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What are the WISE Awards?
The Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards recognize innovative Projects, Programs, or Individuals in the Houston-Galveston region that serve as models for improving and protecting water quality. No funding is associated with this award program.
This program is overseen by the Natural Resource Advisory Committee, an advisory committee to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Local Governments
- Businesses
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Universities and Educational Institutions
- Utility Districts
- Individuals
Projects, programs, or efforts in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties are eligible for recognition. Joint applications for larger collaborative efforts are encouraged, but not required.
Winning submissions must exhibit efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation, and serve as models that improve water resources.
2025 WISE Awards Application Guide
For complete details on the WISE Awards application, please review the 2025 WISE Awards Application Guide.
Now Accepting 2025 WISE Awards Applications
The 2025 WISE Awards application period began on Monday, March 3, 2025.
How to Submit Your Application
All 2025 WISE Awards applications must be submitted online using the WISE Awards Application Portal.
- Create a 2025 WISE Awards Application Portal account by completing the 2025 WISE Awards Application registration form.
This step must be completed even if you have previously submitted a WISE Awards application in past years. - Log into the 2025 WISE Awards Application Portal.
- Begin a new 2025 WISE Awards application.
- Complete your application by providing all required information on the online application form.
The 2025 WISE Awards Application Portal allows you to save your progress and resume work on your application at a later time. - After completing your application, and ensuring all required information has been provided, submit your application online.
By submitting an application, the applicant agrees all contest materials may be used in presentations and publications developed by Houston-Galveston Area Council without further acknowledgement. Selected projects may be featured on the Houston-Galveston Area Council website and social media channels.
Application Deadline
2025 WISE Awards applications must be submitted online by 12:00 pm, Friday, April 4, 2025.
2024 WISE Awards Honorees
The 2024 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards winners were celebrated on Monday, July 29, 2024, at H-GAC. The 2025 awards program will open in the Spring.
City of West University Place
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Prevention Program is the 2024 Winner in the Program Performance category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate City of West University Place for operating such an impressive program and for protecting our region’s water resources.
City of La Marque
Water Loss Reduction is the 2024 Winner in the Completed Effort (Less Than $200,000) category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate the City of La Marque for taking action to conserve our region’s water resources.
Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc. - Bridgeland
Chrysalis Lake is the 2024 Winner in the Completed Effort (Greater Than $200,000) category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate Howard Hughes for this immense effort that contributes to the sustainability of our region’s water resources and integrates nature into our communities.
Harris County Flood Control District & Partners
Buffalo Bayou Park Revegetation and Biostabilization Project is the 2024 Winner in the Research and Monitoring category.
H-GAC wishes to congratulate Harris County Flood Control District and their partners for their diligence in ensuring the success of these environmental enhancements that protect our community’s water resources.
Galveston Bay Foundation
Rain Barrel Workshop Program is the 2024 Winner in the Education and Public Awareness category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate Galveston Bay Foundation for empowering their community and encouraging stewardship of our region’s water resources.
SWA Group & Partners
Exploration Green is the 2024 Winner in the Policy and Planning category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate Clear Lake City Water Authority and the SWA Group for their commitment to community-centric design in harmony with environmental resilience.
Teri MacArthur
Teri MacArthur - Protecting Water Quality is the 2024 Winner in the Individual Excellence category. It is H-GAC’s honor to congratulate Teri MacArthur on her phenomenal legacy as a generous educator and consistent advocate for water resource protection.
City of Galveston
Sustainable Interactive Customer Connections (SICC) received Special Recognition in the 2024 Innovation in Water Resources Management category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate the City of Galveston for taking action to protect our water resources with their innovative and forward-thinking strategies.
City of West University Place
SCADA Improvements received Special Recognition in the 2024 Water Quality Protection Technology category. H-GAC wishes to congratulate the City of West University Place for their commitment to integrating advancements in technology to better manage our region’s water resources.
