17th Annual Water Quality Management & Planning...

Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (ISEE) MSC 213 700 University Blvd. Kingsville, TX 78363 361-593-3046 [email protected] Texas A&M University - Kingsville Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering MSC 188 700 University Blvd. Kingsville, TX 78363-8202 361-593-2799 [email protected] Texas A&M University - Kingsville Environmental Engineering MSC 213 700 University Blvd. Kingsville, TX 78363 361-593-4330 [email protected] Lower Rio Grande Valley-Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Storm Water Task Force MSC 213 700 University Blvd. Kingsville, TX 78363 361-593-4330 [email protected] Texas A&M University-Kingsville is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 33033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Lower Rio Grande Valley 17th Annual Water

Quality Management & Planning Conference

Program

May 19 - 23, 2015 Isla Grand Resort

South Padre Island, Texas www.islagrand.com

FRANK H. DOTTERWEICH COLLEGE

OF ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

700 UNIVERSITY BLVD., MSC 213 KINGSVILLE, TX 78363-8202

PH 361/593-2187 FAX 361/593-2069 ____________________________________________________________________________________

May 19, 2015

Greetings, On behalf of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (ISEE), housed in the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, along with the Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Storm Water Task Force and our partners, welcome to our 17th Annual Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Quality Management & Planning Conference ISEE is a sustainability-based environmental research institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. ISEE focuses on research topics germane to South Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border region. It is our goal to develop team-based and research inspired programs to train and educate our future engineers. Working with our partners, we have brought together representatives from academia, private industries, environmental groups, research communities and state and federal agencies to be a part of a team exchanging ideas concerning environmental issues impacting coastal and semi-arid regions and the Rio Grande Valley, and transferring that information to the decision makers and stakeholders who influence the economic, social and physical infrastructure along the border region. ISEE has hosted several key topical conferences with the Lower Rio Grande Valley TPDES Storm Water Task Force. It is my hope that this conference serves as a platform for discussing sustainability issues that are both important and relevant to the Rio Grande Valley. This year the conference topics include the new TPDES MS4 Phase II permit, the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan Update, low impact development, the stormwater runoff flow reduction strategies, RESTORE, academia research topics, and many other interesting themes. Our conference also consists of many estuary topics, a result of the recently formed Laguna Madre Estuary Program. We hope you consider participating in this event and hope you have an enjoyable and stimulating time at the conference. Sincerely,

Kim Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Chairperson Environmental Engineering & Director, ISEE Texas A&M University-Kingsville MSC 188, 700 University Boulevard Kingsville, Texas 78363 Phone: (361) 593-2001 Fax: (361)593-2106 email: [email protected]

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 – TFMA Course and Exam, and LID Course. Separate registration required. Must join TFMA to sit in during Exam.

Course I Course II

SABAL

9:00–4:00 (30 min lunch)

TFMA Course and CFM Exam

Floodplain Management Review Course* Ben Pylant, P.E., CFM, CPESC

Civil Engineer, HALFF Associates Texas Floodplain Management Association (TFMA)

6 CECs/6 PDUs *Lunch included

5:30-8:00 CFM Exam Register at www.tfma.org

ROYAL

8:30 – 5:00 (30 min lunch)

Soil Erosion Pollution Awareness (SEPA) Program Funded by IBWC, Texas Clean Rivers and the EPA and TCEQ

Clean Water Act NPS 319 Program

Low Impact Development (LID) - Bioretention Best Management Practice (BMP) Planning & Design Course*

Beverly Storey, P.LA. Texas A&M Transportation Institute

College Station, TX &

Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Environmental Engineering (EVEN) - Chair

Institute for Sustainable Energy & the Environment (ISEE) - Director Texas A&M University-Kingsville

4 CECs (TFMA CFM)/8 PDUs *Lunch included

6:30-8:00 Exhibitor setup (2nd Floor)

Members of the LRGV TPDES Stormwater Task Force Founded in 1998

City Alamo City of La Joya City of Alton City of Mission City of Brownsville City of Palmview Cameron County City of Primera Cameron County Drainage District #1 City of San Benito City of Donna City of San Juan City of Edinburg Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15 City of La Feria Texas A&M University-Kingsville City of Los Fresnos City of Weslaco

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 – Conference Begins 6 – 7:00 pm

Registration PALM GRAND BALLROOM RECEPTION AREA (2nd Floor)

Early Registration Wednesday, May 20, 2015 – TPDES, Arroyo Colorado Watershed, Non-Point Source Pollution (NPS) and Stormwater Topics 7:00-8:30

Breakfast Plenary Welcome 8:00-9:00 Plenary Guests

PALM GRAND BALLROOM (2nd Floor) Stormwater 0 – Plenary, Welcome, and Keynote

Chair: Kim D. Jones, Ph.D., P.E., Director, ISEE, TAMUK Vice-Chair: Jose Hinojosa, Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15, Chairperson

Lower Rio Grande Valley TPDES Storm Water Task Force Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D., Chairperson/Director

Environmental Engineering Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment

Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Ponciano Longoria, P.E., CFM

Public Works Director, City of Edinburg Member Board of Directors Rio Grande Valley Branch

Texas Public Works Association (TPWA)

Tom Mountz, P.E., D.WRE, CFM RPS, Espey Austin, TX

Texas Floodplain Management Association (TFMA) State Board of Directors - Treasurer

Plenary Speaker 9:00-9:30 Plenary Guests 9:30-10:00

“The LRGV Stormwater TPDES Task Force – History and Beyond”

José Hinojosa, REM Chairperson

Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Stormwater Task Force

Founded 1998 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carlos A. Sanchez, P.E., CPM

Public Works Director, City of McAllen President-Elect for the

State Board of Texas Public Works Association (TPWA)

Alfonso A. Soto, P.E. Principal

Geotechnical/Materials Department Manager Terracon Consultants, Inc.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Section Director

Rio Grande Valley Branch

10:00-10:30

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Exhibits

Xavier Cervantes, AICP

City Planner, City of San Juan President

American Planners Association (APA) Southmost Section of Texas APA

Bech Bruun Texas Water Development Board

Board Member

10:30-10:45

MAJESTIC

Networking Coffee Break, Exhibits and Posters Group Session I Conference Theme Session 10:45- 12:00

Stormwater I – Arroyo Colorado, TPDES and LID

Chair: Ernesto Solis, Stormwater Specialist, City of Alamo Vice Chair: Melisa Gonzales, Stormwater Manager, City of Alamo

ROYAL SABAL

“Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan” Tim Cawthon

Natural Resources Specialist NPS Program, Austin, TX

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality &

Ashley Wendt NPS Project Manager

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Temple, TX

“Lower Rio Grande Valley LID Demonstration,

Education and Outreach Program” Augusto Sanchez, MS, CFM

Research Engineering Associate I LID Program Project Manager

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Weslaco, TX

“Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

Phase II Program” Rebecca Villalba

Team Leader Stormwater & Pretreatment Team

Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Austin. TX

Lunch 12:00-1:15 12:15-12:45 Group Session II 1:15-3:15

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Exhibits

NAUTILUS, CONCH AND SUNDIAL

MC: Joe Hinojosa General Manager

Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15

Sid Miller Texas Department of Agriculture

Commissioner ROYAL SABAL

Stormwater IIa – General Topics

Chair: Ernesto Hinojosa, P.E., County Engineer, Cameron County Vice Chair: Hector Lerma, Cameron

County Drainage District #1

Stormwater IIb – Water

Conservation, Agricultural Stormwater Topics

Chair: Kim. D. Jones, P.E. Environmental Engineering, Texas

A&M University-Kingsville Vice Chair: Joe Hinojosa, GM, Santa Cruz Irrigation Dist. #15

Urban Waters National Federal Partnership”

Adele Cardenas-Malott, P.E. Senior Policy Advisor

Water Quality Protection Division

EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX

“Alternative Energy” Riazul Mia, P.E.

