2018 Summit
The Case for Regional Collaboration for the Future of the Hill Country:
Texans want a Hill Country with a strong economy, a healthy environment, and resilience to extreme weather events like prolonged drought and catastrophic flooding.
Population growth stresses the natural resources that are key to the Hill Country economy, beauty, cultural heritage, and quality of life. Infrastructure and planning decisions made today—including road projects and water pipelines—influence how and where tomorrow’s growth occurs in the Hill Country.
Decisions made at the local, county, regional, and state-wide level have cascading impacts on the long-term future of our region. Hill Country decision makers increasingly recognize the need for a regional vision that extends beyond traditional boundaries, protects shared values of economic growth and environmental resilience, and ensures a bright future for our region.
9AM-4PM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4TH 2018
LBJ STUDENT CENTER BALLROOM, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Lunch included, networking reception to follow.
Former Commissioner Will Conley, Hays County and Chair, CAMPO
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome Remarks Jim Walker, Director, Office of Sustainability, UT Austin in memoriam: Kent Butler (via YouTube), Groundwater and Public Policy |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | People: The Hill Country is growing at an incredible rate, with our population expected to double in the next 35 years. How do we address the challenges of the population growth we are expecting, while simultaneously looking for opportunities presented by these new residents and development in our region?
Chris Schreck, Director of Planning and Economic Development, CAPCOG |
| 10:15 – 10:45 | Morning Keynote: One Water in Texas: Growth as a Water Supply Sharlene Leurig, Chair, Austin Water Forward Task Force and Project Director, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | MORNING BREAK |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | PAVEMENT: As we build in the Hill Country, increases in impervious cover will have profound impacts on our water quality, flooding risk, and water quantity. How can we utilize innovative new ways of thinking about the role of the built environment in stewarding water resources?
Hank Smith, Principal / Owner at Texas Engineering Solutions |
| 12:00 – 01:00 | LUNCH BREAK |
| 01:00 – 01:30 | AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: Innovative water solutions and how to make them reality George Hawkins, Founder, Moonshot LLC and Former CEO and General Manager, DC Water |
| 01:30 – 02:30 | PIPES: As drought, increased demand, and development pressures strain existing resources, communities are increasingly looking to new sources of water to meet future needs. What are the true costs of moving water in Central Texas, and are their untapped opportunities within the existing built environment?
Graham Moore, Executive Director, Alliance Regional Water Authority (Formerly Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency) |
| 02:30 – 02:45 | AFTERNOON BREAK |
| 02:45 – 03:45 | The Future of Collaboration in the Hill Country. Conversations are often had about the need for greater regional collaboration and coordination to manage water resources that cuts across political boundary lines. How do local elected officials see this conversation shifting into transformative action moving forward from today’s event?
Mayor Steve Adler, City of Austin |
| 3:45 – 4:00 | Audience conversation and closing remarks |
| 4:00 – 6:00 | Networking Reception |
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