Past Honorees
2023 Honorees
H-GAC congratulates the following 2023 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards recipients:
- Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Winner in the Program Performance category
- City of Bay City Parks and Recreation, Winner in the Completed Effort (Less Than $200,000) category
- Gulf Coast Authority, Winner in the Completed Effort (Greater Than $200,000) category
- City of Mont Belvieu, Winner in the Research and Monitoring category
- The Woodlands Township Environmental Services, Winner in the Education and Public Awareness category
- Texas Water Resources Institute, Special Recognition in the Excellence In Community Outreach category
2020 Honorees
H-GAC congratulates the following 2020 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards recipients:
- Houston Wilderness, Winner in the Policy and Planning category
- City of Houston-Houston Public Works, Winner in the Education and Public Awareness category
- Friends of the River San Bernard, Special Recognition in the Exemplary Environmental Advocacy by a Citizen’s Group category
- City of Houston-Houston Public Works, Special Recognition in the Exemplary STEM Engagement of K-12 Students category
2019 Honorees
H-GAC congratulates the following 2019 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards recipients:
- Harris County Flood Control District, Winner in the Completed Effort (Less Than $200,000) category
- Harris County Precinct 3, Winner in the Completed Effort (Greater Than $200,000) category
- City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Winner in the Policy and Planning category
- Galveston Bay Foundation, Winner in the Education and Public Awareness category
- Bayport Berm Planting, Port of Houston Authority (Port Houston), Special Recognition in the Robust Community Involvement category
- Supplemental Detention Criteria, Special Recognition in the Positive Integration of Amenities in Planning category
- Bridgeland Creek Parkway Sections Seven and Eight, Special Recognition in the Innovative Approach for New Development category
- City of Sugar Land, Special Recognition in the Proactive Planning & Leadership category
- Houston Wilderness, Special Recognition in the Effective Use of Natural Pollution Mitigation Measures category
WISE Award Application Information
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Local Governments
- Businesses & Industry
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Universities and Educational Institutions
- Utility Districts
- Individuals
Projects, Programs, or Individuals in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties are eligible for recognition.
Joint applications for larger, collaborative projects are encouraged but not required.
Winning Projects, Programs, or Individuals must exhibit efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation and serve as models to improve surface water quality.
WISE Awards Categories
The 2024 WISE Awards honor Projects, Programs, or Individuals demonstrating innovation and excellence for protecting and improving water quality through any of the following:
Planning and Policy
The Planning and Policy category honors Projects, Programs, and Individuals improving water quality through strategic planning and policy creation. Submissions should highlight how entities effectively utilize planning tools, author plans, or implement policy, such as ordinances.
Education and Public Awareness
The Education and Public Awareness category honors Projects, Programs, and Individuals improving water quality through public and stakeholder engagement. Submissions should bring to light how everyday activities impact water quality, create a sense of personal investment, and spur positive behavior changes.
Examples include but are not limited to, stormwater drain marking volunteer initiatives, pet waste management campaigns, workshop series on invasive species, or community clean-up events.
Completed Effort (Greater than $200,000)
The Completed Effort (greater than $200,000) category honors Projects, Programs, and Individuals that have contributed positively toward improving water quality by installing structures or enhancements.
This includes, but is not limited to repairs or installation of new wastewater treatment facilities, remediation or replacement of on-site sewage systems, installation of wetland detention basins, riparian buffers, low impact development/green infrastructure projects, or other vegetative areas with a water quality benefit.
Completed Effort (Less than $200,000)
The Completed Effort (less than $200,000) category honors Projects, Programs, and Individuals that have contributed positively toward improving water quality by installing structures or enhancements.
This includes, but is not limited to repairs or installation of new wastewater treatment facilities, remediation or replacement of on-site sewage systems, and installation of wetland detention basins, riparian buffers, low impact development/green infrastructure projects, or other vegetative areas with a water quality benefit.
Research and Monitoring
The Research and Monitoring category honors efforts tracking changes in water quality and measuring the efficacy of strategies and practices put in place to improve water quality. Submissions should demonstrate quality assured methodology, measurable metrics, and how the findings enhance understanding of water quality.
This includes, but is not limited to efficacy studies for low impact development/green infrastructure projects, targeted monitoring of regional waterways to identify sources of pollution, or explorations of emerging topics in water quality such as microplastics.
Program Performance
The Program Performance category honors efforts by a specific team or program that strives to continually set a high bar for themselves and does amazing work on a consistent basis.
Examples might include programs to find and remove illicit connections, measures taken to prevent sanitary sewer overflows, outstanding Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance (CMOM) Programs, or finding new innovative ways to run on-site sewage facility inspection programs.
It could also be an accounting of how a program or team responded to an emergency situation caused by mechanical failure or weather event that kept environmental damage to a minimum.
Individual Excellence
The Individual Excellence category honors individuals that go above and beyond to protect and improve water quality. Nominees may be recognized for their independent work or as stand-outs within their programs.
These individuals show leadership, and don't settle for doing the minimum required to achieve their goals. They are innovators, encouraging the incorporation of new technologies and ideas to improve their programs.