Director, Environmental Services Department

City of Laredo

“EPA Position on the Need for Numeric Criteria for Both Nitrogen and

Phosphorus” Mike Bira

EPA NPS Program EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX

“Topic” Ahmed Mahmoud PhD

Candidate Ph.D. Candidate

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

“Irrigation management practices in citrus groves for advancing sustainable water supplies for South Texas.”

Shad D. Nelson, Ph.D. Dept. Chair and Professor of Horticulture/Soil Sci.

Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of

Agriculture TAMUK

“Agriculture and Water Quality in EPA Region 6”

W. Eugene Thilsted, Ph.D. Special Policy Advisor-Agri.

EPA Region 6 Dallas, TX

“Texas Agricultural Water Efficiency (AWE)

AWE – From the River to the Farm”

Tom McLemore Project Manager

Harlingen Irrigation District

“Topic” Brian Koch

Regional Watershed Coordinator

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

Wharton, TX

Three 15 min

Presentations

Q/A 10 min

3:15-3:30 MAJESTIC

Networking Coffee Break, Exhibits and Posters Group Session III 3:30-5:00

ROYAL SABAL

Stormwater III – Estuary Programs Chair: David Mendez, Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta LLP

Vice Chair: Raul Gomez, Administrative Assistant to the Honorable David Garza, Cameron County Commissioner

ESTUARY PANEL DISCUSSION PRESENTERS:

“Overview of National Estuary Program” Doug Jacobson

Gulf of Mexico Program Coordinator National Estuary Programs Coordinator


“Overview of Coastal Bend Estuary Program” Ray Allen

Executive Director Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program

Corpus Christi, TX

“Overview of Galveston Bay Estuary Program” Carla G. Guthrie, Ph.D.

Team Lead, Bays & Estuary Program Texas Water Development Board

Austin, TX Member, Galveston Bay Council

------------------------------------------------------ Emily Rogers, Attorney

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP Austin, TX

Humberto Garza District Director

Honorable Filemon Vela 34TH District of Texas

United States Congressman

Facilitated by: David Mendez

Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta LLP Austin, TX

Social 5:30-6:00

PALM GRAND BALLROOM

Networking/Fellowship Dinner 6:00-8:00

MC: Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Environmental Engineering

Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering


Guest Speakers

Guest

Speakers

“Engineering and Environmental Science

Education in the Valley”

“Texas A&M University-Kingsville: RGV Engineering Initiative” Dr. Maria De Los Reyes

Director of Operations Rio Grande Valley Engineering initiative

Frank H.. Dotterweich College of Engineering

"Student Engagement through STC/TAMUK Partnership" Martin Knecht

Assistant Department Chair Engineering Instructor

Physical Science and Engineering Department South Texas College

“Civil Engineering at UTPA transitions to UTRGV” Jerry L. Anderson, Ph.D. PE (ret.), D. WRE Interim Director Civil Engineering Program

College of Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor

Mechanical Engineering Department The University of Texas - Pan American

“Topic Pending” Jude A. Benavides, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Environmental Sciences

The University of Texas at Brownsville

THE BOARD ROOM

8:15 PM

Task Force Round Table By invitation only (Task Force members only)

Facilitator: Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. TAMUK Environmental Engineering

Thursday, May 21, 2015 - TPDES, LID, Research and Funding 7:00-8:30

Exhibits

Breakfast Group Session IV 8:15-10:00

ROYAL SABAL

Stormwater IVa – Stormwater and LID Topics

Chair: Omar Cano, E.I.T., Engineering Asst., City of Edinburg

Vice Chair: Jose Figueroa, Stormwater Manager, City of Brownsville

Stormwater IVb –Regulatory and other Topics

Chair: Jacinto Hinojosa, Stormwater Manager City of San Benito

Vice Chair: Carlos Salazar, Public Works Director,

City of Los Fresnos “Using Urban Soil Hydrology

to Connect Watershed Management with

Ecosystem Services” Danny Wiegand, P.E.

Urban Waters Ambassador to New Orleans

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

New Orleans, LA

“Examples of LID in Texas" Van Oldham, P.E.

Senior Stormwater Consultant Contech Engineered Solutions

Austin, TX

“Designing Water Quality

Controls” Craig Gonzalez, P.E. Urban Infrastructure

Group, Inc. Donna, TX

“Stormwater Industrial Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP)

Renewal” Lindsay Garza

Stormwater Permit Writer Stormwater &

Pretreatment Team Water Quality Division

TCEQ, Austin. TX

“Brownsville Resaca Watershed Characterization

Project” Jude A. Benavides, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Environmental Sciences

The University of Texas at Brownsville

& Jaime Flores, P.G.,

Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator

Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership, Weslaco, TX

“Sludge transporter program (Industrial hazardous waste

(IHW), municipal solid waste (MSW) and medical waste”

Jaya Zyman, P.E. TCEQ, Permitting and Registration Support (PRS) Division, Director

10:00-10:15 MAJESTIC

Networking Coffee Break, Exhibits and Posters Group Session V 10:15-12:00

ROYAL SABAL Stormwater Va – Ethics Chair: Juan De La Garza,

Stormwater Manager, City of Mission

Vice Chair: Xavier Cervantes, City Planner, City of San Juan

1.5 PDUs

Stormwater Vb – Water-Energy Nexus

Chair: Paula Rodriguez, City Planning and Community

Development Director City of La Feria

Vice Chair: Raul Garcia, Stormwater, City of Los Fresnos

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

“Ethics” Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D.

Chairperson/Director TAMU-K

“Ethics for Public Entities” David Mendez


-----------------------------

“Wastewater Reuse” Kara Denny

Industrial Permit Writer Stormwater &

Pretreatment Team Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Austin. TX

“New progress and innovation in desalination technology for

water resources” Lucy Camacho, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor Department of Environmental

Engineering TAMUK

“Water Management for the Annova LNG Brownsville Project”

Samuel P. Hanlin, P.E. Project Engineering Manager

Energy Division Black & Veatch

Overland Park, KS Lunch 12:00-1:15 12:15-12:45

NAUTILUS, CONCH AND SUNDIAL MC: Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D.

