraisal District until accepting employment with Mid-East Texas GCD in 2009. As part of his duties as General Manager, David serves METGCD as the voting member for Groundwater Management Area 12 and as the GMA 12 representative on both the Region C and Region H Water Planning Groups. He also serves on the Budget and Finance Committee for the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts. He is an active member of First Baptist Church of Madisonville and serves as a board member for the Madison County Health Resource Center.
Gary Westbrook, General Manager, Post Oak Savannah GCD
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A Milano native, Gary Westbrook graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education. He has served as the General Manager for Post Oak Savannah GCD since its beginning in 2003. He also serves as the local Pastor in the United Methodist Church, and is the owner of Westbrook Angus Farms. Gary served as President of the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts from 2005 to 2007 and currently represents Groundwater Management Area 12 on the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Group. In his community, Gary was a School Board Trustee for 13 years, and Past-President of Milam County Community Foundation.
GCDs in Groundwater Management Area 12
POSGCD Groundwater Well Assistance Program (GWAP)
Steven Wise, Board Vice-President, Post Oak Savannah GCD
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Steven Wise was appointed to the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors in 2013 and was elected Board Vice-President in 2016. He is an Executive Vice-President for Citizens National Bank and resides in the Liberty Community with his family on land that has been owned by his family for 80 years. Steven and his wife, Chanyn, have six children between them.
Gary Westbrook, General Manager, Post Oak Savannah GCD
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A Milano native, Gary Westbrook graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education. He has served as the General Manager for Post Oak Savannah GCD since its beginning in 2003. He also serves as the local Pastor in the United Methodist Church, and is the owner of Westbrook Angus Farms. Gary served as President of the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts from 2005 to 2007 and currently represents Groundwater Management Area 12 on the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Group. In his community, Gary was a School Board Trustee for 13 years, and Past-President of Milam County Community Foundation.
POSGCD Monitoring Update
Bobby Bazan, Water Resources Management Specialist, Post Oak Savannah GCD
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Bobby Bazan has worked for Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District for four years. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Systems Management and a Master of Science in Water Management from Texas A&M University. Prior to coming to Post Oak Savannah GCD, Bobby was a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service – Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Ralph Sifuentes, Field Technician, Post oak Savannah GCD
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Ralph Sifuentes joined the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District in August 2017. He was born and raised in Hearne, Texas before moving to Rockdale in 1979. Ralph has over 27 years of experience in drilling and groundwater. He began working for Alcoa as a driller and drilling supervisor. In 1994, he began supervising the drilling of groundwater monitoring wells. After working with Alcoa, Ralph worked for Luminant by supervising installation of wells, and worked in groundwater mitigation and monitoring.
POSGCD Social Media & Website Update
Megan Homeyer, Education Coordinator, Post Oak Savannah GCD
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Megan Homeyer began working at Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District in May 2017. Megan is a native of the area and grew up in Caldwell, Texas before attending Texas A&M University. At Texas A&M she received a double major Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and Agricultural Communications and Journalism. She then went back to graduate school and recently graduated with a Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications in December 2016.
