The Texas Living Waters Project’s 9th Annual Statewide Water Conference in 2009 explored three innovative concepts to assure our future water supply meets human needs and sustains a healthy, natural environment: water-neutral new residential and commercial development, reverse auctions for protecting environmental flows, and the energy/water nexus.

Agenda PDF    |    Conference Announcement PDF

Click on the links below to download PDFs of the speakers’ presentations.

Water-Neutral New Residential and Commercial Development

What if it were possible to use new development as a means to achieve a higher standard of water use efficiency in existing communities and infrastructure? How would it work? What would it look like?

Richard Harris, Manager of Water Conservation, East Bay Municipal Utility District, California
Presentation

Discussion session moderated by Jennifer Walker, Water Resources Specialist, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club with experts Jonathan Letz, Kerr County Commissioner and Clark Wilson, President & CEO, Green Builders, Inc.

Reverse Auctions for Protecting Environmental Flows

Like many states, Texas has issued permits for significantly more surface water than is actually being used. Successfully held in Oregon and Washington State, Reverse Auctions are a way for the state to buy back unused water rights and free up water to meet changing demands and environmental needs. What’s involved? What would a reverse auction achieve?

Mary E. Kelly, Senior Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund
Presentation    |    Audio

Discussion session moderated by Susan Kaderka, Regional Executive Director, National Wildlife Federation with experts Colette Barron Bradsby, Attorney, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Patrick Shriver, Water Resources Planner, San Antonio Water Systems.
Audio

Energy/Water Nexus

Rarely considered in tandem, energy and water use have many intricate connections. How might efforts to slow global warming yield benefits above and beyond the obvious impacts on our climate? What water saving opportunities might stem from energy efficiency improvements or efforts to reduce carbon production? What positive impacts that might come from carbon sequestration with native grasses?

Amy Hardberger, Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund
Presentation    |     Audio

Discussion session moderated by David Greene with experts Ronny Luhur, Carbon Markets Specialist, Environmental Defense Fund and Carey King, Research Associated, Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin
Audio

GRoWers, Presentation on Green Roofs
Presentation    |    Audio