Environmental Engineering Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering


Roel Gomez Area Director, Area 8

Texas Development Office U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development

ROYAL SABAL Group Session VI 1:15-3:00

Stormwater VIa – Regulatory Chair: Rodrigo Davila, Director of Planning,

City of San Benito Vice Chair: Jaime Flores, P.G.,

ACWP, Weslaco, TX

Stormwater VIb – Estuary and Other Topics

Chair: David Salinas, CFM, Public Utilities Director, City Weslaco Vice Chair: Ponciano Longoria,

P.E., CFM, Public Works Director, City of Edinburg

“Municipal Stormwater Program

(overview of 2013-2017, and beyond)”

Nelly Smith Municipal Stormwater Coord. EPA Region 6, Permits and

Technical Assistance Section NPDES Permits & TMDLs Branch

“From Land to Sea – The Journey of Freshwater Inflows

to Estuaries” Carla G. Guthrie, Ph.D.

Team Lead, Bays & Estuary Program

Texas Water Development Board

Austin, TX

Exhibits

“Everything You Want to Know about CCNs”

Bill Dugat Bickerstaff Heath Delgado

Acosta LLP Austin, TX

“Operational Licensing

Overview (water and wastewater)”

Jaya Zyman, P.E. TCEQ, Permitting and

Registration Support (PRS) Division, Director

“The Coastal Bend Bays &

Estuaries Program – Community Based Resource

Management” Ray Allen

Executive Director Coastal Bend Bays &

Estuaries Program

“Laguna Madre Estuary Program”

Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Texas A&M

University-Kingsville Kingsville, TX Weslaco, TX

3:00-3:15 MAJESTIC

Networking Coffee Break, Exhibits and Posters 3:00 POSTER WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS Group Session VII 3:15-5:00

ROYAL SABAL

Stormwater VIIa – Research Topics

Chair: Rudy Garza, CPM, Public Works Director, City of

Alton Vice Chair: David Nacianceno, City of Palmview

Stormwater VIIb – Stormwater Financing

Chair: Javier Mendez, City Manager, City of Primera Vice Chair: Isidro Venecia,

Stormwater Manager, City of La Joya

“Coanda-effect screen

evaluation study using particle image velocimetry”

Jungseok Ho, Ph.D. Civil Engineering

Univ. of Texas – Pan American Edinburg, TX

“Management of Floodwaters

in Low-Gradient and Rural Settings: Hydrological Modeling and Analysis

Supporting Flood Prevention, Mitigation, and Recovery

Strategies” Dr. David Dilks

Vice President at LimnoTech &

Brendan Cousino Senior Engineer

LimnoTech, Ann Arbor, MI

“Funding of Storm Water Programs”

Riazul Mia, P.E. Director, Environmental

Services Department City of Laredo

“The NFIP Community Rating

System (CRS) and Hazard Mitigation Action Plans” Janine Ellington, CFM

CRS Specialist Lockwood, Andrews, &

Newnam, Inc. Austin, TX

Guest

Speakers

KEYNOTE

GUEST

Social

“Chemical Flocculant to

Reduce Turbidity in Construction Site”

Jihoon Kang, Ph.D. Dept. of Physics and

Geology/Environmental Science Program,

University of Texas Pan American Edinburg, TX.

“EPA Funding” Curry Jones

Chief, State and Tribal Programs Section

EPA, Region 6 Dallas, TX

5:00-6:00 THE BOARD ROOM

White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities Initiative (SC2) - Round Table

By invitation only Facilitator: Laura E. Gomez Rodriguez

Team Lead-Brownsville, Texas - SC2

KEY LARGO ROOM- FIRST FLOOR

5th Annual Javelina Engineering Alumni Social 5:30 – 6:00 Networking and Social Alumni Social 6:00-8:00

MC: Ponciano Longoria, P.E., CFM, President

LRGV Engineering Javelina Alumni Chapter Public Works Director, City of Edinburg

Stephen J. Nix, P.H, Dean


Ron Curry, EPA Regional Administrator (RA)

7:30 -10:00 Luau Outdoor Party – Food and Music

QUARTERDECK BAR Hammerhead Deck

Friday, May 22, 2015 - Outreach, Stormwater, & Rain Harvesting 7:30 -8:30

Breakfast

Group Session VIII 8:30-10:15

ROYAL Stormwater VIII – Stormwater Topics

Chair: Joe Vega, Parks & Rec Dir., Cameron County Vice Chair: Roy Jimenez, Stormwater Manager, City of Donna

“Closing Remarks”

Stephen J. Nix, P.H, Dean Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering


Exhibits

“Low Impact Development and WaterManagement in South Central Texas”

Mehmet A. Boz, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE Civil Practice Leader, KCI Technologies, Inc.

San Antonio, TX &

Afamia Elnakat, Ph.D., R.E.M. Assistant Professor, UTSA

San Antonio, TX

“Leveraging LiDAR for Rapid 2D Stormwater Modeling and Problem Area Assessment” Chad Cormack, PE, CFM

Regional Stormwater Manager Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Inc., Austin, TX

“Reducing the storm water pollution through

the street sweeping program” John Orfilla

Public Works Director City of Laredo

10:15-10:30 MAJESTIC

Networking Coffee Break, Exhibits

Group Session IX 10:30-12:00

ROYAL Stormwater IX – Stormwater Topics

Chair: Joe Hinojosa, Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15 Vice Chair: Isidro Venecia, City of La Joya

“Master Plan Development for a Hands-On LID/Green Infrastructure Training and Education Center at TTI’s Sediment

and Erosion Control Laboratory” Beverly Storey, P.LA.

Texas A&M Transportation Institute College Station, TX

“Blue Carbon - Coastal wetlands, seagrass beds,

and mangroves sequester more carbon than forests, grasslands, and other ecotypes that have been the traditional

focus of carbon sequestration” Doug Jacobson

Gulf of Mexico Program Coordinator National Estuary Programs Coordinator


“Surface Water Rights 101”

Emily Rogers Partner


WEEKEND STAY AT LAS ISLA GRAND RESORT GIVEAWAY MUST BE PRESENT ENTIRE FRIDAY

SESSION TO QUALIFY FOR PRIZE

END OF CONFERENCE


The Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering has a long history of preparing top-quality engineers for a rapidly changing profession. Research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level help train students for careers in engineering and small class sizes give students personal interaction with faculty members. The College maintains ties with the corporate and industrial world and provides valuable internship experiences that can translate into job offers once students complete their degrees. Most departments offer scholarships for qualified students and student chapters of professional organizations help students learn while they make valuable contacts for their future. The College offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees through six departments: civil and architectural engineering, chemical and natural gas engineering, electrical and computer science, environmental engineering, industrial management and technology, mechanical and industrial engineering and industrial management. A doctoral degree program in environmental engineering was added to our offerings in 2002 and doctoral program in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering was added in 2015. Our programs are located in four building including the Engineering Complex, which opened ten years ago. Our facilities house modern laboratories and computer facilities that help increase our graduates’ knowledge and experience. The undergraduate engineering programs in and mechanical engineering in the College are accredited through the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. The undergraduate program in industrial management and technology is accredited by the Association Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering.

