Talk+Water
- Folgen
- 116
- Erscheint
- monatlich
- Letzte Folge
- 4. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
Talk+Water takes a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves. Every month Todd H. Votteler, Ph.D. interviews special guests making unique contributions in the water profession.
Talk+Water has been rated one of the top water podcasts in the world in multiple water podcast reviews! Your feedback helps us to ensure that our work provides value to our audience. If you listen to Talk+Water please take a minute to subscribe, rate an episode, and leave a review so we know how we are doing.
Mitwirkende
Folgen 116
#116, Christopher Kuzdas, Adapting to a Shrinking Colorado River
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Dr. Christopher Kuzdas, Water …
Shownotes
In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Dr. Christopher Kuzdas, Water Program Director for the Environmental Defense Fund in Arizona, about how the Southwest can adapt to a shrinking Colorado River.
For nearly 20 years, Chris has worked alongside local communities in the U.S. Southwest and Latin America to shape the water-related decisions that affect them. Chris serves on the Arizona Governor’s Water Policy Council, and his work has been recognized by the Global Water Forum, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and Arizona Forward. He is also a former Fulbright Scholar. He has authored or co-authored about 50 publications, ranging from peer-reviewed research on water governance and adaptation to editorials, formal policy comments, and testimony before decision-making bodies.
Originally from northern Arizona, Chris still lives there with his family. He coaches youth mountain biking, including his daughter’s team, teaches at his local community college, and volunteers with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#115, Scot McFarlane, Stories from the Trinity River
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Scot McFarlane, author and founder …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Scot McFarlane, author and founder of the Oxbow History Company, about the Trinity River’s overlooked role in shaping Texas.
Scot grew up along the banks of the Trinity River and has devoted his career to recovering the forgotten histories of American waterways. A historian with a PhD from Columbia University—where he designed and taught "Rivers, Politics, and Power"—he brings both rigorous scholarship and a personal connection to The River That Made Texas.
His book, The River That Made Texas: A Forgotten History of the Trinity, will be released on September 29 and is available for preorder.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#114, James Eklund, Navigating the Colorado River Crisis
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with James Eklund, a water and natural …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with James Eklund, a water and natural resources law attorney and partner at Taft/ Sherman & Howard, about how the Colorado River’s shrinking water supply is forcing the American West to rethink how water is shared, conserved, and governed.
James is one of the American West’s leading water lawyers, a fifth-generation Colorado rancher, and a trusted advisor to governments, utilities, developers, and landowners navigating the complexities of water and land. As a partner at Taft/ Sherman & Howard, he leads the firm’s Water & Natural Resources practice and represents clients in water-rights litigation, land and infrastructure transactions, interstate compact matters, and natural-resource policy.
James previously served as Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the state’s top water agency, where he led the development of Colorado’s first comprehensive State Water Plan. He also served as Colorado’s Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission, placing him directly at the center of Colorado River negotiations, drought contingency planning, and interstate compact administration.
Earlier in his career, James served as an Assistant Attorney General and later as Legal Counsel to the Governor of Colorado, advising on water, agriculture, natural resources, and environmental policy. His combined experience inside state government, across the Colorado River Basin, and in private practice gives him a uniquely practical understanding of how water law affects land ownership, development, valuation, and risk.
James also brings more than a century of lived knowledge from his family’s Norse Sky Ranch, homesteaded in 1888, where his family has managed irrigated agriculture and water rights for five generations. This background allows him to bridge the gap between legal doctrine and on-the-ground realities for brokers and land professionals.
He has taught courses at both the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Denver, and he is a frequent speaker to national audiences, including the Realtors Land Institute, Colorado Water Congress, AIAI, and numerous universities and industry associations. His work and commentary have appeared in the New York Times, NPR, and many other regional and national outlets.
James earned his B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#113, Ivo Zution Gonçalves, Future of Irrigation in the U.S.
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Ivo Zution Gonçalves, a Research …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Ivo Zution Gonçalves, a Research Assistant Professor for the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, about the current status and future of irrigated agriculture in the United States.
Ivo Zution Gonçalves is an agronomist engineer with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the State University of Campinas in Brazil and a master’s degree in Plant Production from the Federal University of Espírito Santo in Brazil. His work focuses on applying remote sensing, evapotranspiration modeling, irrigation management, and crop modeling to support food and water security without compromising water use for other vital human and environmental needs. He has published approximately 50 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals and has contributed to several international projects focused on water resources management, irrigation, and sustainable agricultural systems.
