Clean Waters Initiative Workshops

Clean water is crucial to our region's environment, economy, and quality of life. The Clean Waters Initiative (CWI) program offers workshops that help local governments, landowners, and residents develop effective strategies to reduce pollution in area waterways.

Past Workshops

Stormwater Programs and Impaired Waters

August 16, 2023

Agenda

Welcome and Event Kick-off
Onyinye Akujuo and Todd Running, Houston-Galveston Area Council
Presentation

Recipe for Success! A Joint Stormwater Management Program Story
Liz Stone, CPESC, and Camila Biaggi, ENV SP, CFM, Quiddity Engineering
Presentation

City of Austin MS4 and TMDL Programs
Julie White, City of Austin
Presentation

Collaboration Between Agencies that Assembled a Funding Method to Successfully Abandon Failing Septic Tanks in Underserved Communities
Susan Santos, P.E.
Presentation

Making a Splash with MS4 Compliance: Navigating the Waters of Environmental Responsibility
Alexandra O’Connor, CISEC, and Rachel Henderson, CISEC-IT, City of San Marcos
Presentation

TPDES MS4 Permitting and Impaired Water Bodies
Macayla Coleman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Presentation

Banking on Conservation: Riparian Areas and Water Quality

April 4, 2023

Agenda

City of Houston Riparian Restoration Initiative
Kelli Ondracek, Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Hanson Park: How Inter-Agency Partnerships Can Benefit Everyone
Bryan Frazier, Brazoria County Parks Department

The Upper San Jacinto River Basin Regional Sedimentation Study
Briana Gallagher, San Jacinto River Authority

June 16, 2022

Agenda and Speaker Information

Engaging the Public In Education, Outreach, and Volunteering for Water Resources Protection
Presentation Notes
Meeting Recording

October 24, 2017

Agenda and Speaker Information

Engaging the Watershed Community:Asking the Public to Care about Water Quality
Charriss York,TAMU Texas Coastal Watershed Program
Presentation

Cease the Grease:Utilizing Multifaceted Community Outreach Programs to Engage the Public
Kaitlin Grable, Galveston Bay Foundation
Presentation

Engaging, Inspiring, and Educating the Public Through Unique Coastal Experiences
Amanda Rinehart, Artist Boat
Presentation

Estuary Programs and Freshwater Inflows

November 28, 2017

Agenda and Speaker Information

Fish, Shrimp, Crabs and Freshwater – Life in a Dynamic Estuary
Dr. George Guillen, Environmental Institute of Houston
Presentation

From Droughts to Floods: An Overview of Freshwater Inflows to the Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary
Caimee Schoenbaechler, Texas Water Development Board
Presentation

Galveston Bay: Changing Land Use Patterns and Nutrient Loading
Rachel Windham, Texas A&M - Galveston
Presentation

Evaluation of Adopted SB3 Flow Standards for the Trinity River
Webster Mangum, Trinity River Authority
Presentation

November 28, 2017

Agenda and Speaker Information

Fish, Shrimp, Crabs and Freshwater – Life in a Dynamic Estuary
Dr. George Guillen, Environmental Institute of Houston
Presentation

From Droughts to Floods: An Overview of Freshwater Inflows to the Trinity-San Jacinto Estuary 
Caimee Schoenbaechler, Texas Water Development Board
Presentation

Galveston Bay: Changing Land Use Patterns and Nutrient Loading
Rachel Windham, Texas A&M - Galveston
Presentation

Evaluation of Adopted SB3 Flow Standards for the Trinity River 
Webster Mangum, Trinity River Authority
Presentation

February 26, 2019

Event Program and Speaker Information

H-GAC Wastewater Assistance (OSSF SEP) Program

Brian Sims, Houston-Galveston Area Council

Gulf Coast Economic Development District Program

Joshua Owens, Houston-Galveston Area Council

USDA Programs

Sabrina Glenn, US. Department of Agriculture

TWDB Programs

Scott Galaway, Texas Water Development Board

August 26, 2021

Agenda and Speaker Information
Meeting Recording

H-GAC’s Effort To Improve the Region’s Water Quality
H-GAC staff  provided overviews about the water quality programs H-GAC is supporting to improve the region’s waters.
Presentation

Big Creek Breakout Room
Attendees discussed watershed-specific topics in one of three breakout rooms. The Big Creek breakout room was led by Justin Bower.
Presentation

Cotton Bayou Breakout Room
Attendees discussed watershed-specific topics in one of three breakout rooms. The Cotton Bayou breakout room was led by Rachel Windham.
Presentation

Watershed-based Plans Breakout Room
Attendees discussed watershed-specific topics in one of three breakout rooms. The general Watershed-based Plans breakout room was led by Steven Johnston.
Presentation

March 14, 2017

Program 

Conservation Easements 
Suzanne Simpson
Bayou Land Conservancy

Habitat & Marsh Restoration 
Philip Smith
Galveston Bay Foundation

Mitigation Credits 
Mary Anne Piacentini
Katy Prairie Conservancy

April 4, 2017

Event Program and Speaker Information

Planning Ahead: Long-Term Planning for Stormwater Management
Michael F. Bloom, P.E.
R.G. Miller Engineers, Inc.
No Presentation Available

Stormwater Mapping & Successful Illicit Discharge Detection
Ryan Dixon
Port of Houston Authority
Presentation

Be Proactive: Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations and Maintenance
Ilana Harris
City of Sugar Land
Presentation

New Technologies for Operator Compliance
Robert Adair
Construction EcoServices
Presentation

May 16, 2018

Event Program and Speaker Information

Practical Housekeeping Measures for Municipal Utility Districts & Small Cities
Michael Gurka, Jones/Carter
Presentation

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program
Elaine Savage, Harris County Pollution Control Services Department
Presentation

Stormwater Pollution Minimization Plans
Robert Snoza, Harris County Flood Control Department
Presentation

Floatable Materials Control
Rick Masters, Jr., Contractor for City of Pasadena
Presentation

September 26, 2017

Agenda

Steven Johnston,Houston-Galveston Area Council
Status Update for H-GAC Total Maximum Daily Load Studies

Becki Begley, Houston-Galveston Area Council
Implementing Watershed-based Plans in Coastal Communities

Brian Koch, Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board
Demonstrating Water Quality Improvements through Agricultural Initiatives

June 20, 2018

Agenda

Swimming-Related Health Risks and Recreational Water Quality Criteria
Kate Lavelle, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Waterborne Diseases and Public Health Implications
Elya Franciscus, MPH, Harris County Public Health

Public Health Protection Programs in the City of Houston – Water Quality
Lisa Montemayor, City of Houston Health Department and LaNiece Blue, City of Houston Health Department

Fight the Bite – Applying Remote Sensing Technologies to Detect Mosquito Breeding Habitats
Sarah M Gunter, PhD, MPH, National School of Tropical Medicine

March 28, 2018

Agenda

Adrienne Boer,Texas Department of Transportation
Results from First Statewide MS4 Annual Report

Nick Russo, Harris County Engineering Department
Stormwater Management Techniques for Urban Roadways

Vishu Lingala, Houston-Galveston Area Council
2045 Regional Transportation Plan