Members of the LRGV TPDES Stormwater Task Force

Founded in 1998

INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (ISEE) ISEE provides increased access to B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. programs offered at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in environmental engineering to U.S. citizens and permanent residents; while it promotes research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to focus on the sustainability of semi-arid coastal areas. ISEE enables hands-on experience with state-of-the-art instrumentation and methodologies in laboratories and at various field sites. ISEE serves as a major source of research on the environmental sustainability of the semi-arid coastal areas, integrates the research with continuing education, transfers findings to the public domain and serves as a major resource partner with institutions along both sides of the US/Mexico border.

Speakers Ray Allen Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries, Corpus Christi TX Jerry L. Anderson, PhD, PE (ret.), D. WRE Int. Director, Civil Eng. Prog., UTPA, Edinburg, TX Jude A. Benavides, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences, UTB Mike Bira NPS Program, EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX Mehmet Boz, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE Civil Practice Leader, KCI Tech., San Antonio, TX Bech Bruun Board Member, Texas Water Development Board Lucy Camacho, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Adele Cardenas EPA, Region 6, Dallas TX Tim Cawthon Project Mgr., TCEQ Nonpoint Source Team Xavier Cervantes, AICP City Planner, City of San Juan Chad Cormack, P.E. , CFM Stormwater Mgr, Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Austin, TX Brendan Cousin Senior Engineer, Limno Tech, Ann Arbor, MI John Curry EPA Region 6, Administrator, Dallas, TX Dr. David Dilks Vice President, LimnoTech, Ann Arbor, MI Maria De Los Reyes, Ph.D. Dir. of Operations, TAMUK RGV Initiative, Weslaco, TX Kara Denny Industrial Permit Writer, TCEQ, Austin, TX

Bill Dugat Atty, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, Austin, TX Afamia Elnakat, Ph.D., REM Assistant Professor, UTSA, San Antonio, TX Janine Ellington, CFM CRS Splst., Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Austin, TX Jaime Flores, P.G. Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator Honorable David Garza Cameron County Commissioner Linsay Garza Stormwater Permit Writer, TCEQ, Austin, TX Roel Gomez Area Director, Area 8, USDA, Edinburg, TX Craig Gonzales, P.E. Urban Infrastructure Group, Inc., Donna, TX Marlen Gonzalez ASCE, Rio Grande Valley Branch, President Carla G. Guthrie, Ph.D. Team Lead, Bays&Estuary Program, TWDB, Austin TX Jose Hinojosa, REM General Manager, Santa Cruz Irrigation Dist. #15 James Markham Hill Mgr of Communications, NextDECADE, Woodlands, TX Jungseok Ho, Ph.D. Civil Engineering, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Doug Jacobson EPA Region 6, Dallas TX Curry Jones EPA Region 6, Dallas TX Jihoon Kang, Ph.D. Environmental Science Program, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Martin Knecht Engineering Instructor, South Texas College Ponciano Longoria, P.E. TX Public Works Assoc. (TPWA) RGV Branch Adele Cardenas Malott, P.E. Sr. Policy Advisor, Region 6, EPA, Dallas, TX Tom Maclemore Project Mgr, Harlingen Irrigation District, Harlingen, TX David Mendez Atty, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, Austin, TX Riazul Mia, P.E., Dir., Environmental Services Department, City of Laredo Sid Miller Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture Stephan J. Nix, Ph.D. Dean, College of Engineering, TAMUK Shad Nelson, Ph.D. Professor, College of Agriculture, TAMUK Van Oldham, P.E. Stormwater Consultant, San Antonio, TX John Orfilla Public Works Director, City of Laredo Suzanna Perea EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX Emily Rogers Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, Austin, TX Claudia Russell Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP, Austin, TX Carlos A. Sanchez, P.E., CPM Publ. Wks. Dir., City of McAllen, St. Dir.-Elect TPWA Alfonso Soto, P.E. Principal, Terracon Consultants, ASCE Section Dir. Nelly Smith EPA, Region 6, Dallas, TX Beverly Storey, PLA Texas A&M Transportation Insti., College Station, TX Eugene Thilsted, Ph.D. EPA Region 6, Dallas TX Rebecca Villalba Team Leader, Stormwater&Pretreatment, TCEQ. TX Danny Wiegand, P.E. Urban Wrs. Ambdor to New Orleans, LA Jaya Zyman Dir., PRS Division, TCEQ, Austin TX

Program Chairs Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Texas A&M University-Kingsville Augusto Sanchez, MS, CFM Texas A&M University-Kingsville Joe Hinojosa Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15 David Salinas, CFM City of Weslaco Ernesto Solis City of Alamo Paula Rodriguez City of La Feria Xavier Cervantes, AICP City of San Juan Roy Jimenez City of Donna Isidro Venecia City of La Joya Jacinto Hinojosa City of San Benito Rudy Garza, CPM City of Alton Juan De La Garza City of Mission Ernesto Hinojosa, P.E. Cameron County Carlos Salazar City of Los Fresnos Hector Lerma Cameron County Drainage District #1 Omar Cano, E.I.T., CFM City of Edinburg Ponciano Longoria, P.E., CFM City of Edinburg Jose Figueroa City of Brownsville Rodrigo Davila City of San Benito Honorable David Garza Cameron County Javier Mendez City of Primera Carlos Salazar City of Los Fresnos Raul Garcia City of Los Fresnos Raul Gomez Cameron County Melisa Gonzalez City of Alamo Jaime Flores Texas Water Resources Institute Joe Vega Cameron County Conference Planning Team

Javier Guerrero, E.I.T., MS (chair) Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kim D. Jones, P.E., Ph.D. Texas A&M University-Kingsville Augusto Sanchez, MS, CFM Texas A&M University-Kingsville Joaquin Martinez Texas A&M University-Kingsville Denise Hornsby Texas A&M University-Kingsville Jungseok Ho, Ph.D. Civil Engineering, UTPA, Edinburg, TX Omar Cano, E.I.T., CFM City of Edinburg Juan De La Garza City of Mission Jacinto Hinojosa City of San Benito Rodrigo Davila City of San Benito Ernesto Solis City of Alamo Jose Figueroa City of Brownsville David Salinas, CFM City of Weslaco Xavier Cervantes City of San Juan Jaime Flores, P.G. Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator Roy Jimenez City of Donna Joe Hinojosa Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15 Paula Rodriguez City of La Feria Rudy Garza, CPM City of Alton Sheila M. Valles-Pankratz Hollis Rutledge & Associates, Inc.