Read Gonçalves’ new article, “Irrigated Agriculture in the United States: Current Status and Future Frontiers,” published in Agricultural Water Management: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377426002003.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#112, Ryan Smith, Rethinking Dam Operations
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Ryan Smith, Director of Water and …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Ryan Smith, Director of Water and Science for The Nature Conservancy in Texas, about the Sustainable Rivers Program and its work to improve river health through changes in dam operations.
Ryan is a freshwater ecologist with more than 25 years of professional experience in freshwater conservation. He leads a team implementing statewide freshwater conservation strategies, including water-efficient and regenerative agriculture, environmental water transactions, environmental flows, watershed protection and restoration, and groundwater and surface water management and policy. Ryan is The Nature Conservancy’s Texas lead for the Sustainable Rivers Program, a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve the health and life of rivers by changing the Corps’ dam operations.
Before moving to Texas, Ryan worked for The Nature Conservancy’s global water team and regional science teams, where he supported freshwater projects across the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. He has a Master of Science in fisheries and wildlife sciences from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in fisheries and wildlife biology from Colorado State University.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#111, Brian Sheng, Creating Water Out of Thin Air
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Brian Sheng, CEO and a Co-Founder …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Brian Sheng, CEO and a Co-Founder of Aquaria, about atmospheric water generation and its potential role in Texas’ water future.
Aquaria is a corporation that builds air-water infrastructure to produce scalable water systems that create clean drinking water from the air. Brian headquartered Aquaria in Austin, Texas, in 2024 to focus the company on meeting the rising water crisis in Texas.
While attending Princeton University, Brian wrote his thesis on atmospheric water generation. Brian was honored as a member of the Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2024, and Aquaria was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. Brian is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded and led multiple companies and investment ventures across technology, consumer products, and emerging industries.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#110, Beth Lambert, Dam Removals & River Restoration in Massachusetts
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses dam removals and river restoration …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses dam removals and river restoration with Beth Lambert, Director of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration.
The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration is part of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. As Director, Beth oversees a 30-person agency whose mission is to restore and protect rivers, wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of people and the environment. Division of Ecological Restoration staff work with communities, landowners, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies on projects that restore habitat and help people and nature adapt to climate change.
Over the past 20 years, the Division of Ecological Restoration has removed more than 70 dams in partnership with federal, state, municipal, and NGO organizations. Beth has 25 years of experience in river and watershed restoration in Oregon, Alaska, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#109, Josh Katz, Who Owns Produced Water?
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Josh Katz, attorney with …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Josh Katz, attorney with Bickerstaff Heath, about a recent Texas Supreme Court decision on produced water ownership and its implications for water rights and policy.
Josh practices in the areas of municipal law, environmental law, administrative law, water law, electric utility regulation, and civil litigation. He represents municipalities, river authorities, water districts, and private entities in these and related matters before state agencies and in state and federal courts. Before joining Bickerstaff Heath in 2010, Josh was an associate with a large Austin law firm and an environmental and property law litigation boutique. He researched and drafted publications and other documents while clerking at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Jones McClure Publishing Company, where he drafted and edited various O’Connor’s legal publications.
For a deeper dive into this topic, read his legal review published in the Texas Water Journal: https://twj-ojs-tdl.tdl.org/twj/article/view/7233.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#108, Dr. Margaret Cook, Data Center Water Use in Texas
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Dr. Margaret Cook, Vice President …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, talks with Dr. Margaret Cook, Vice President of Water & Community Resilience at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), about water use of data centers in Texas.
Margaret leads a team of experts who build collaborative initiatives to enhance community resilience, sustainable development, and the availability and affordability of clean water. She is a seasoned sustainability leader with a proven record of innovative research and solution development. With a strong foundation in engineering, policy, and the water-energy-climate nexus, she has successfully collaborated with diverse stakeholders to address critical challenges in these sectors, co-developing programs with communities and prioritizing those with the greatest need. Margaret’s research focuses on developing and implementing solutions for water resource management, energy access and affordability, and climate adaptation.
Margaret earned a Doctorate in Civil Engineering with a certificate in Engineering Education, a Master's degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, all from the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering. She also holds a dual Master's degree in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#107, Sarah Stogner & Ron Green, Pollution from Inactive Oil and Gas Wells in Texas
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, examines how failed P-13 wells, which are …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, examines how failed P-13 wells, which are former oil and gas wells converted for water use, can fall outside regulatory oversight and create risks for Texas groundwater, with Sarah Stogner, District Attorney for the Texas 143rd Judicial District, and Dr. Ron Green, retired hydrologist.
