When I first moved to San Antonio for college, I had never heard of the Edwards Aquifer. I was already acquainted with Texas’ surface waters, having grown up near the Brazos and Trinity rivers and visiting the many rivers and lakes throughout the state. But groundwater had never really crossed my mind, at least not more than was necessary to understand a two-dimensional water cycle map in a high school science course.
During my first week in San Antonio, I went for a trail run in Government Canyon State Natural Area and learned about the Edwards Aquifer for the first time. And I fell in love. I couldn’t get over the fact that there is a water source right under our feet that provides such clean, clear water.
But I was concerned to learn about all the challenges facing the Edwards Aquifer and other aquifers in the state. Not only is the aquifer system itself at risk, but so are those who depend on it — endangered species such as the blind salamander, generations of pecan and live oak trees, and, not least, the more than 2 million humans who use it as their main water supply.
That first semester in San Antonio I decided I really wanted to work in public policy, preferably in some manner related to groundwater or rivers. After getting the opportunity to live, study and work in other cities across the U.S., I moved back to San Antonio a year and a half ago. Having gained experience working on a variety of local policy issues and in national and international water law, I kept my eye out for opportunities to work on water issues here at home.
This spring, I was offered the role of policy director at the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA), a nonprofit organization that promotes effective advocacy for the protection and preservation of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, their springs, watersheds and the Texas Hill Country that sustains them. We are entering our 20th anniversary as an organization next year, and for anyone interested in what we do, we will have a fun slate of events open to members and the community.
It’s hard to choose my favorite part of the job. One day can be spent researching innovative policy initiatives to protect groundwater supplies and writing recommendations for decision-makers at the local and state levels. The next could be spent traveling through the Hill Country to attend a community meeting or help out at a fundraising event. If there was ever a job that embodied the phrase “you learn something new every day,” it’s this one.
What makes the work challenging is also what makes it so rewarding. Any given week I could be researching, brainstorming recommendations, speaking to journalists, writing, making connections with experts in the field, submitting public records requests, reviewing city ordinances and keeping track of proposed legislation. I get to interact with expert hydrologists and biologists, the staff at other nonprofits, elected officials or their staff and members of the community. Rarely, if ever, am I bored.
Just a few months into my new role, I completed, and GEAA released, a report advocating for using recycled water in the Hill Country region to protect groundwater supplies. My research found that while the use of recycled water in the region is quite limited, the Hill Country is well-positioned to implement this water supply at a larger, more comprehensive scale. We believe greater use of recycled water is an integral step toward ensuring the region has the water it needs to protect the health, safety and quality of life of its residents in the years to come. We are advocating for a study of the issue from the Texas Legislature. It’s my hope that we can use this report to gain momentum at the local and state levels for wider use of what we consider a greatly underutilized resource.
I had never had the chance to create a report like this in previous jobs, so this was a novel and engaging project, and I was glad my executive director trusted me to do it. I’m already looking forward to my next project and am excited to continue to be able to work to protect such an amazing source of water.