Exhibitors/Sponsors/Partners

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP

Thursday, May 21, 2015- High School Education Track

9:00 -9:15

Brownsville Hanna

High School Tour

Arrival Brownsville ISD #1 - Orientation

9:15 -9:30 Introductions and Group Assignments (no more than 8 students per group)

2nd Floor Conference Lobby and Reception Area 9:30-11:30 (1:30-3:30)

Rain Harvesting Demonstration

Kristen Hernandez Environmental Engineering Undergraduate

TAMUK

Arroyo Colorado Watershed Model Jaime Flores, P.G.

Texas Water Resources Institute, College Station, TX

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Process Lorenzo Barron City of Mission

Lunch Both Groups

HOTEL PARKING LOT

Permeable Paver System Demonstration TBA

Environmental Engineering Graduate student TAMUK

Street Sweeping Equipment Demonstration – Stormwater Best Management Practice

Juan De La Garza TYMCO and City of Mission

VAC-CON O&M Demostration

David Salinas CLS Equipment Co. and City of Weslaco

11:00-11:15 Arrival ISD #2 - Orientation

11:15-11:30 Introductions and Group Assignments (no more than 8 students per group)

11:30-12:30 PARADISE

“Environmental Engineering” Kim Jones, P.E., PhD

Environmental Engineering

“RGV Initiative” Maria Oralia De Los Reyes, PhD College of Engineering-TAMUK

12:30-1:30

Brownsville

Veterans Memorial

High School Tour

“Careers” Leon Bazar

Human Resources Director

“Admissions, Financial Aid” Samuel Diaz

Office of Admissions RGV Admissions Specialist

1:30 ISD #1 Departure

1:30-3:30

(same as above)

3:30

ISD #2 Departure

Office of the President Dr. Steven H. Tallant became the 19th president of Texas A&M University-Kingsville in October 2008. He immediately focused on building a leadership team, increasing enrollment, enhancing university facilities and increasing the visibility of the campus through a wider marketing initiative.

These efforts resulted in an enrollment increase of more than 12 percent for Fall 2010 and an investment of approximately $80 million in new construction and renovations on campus, including two new residence halls, a new recreation center and a new dining facility. In addition, plans for a third residence hall are well underway. This expansion was accompanied by development of a campus master plan to guide growth and construction over the next 50 years. Tallant also placed an emphasis on research at the university with tremendous results. In 2010, the university received $23 million dollars in research and sponsored programs. That amount is a record high for the university, up three million dollars from 2009, and up more than 56 percent in two years. Prior to joining the university, Tallant served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he was responsible for all undergraduate and graduate academic programs. He also provided leadership in several restructuring initiatives, including the creation of the College of Education and Human Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Services. He also has 20 years of military service and served as chief of Air Force Family Research at the Pentagon from 1991-1994. President Tallant earned his B.A. (Sociology) from the University of Florida, his M.S.W. (Social Work) from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. (Social Welfare) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Office of the Dean

Dr. Stephan J. Nix was born in Forest, Mississippi and grew up in south Florida, graduating from South Dade High School in 1970. He attended the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science, a Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering Sciences, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering Sciences. Dr. Nix has served on the civil and environmental engineering faculties, and held several administrative positions, at Syracuse University (1983-1994), the University of Alabama (1994-1997), Northern Arizona University (1997-2001), and Florida Atlantic University (2001-2004). From 2004 to 2009, he served as the Director of the School of Engineering at the University of North Florida.

Dr. Nix’s principal research interests are in environmental systems modeling and urban stormwater management. He has conducted research projects for the National Science Foundation, the AWWA Research Foundation, Alabama Power Company, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, the US EPA, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and several other public and private organizations. He has also been a consultant to nearly 20 companies and agencies in the area of urban stormwater management and modeling, combined sewer overflow abatement, and general watershed modeling. Dr. Nix has been the Dean of the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville since 2010.

Dr. Kim D. Jones, P.E., Director, The Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment Professor, Chairman of Environmental Engineering Department

Education - Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1997 - M.S., Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1994 - M.S., Petroleum Engineering, University of Texas at Austin,1981 - B.S., General Engineering, USMA, West Point, NY, 1974

Research Interest Natural Systems engineering applications for solid and hazardous waste treatment; Environmental biotechnologies for air and water treatment; Geochemical interactions between organic pollutants and soils and sediments, characterization of natural organic matter extracted from soils, sediments and natural waters, Constructed wetlands, Vapor phase biofiltration for air toxics, water reuse applications, Fate and transport of contaminants in subsurface systems. Solid and hazardous waste management.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Sid Miller is serving as the 12th Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, with his first term beginning in January 2015. Commissioner Miller brings a wealth of knowledge to the Texas Department of Agriculture. He is recognized as one of the state’s most dynamic and effective conservative leaders, as well as one of the state’s staunchest defenders of constitutional freedoms. During his six terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Commissioner Miller brought his real world agricultural experience to the table. He’s your everyday man who’s made a difference in his community and for the Lone Star State by working as a small businessman, community leader, school teacher, agriculturist and former school board member. In every aspect of his work, Commissioner Miller has proven his convictions in being pro-business and pro-job creation.

As the leader of the Texas Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Miller is working to safeguard water resources to ensure access for farmers and ranchers, as well as fighting to secure our nation’s porous border with Mexico. A true Texan through-and-through, Commissioner Miller is focused on promoting the best Texas-grown and Texas-made products through the GO TEXAN program. Additionally, Commissioner Miller will push for polices to continue growing the Texas economy and creating jobs.Commissioner Miller was born in De Leon, Texas, and is an avid rodeo and horseshow participant who holds nine World Championships. He is a graduate of Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Agriculture Education. Commissioner Miller maintains close ties to Stephenville, where he owns and operates a nursery business.Commissioner Miller and his wife, Debra, have been married for 36 years. The Millers have two sons and two grandchildren.

Texas Water Development Board - Board Member Bech Bruun Bech Bruun most recently served as director of governmental appointments for the Office of the Governor. He previously served as the government and customer relations manager for the Brazos River Authority. He is a member of the Texas Environmental Flows Advisory Group. A native of Corpus Christi, he was chief of staff to State Representative Todd Hunter (District 32). Bruun is former general counsel to the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, past executive director of Texas Victory 2008, and a member of the State Bar of Texas and Knights of the Austin Symphony. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Bech Bruun's professional experience spans positions in the executive and legislative branches of government as well as in the water industry with a large wholesale water provider.

Ron Curry, Administrator for EPA's South Central Region (Region 6) Ron Curry was appointed as US EPA Region 6 Regional Administrator in September 2012. He has more than 36 years of management experience in local, state and federal government, as well as the private sector. Most recently, Curry worked with the University of New Mexico on the development of their Energy/Water/Environment Nexus Studies program. Prior to that, he spent eight years serving in former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s administration as cabinet secretary of the Environment Department and Natural Resource Trustee. In the position as secretary, he oversaw the regulation of the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories and the implementation of standards to protect the air, water and land of New Mexico. He also lead the Governor’s initiative to join the Western Climate Initiative and lead the climate change implementation state team in New Mexico. He developed the Environmental Justice Executive Order signed in November 2005 by Governor Richardson. As trustee, he successfully negotiated a $13 million ground water consent decree in 2010.

He has extensive experience working closely with the EPA, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as industry. He also served as administrator for the Village of Los Ranchos and as a city manager in Santa Fe. Earlier in his career, Curry was a senior public affairs specialist for Gram Inc. and worked on a site-wide environmental impact statement for Los Alamos National Laboratory; and vice president of CEI Enterprises, a manufacturing firm. He has over 20 years of experience in private business including 10 years owning a small business franchise started with his father. His interest in the environment grew during his manufacturing career while marketing products into the South Coast Air Quality District in California. He brings to the EPA a keen understanding of federal environmental regulations impacts on business owners and entrepreneurs as well as state and local governments. Roel Ruben Gomez, USDA Rural Development

Roel Ruben Gomez serves as the Area Director for USDA Rural Development in Edinburg, Texas. Roel is responsible for the rural assistance and development programs which include: single-family housing, multi-family housing, community facilities, water and waste, and business. As the Area Director he supervises employees in three local offices – Alice, Edinburg and Hebbronville. Roel has passionately worked with USDA Rural Development for 24 years and has worked in Edna, Texas Alice, Texas Beeville, Texas and presently in Edinburg, Texas. A proud native of Rio Grande City, Texas, Roel earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas Pan American. Roel and his wife Rosita, live in Pharr, Texas, with their son Diego Roel.

Adele Cardenas Malott, P.E., Chemical Engineer Senior Policy Advisor EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX

Adele Cardenas Malott is a senior environmental engineer with over 20 years experience in EPA Region 6. She currently holds a position as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Water Quality Protection Division and Regional Administrator’s Office regarding a special project pertaining to the Asbestos NESHAP. She is the Urban Water’s Coordinator for Region 6 as well as the lead region representative for this topic. She also manages the US/Mexico Global Environmental Fund (GEF) Rio Bravo project approved and awarded recently in the Winter of 2010 by the United Nations GEF. She is the Technical Advisor for the Rio Bravo Project for the United States. She was previously the Decentralized Coordinator for the Water Quality Protection Division, and an active member of the Water Division’s U.S. Mexico Border Team. She also held the position of the River Navigator for the Rio Grande under the 1998 American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI). As the River Navigator, she was lead for the 18 federal agencies charged with coordinating and assisting communities along the Rio Grande in implementing projects related to the three AHRI objectives of economic revitalization, historic and cultural preservation, and environmental protection. She has also served a two-year detail as the Special Assistant for the Regional Administrator, Gregg Cooke. Previous experience also includes positions in the EPA programs dealing with Title V air permits, NPDES permits, public water supply issues and innovations activities in Region 6. Adele has also been the environmental engineer with Chaparral Steel Company in Midlothian, Texas and Kraft Food Ingredients in Sherman, Texas. Adele is currently a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas and holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, Texas.

Mike Bira NPS Program Manager EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX

Mike has been at EPA for 25 years. Currently he is the Nonpoint Source Program Manager for Oklahoma and Co-Manager for Texas, Nutrient Co-Coordinator, and Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator. Mike is responsible for assisting the states of OK and TX in development and execution of the states’ NPS Programs. Prior to his EPA career, Mike was a Field Biologist for the State of TX. He holds a MS in Aquatic Biology from Texas State University and a BS in Marine Biology from the University of Tampa.

Eugene Thilsted Special Policy Advisor-Agriculture EPA Region 6 Dallas, TX

Attended Oklahoma State University and received his Ph.D in Crop Science in 1981. Eugene came to work for EPA Region 6 in 2002 in the Pesticide Section as the Strategic Agriculture Initiative Coordinator. Eugene was selected as the Special Policy Advisor – Agriculture to the Regional Administrator in 2011. His current responsibilities are listed below. Eugene’s role is three-fold: 1) to be the primary regional liaison and Agency contact with the state agriculture commissioners/directors, tribal agriculture officials, and other agriculturally oriented organizations and agencies; 2) to serve as the primary resource concerning agriculture with the Region 6 organization—including policy and regulatory review, and agro-environmental data analysis; and 3) to serve as a significant resource to the agency’s Agriculture Policy Counselor.

Nelly Smith Municipal Stormwater Coordinator EPA Region 6 Permits and Technical Assistance Section NPDES Permits and TMDLs Branch

Nelly Smith has a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Alabama. Nelly worked for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) as a Remedial Project Manager for both the Superfund and the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) programs for five years. Since 2006, she has worked for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 in the Water Quality Standard, Non-point Source, and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/Stormwater management programs. She is leading a watershed based permit project in the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico initiated by the EPA Head Quarter - Office of Water. She is currently the Municipal Stormwater Coordinator for EPA Region 6.

J. Douglas Jacobson Gulf of Mexico Program Coordinator National Estuary Programs Coordinator EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX

J. Douglas Jacobson has a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He works for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 in Dallas as the Gulf of Mexico Program Coordinator, representative to the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and manager of the three National Estuary Programs located in Region 6. Mr. Jacobson works on many other coastal policy issues within the coastal zone including working on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill recovery and the NRDA and RESTORE activities related to it. He also co-led FEMA’s Long Term Disaster Recovery Planning Team for Hurricane Ike. Prior to working for the EPA, he was a lobbyist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and worked as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. Mr. Jacobson also has experience in ranching, the food industry, and real estate development and management.

Danny Wiegand Urban Waters Ambassador to New Orleans U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans, LA

Danny Wiegand is an environmental engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans, LA. For the past 2 years, he has served on an Interagency Agreement with EPA as the Urban Waters Ambassador to New Orleans and is collocated at City Hall in New Orleans. Danny is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Urban Waters Partnership and connecting Federal resources to locally-driven initiatives. During his time as Ambassador, he has worked closely with City staff and local stakeholders on implementation of sustainable and resilient water management features such as green infrastructure. Danny is licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Louisiana and has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master of Science in Public Health from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Curry Jones Chief, State and Tribal Programs Section EPA, Region 6 Dallas, TX

Mr. Curry Jones is Chief of the State and Tribal Program Section for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6 office in Dallas, Texas. In this capacity, Mr. Jones provides funding to states and tribes to fund water quality planning, monitoring, modeling and implementation necessary to restore water quality. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Jones has served as both a water quality modeler, and a regional TMDL program manager for EPA’s Southeastern Regional Office (Atlanta, Georgia) and EPA’s Pacific Northwestern Office (Seattle, Washington). Mr. Jones received his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Wiley College, and his Masters of Science Degree in Public Health from the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine.

Jaya Zyman, PE Permitting and Registration Support Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Jaya Zyman, P.E., is currently the Director of the Permitting and Registration Support Division within the Office of Waste at TCEQ and was formerly the Assistant Director for the Water Quality Division. She is a board certified professional engineer in Texas with a BS degree in Biochemical Engineering and an MS degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, from the University of Texas, Austin, TX. Jaya joined the TCEQ in 2009 after 23 years of working in the private sector as a consultant with multi-national environmental engineering firms. She first joined the Water Quality Division as the team leader for the Storm Water and Pretreatment Team. In February of 2011, she was promoted to assistant division director of the Water Quality Division where she oversaw the wastewater and storm water permitting programs along with the reclaimed water reuse and the wastewater treatment plant design plans and specifications review process. In February of 2015, she was promoted to Director of the Permitting and Registration Support Division within the Office of Waste at TCEQ. In that capacity she oversees all the permitting and registration activities associated with underground and aboveground storage tanks, industrial hazardous waste, dry cleaners, TV manufacturing, sludge transporter, used oil, and medical waste transporters. In addition, she also oversees the operational licensing program for the backflow prevention assembly testers, customer service inspectors (water distribution), landscape irrigators, irrigation technician, irrigation inspectors, leaking petroleum storage tanks corrective measure specialist and project managers, municipal solid waste supervisors, offsite sewage facility installers, and representatives, water treatment, underground storage tank contractors, wastewater treatment operators, public water systems operators, and visible emissions evaluators operational licenses.

Rebecca L. Villalba Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Since July 2011, Rebecca L. Villalba is the Team Leader for the Stormwater & Pretreatment Team. She has been working at the TCEQ since August 1996 in the Wastewater Permitting Section of the Water Quality Division. In her current position, she is

responsible for supervising pretreatment coordinators and permit writers that implement the pretreatment, stormwater (construction, industrial, and municipal), and quarry programs and their associated permitting activities and overseeing the stormwater processing center. Ms. Villalba’s prior position was Sr. Pretreatment Coordinator in the Stormwater & Pretreatment Team providing oversight for numerous Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) pretreatment programs. Her oversight activities included performing pretreatment program audits, industrial user categorical determinations, reviewing publicly owned treatment works (POTW) permit applications for appropriate pretreatment requirements, reviewing pretreatment program modifications to include technically based local limits calculations, and drafting POTW permits. She is a TCEQ Aspiring Leaders Program alumni (class of 2010-2012) and has participated in the TCEQ’s Border Initiative and partnership efforts with the Mexican government related to the pretreatment program providing training and technical assistance. In 2001, Ms. Villalba completed the five-day Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Lead Auditor Training Course and for over 10 years represented the Water Quality Division in the EMS team involved in developing and implementing the TCEQ’s EMS program. Ms. Villalba has a B.S. degree in Chemistry with Chemical Engineering and Spanish minors from the University of Houston. Prior to joining the TCEQ; she worked at an international chemical company in the area of industrial solid and hazardous waste management and at NASA-Johnson Space Center in the water laboratory conducting experiments and research to support the Space Shuttle and Space Station water disinfection projects.

Lindsay Garza Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Lindsay has been working with TCEQ’s Stormwater and Pretreatment Team since November 2011, as an intern and then full-time team member since September 2012. As an Environmental Permit Specialist III, she is responsible for various tasks including reviewing municipal annual reports, providing customer service, and drafting individual stormwater discharge permits under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES). She is currently the Project Lead for the 2016 Multi-Sector General Permit renewal. Lindsay earned a BS in Environmental Science and Policy, with a concentration in Biology, from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. She is currently pursuing her MAG in Resources and Environmental Studies from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. As an intern with TCEQ, both through the Mickey Leland Program and Texas State’s Graduate Partnership Program, Lindsay gained knowledge and experience in Texas law and policy, as well as TPDES permit processes and regulations.

Kara Denney Water Quality Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Industrial Wastewater Permit Writer

Kara received her Bachelors of Science in Water Studies in 2009 from Texas State University. She worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer for 2 years doing riparian restoration in Washington State and throughout the Southwest. Kara has been with the Industrial Wastewater Permits Team since September 2012. She started with the agency as a Mickey Leland intern for the Water Quality Standards Group in the summer of 2012. Kara finished her Masters of Applied Geography in GIS from Texas State University in the spring of 2014.

Tim Cawthon Natural Resources Specialist NPS Program, Austin, TX Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Graduated from Baylor University in 2004 with degree in Geography and minor in Environmental Studies. Graduated from Texas State University with Master of Science in Geography with a focus on Fluvial Geomorphology. Thesis was studying channel change and large woody debris on the San Antonio River. Have worked as a project manager for TCEQ NPS Team for over 4 years and have managed projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley for over four years.

May 21-22, 2015 – POSTER COMPETITION

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE

“Effects of Climate and Land Use Changes on Water Quality in the Nueces River Basin”

Fayruj Z. Ahmed Environmental Engineering

Ph.D. Candidate

“Comparison of Permeable and Traditional Pavements Performance on Improvement of Urban

Stormwater in Lower Rio Grande Valley Region” Ahmed Mahmoud

Environmental Engineering Ph.D. Candidate

“Evaluation of Runoff Water Quality from Urbanization of a former Agricultural Floodplain”

Wisdom Oghenerurie Environmental Engineering

MSc Candidate

“Binational Synoptic Water Quality Survey of the Lower Rio Grande/ Río Bravo” Rohan Jayasuriya

Environmental Engineering MSc Candidate

"Point of Use treatment system for the removal of Arsenic" Kristen A. Hernandez, Jose Santiago Roque, Maegan Saverline, Samuel Franco

Environmental Engineering Undergraduate


UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – PAN AMERICAN

“Coanda-Effect Screen Evaluation Study using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)” José Prado, and Lizbeth Orduño

Civil Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computer Science Graduate

“Parking Lot Bioswale Hydrologic and Environmental Performance Evaluation” Pedro Salazar, Cuauhtémoc Torres Cantu, Gerardo Romero, Katia Navar, and Edith Vazquez

Civil Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate

“Development of Water Quality Transport Model of Hidalgo County Drainage Systems” Jose Gonzalez, Grimaldo Carrillo, and Freddy Briseno


“Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) Water Quality Initiative”

Jose Gonzalez, Adan Garza, Jorge Garcia, Miguel Arias, and Antonio Pulido Civil Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Undergraduate

“Removal of Heavy Metals and Nutrients using Charcoal-Based Adsorbents”

Sergio Mireles and Stephanie Downs Department of Physics and Geology / Environmental Science Program

Undergraduate

“Watershed Modeling of the Los Olmos Creek Watershed Sediment Yield” Rockford Miller


“Hydraulic properties of calcic soils and its influence on stormwater management”

Sergio Mireles, Eli Gonzalez Physics and Geology/Environmental Science,

University of Texas - Pan American Undergraduate

“Characterization of stormwater and baseline runoff from the Lower Rio Grande Valley with focus on

Brownsville and Arroyo Colorado drains.” Edwin Quintero Hudson DeYoe.

University of Texas – Pan American, Edinburg, Texas Undergraduate


UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - BROWNSVILLE

“Robust sampling along the Arroyo Colorado in support of flow modeling and bacterial source tracking efforts”

Guadalupe Garcia III, Monica Delgado, Rachelle Maldonado Environmental Science

Undergraduate


SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

“Design and cost analysis of STC LID parking lot” Victoria Salinas, Mark Gonzalez, Roy Portillo

Engineering

“Water quality and flow monitoring of STC LID parking lot” Danielle Gonzales, Matthew Amaro, Alexis Lazano

Engineering

“Installation and maintenance of monitoring system for the STC LID parking lot”

Oswaldo Guerra, Carlos Aguirre, Joey Then Engineering

THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY TPDES STORMWATER TASK FORCE

The LRGV TPDES Stormwater Task Force. In 1998, facilitated by Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK), a coalition of thirteen (13) Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) local governments joined to form the LRGV TPDES (Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Stormwater Task Force (LTSTF) in a joint effort to develop a proactive regional approach to comply with the TPDES Phase II Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer System (MS4) rules. TAMUK and the LTSTF developed a regional stormwater management plan (SWMP) adopted by the membership. The SWMP includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are required as part of the six (6) Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) of the State’s TPDES program. Today the LTSTF is comprised of seventeen (17) local governments. Organization and Mission of the LRGV TPDES Stormwater Task Force. The LTSTF project idea was born from a 1998 local stormwater brainstorming round table held in La Feria, Texas. Several preliminary meetings continued at various cities until the coalition was formally organized. Local government officials and qualified professionals representing various communities in the LRGV region attended these meetings. The group agreed to develop a way to achieve a regional SWMP to comply with the TPDES regulations. The group formalized the organization by contractually empowering TAMUK to facilitate the group and by developing a system of by-laws that included election of board members and officers. The LTSTF uses a unique, collaborative regional approach to involve various levels of government, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in developing cost-effective solutions that will achieve compliance with the TPDES rules. The LTSTF project embodies the spirit of the mutually beneficial relationships between local governments and embellishes this relationship with academia and regulators. After seventeen (17) years, although the impact of this organization has translated into a regional collaboration movement not seen anywhere else in the State, the overall impact of this organization has yet to be fully realized. The primary goal of the LTSTF project in 1998 was to develop and implement a regional SWMP to comply with Phase II regulations. In 2002, LTSTF participants began entering into local government interlocal agreements with TAMUK, which outlined the desire to address stormwater quality issues on a regional basis and named TAMUK as its facilitator. In executing these interlocal agreements, emphasis was placed on developing programs that study existing successful programs, addressing community goals, providing technical assistance and training, and promoting regional approaches. In 2006, the LTSTF modified its mission to include stormwater quality management approaches to address broader water quality and watershed issues, particularly those associated with the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership (ACWP), a local Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)-related organization. The LTSTF project has already enjoyed side benefits of increased communication and cooperation, and created a collaborative process for discussing water quality issues in the LRGV’s four-county region. In addition, this collaboration and others like it, has enabled the participating communities and TAMUK to successfully secure many grant funding opportunities since the Task Force’s inception. TAMUK is providing facilitation and management assistance for the LTSTF project, initiating this effort through a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, other grants, and from annual membership fees collected from the member-local-governments. The funds provide resources for staff to facilitate the group’s efforts in formulating LTSTF project goals and developing LTSTF programs. Funds, in part, are also used to host workshops, expert panel discussions, conferences, seminars and training sessions. In 2008, during a Task Force meeting held in Mission, TX, the organization formed several committees: ordinance, grant, scholarship, outreach, training, housekeeping, construction, and others. TAMUK worked closely with the committees in developing the SWMPs by responding to recommendations and suggestions posed by these committees. Recently, these committees have been replaced with work groups which now work

with TAMUK in facilitating the organization and implementing the SWMPs. One key workgroup, responsible for luring millions of dollars worth of grant funding to the Valley, is the Low Impact Development (LID) workgroup. The LRGV LID Outreach, Education and Demonstration program is a highly regarded project in the region that resulted from collaboration efforts within this workgroup. New Paradigm. The new stormwater paradigm presents many questions to local governments in the LRGV. What is a stormwater management program, what will it cost, who will fund the program, is it needed, and how much will it cost? The LTSTF realizes a regional program is a key part of a successful regional storm water program. But, regulators and academia do not have a firm grasp of the costs associated with developing and implementing such a program. Although the average citizen often takes for granted the services municipalities provide, the stormwater services are nonetheless expected. The region now requires that local governments provide a stormwater runoff pollution protection service. This new paradigm requires the development of infrastructure and funding strategies to support providing this service. Storm Water Quality is Now a Municipal Responsibility. This is not the first time local governments have been confronted with environmental water quality regulations that affect the manner that cities allocate funds. TMDL regulations recently started developing new performance measures for local governments, and LRGV communities have become very familiar with the Arroyo Colorado TMDL studies. Based on these studies, the drafters of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan (ACWPP), which included members of the Task Force and TAMUK, concluded that urban stormwater runoff is contributing to the impairment of the Arroyo Colorado. Thus, the timing of the formation of the Task Force could not have been better. Local governments typically tend to procrastinate when it comes to addressing non- mandated environmental issues, usually because of lack of resources and lack of expertise and understanding rather than due to a non-proactive attitude. Still, finding funds to implement a regional SWMP program is a huge responsibility for any local government. Cost effectiveness and revenue potential were major considerations for our local governments when developing this Task Force. In the LRGV, the communities share similar demographics and similar environmental concerns. Most residents live in low- or fixed-income households and cannot afford to pay fees to support the environmental-related requirements. Thus, there is a strong case for any type of collaboration that would keep costs down. In the LRGV, each community is contiguous to other communities, with some cities bordered by four (4) other cities. Thus, the LRGV appears as one urbanized metropolitan region. Although all these communities experience similar TPDES stormwater problems, none had in place a TPDES stormwater program or related ordinance. Since the creation of the LTSTF, stormwater tasks were generally viewed as “add-on” responsibilities for departments and staff that have other primary responsibilities. To varying degrees, with the exception of McAllen and Brownsville, the communities had existing staff (such as sanitary sewer, code enforcement, or road department personnel) handling stormwater operations, maintenance, regulation and enforcement. None of the communities could maintain a person, much less a department, to handle stormwater administration, planning, design, and engineering; water quality planning and monitoring; and capital improvements and expenditures. The regional approach taken by the LTSTF allows the LRGV communities to share these responsibilities, which results in a much more cost-effective program for addressing stormwater issues. Also realized in time, the LTSTF network provides a vitally important link to these small communities when new employees take on storm water related duties after key employee turnover. The LTSTF project will recognize its seventeenth (17th) year of existence, and the organization is determined to continue evolving and to continue strengthening its partnership in the future.

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