Sarah Stogner is the elected District Attorney for the 143rd Judicial District in rural West Texas. A West Texas landowner herself, she has become one of the state’s most vocal advocates for holding the oil and gas industry accountable for improperly plugged legacy wells—known as “zombie wells”—that threaten land, water, and property rights across Texas. She is the founder of Zombie Wells, a platform that connects affected landowners with regulatory data and legal resources. In 2022, Sarah ran for Texas Railroad Commissioner, advancing to the Republican primary runoff in a race that sharpened her focus on the Commission’s chronic failure to enforce plugging obligations and pursue successor liability against the majors. She brings a ground-level perspective that combines courtroom experience, regulatory policy knowledge, and the firsthand reality of owning land in oil country.
Dr. Ron Green is a retired hydrologist, formerly with the Southwest Research Institute and the consulting firm, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber. He has specialized in groundwater hydrology and environmental geophysics, with a focus on water resource assessment and karst hydrology. He has volunteered on the state board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Texas, serving as chair of its Conservation and Science Committee. He has also served as board chair for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance.
For a deeper dive into this topic, read their paper published in the Texas Water Journal: https://twj-ojs-tdl.tdl.org/twj/article/view/7212.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#106, Travis Loop on the waterloop and water news
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the role of journalism and …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the role of journalism and storytelling in advancing water solutions with Travis Loop, founder of the waterloop, an award-winning nonprofit news outlet exploring water sustainability.
Travis began his career as a newspaper reporter and returned to his passion for journalism to launch and operate the platform. He brings more than 20 years of experience, including serving as communications director at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Water Environment Federation, and the Chesapeake Bay Program, as well as speechwriter for the Governor of Hawaii.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#105, Ted Stets on the USGS National Water Availability Assessment
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the National Water Availability …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the National Water Availability Assessment project, with Dr. Ted Stets, a Research Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), who is leading the assessment. The assessment project is tasked with producing a comprehensive, integrated assessment of the nation’s water availability.
The first National Water Assessment was published in January 2025; a supplement will be published at the end of 2026, and updates to the report are scheduled every five years thereafter.
Stets received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2007, working on carbon and nutrient cycling in surface waters. His work at the USGS has focused on catchment hydrology and elemental cycling, as well as on the former National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), which officially ended in 2018 after a 30-year run. Ted lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#104, Kirsten James on Ceres’ Valuing Water Finance Initiative
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses how investors and companies are …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses how investors and companies are confronting water-related financial risks with Kristen James, Senior Water Program Director at Ceres.
Kirsten directs Ceres' strategy supporting investors and companies in addressing challenges facing our freshwater systems. Her work includes leading the Valuing Water Finance Initiative, a global effort to support investors working with companies to reduce financial risks stemming from water scarcity, pollution, and damage to freshwater ecosystems.
Previously, Kirsten served for five years as the director of California policy and partnerships at Ceres, where she led strategy development for Ceres’s California-focused policy work, engaging companies and investors in support of public policies that call for sustainable water management, clean energy, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions in California.
Prior to Ceres, Kirsten worked for a water resource-focused NGO as its Science and Policy Director. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in environmental science and management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#102 - Brian Richter interviews Todd Votteler about "Water Markets for Texas" (and beyond!)
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation recorded on February 6, 2025, Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters, trades places with Talk+Water host, Dr. Todd H. Votteler, to interview him about "Water Markets …
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In this conversation recorded on February 6, 2025, Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters, trades places with Talk+Water host, Dr. Todd H. Votteler, to interview him about "Water Markets for Texas." In 2025, Texas 2036 published "Water Markets for Texas" a major multi-year report analyzing how voluntary, well-structured water markets have operated in two regions of the state and what lessons they offer for any Texas communities preparing for its long-term water needs.
The report, authored by Votteler with contributions from Gabriel Collins, J.D., and Dr. Matthew Berg, draws on five decades of hydrologic data, regulatory analysis and interviews with Texas water managers, groundwater leaders, and Western water experts to understand the conditions that enable regional markets to function and why those conditions exist in only a few parts of Texas today. The report goes beyond Texas with lessons for establishing of new water markets that are applicable in other states.
Votteler is a former federal special master and river authority executive with expertise in conflict resolution, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. Votteler is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Water Journal and Texas+Water, and the host of the Talk+Water podcast. He is a Fellow of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, a Visiting Scholar at The Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin, and a Board Member for the Whitefish Lake Institute.
Brian Richter has been a global leader in water science and conservation for more than 30 years. He is the President of Sustainable Waters, a global organization focused on water scarcity challenges, where he promotes sustainable water use and management with governments, corporations, universities, and local communities. He previously served as Director of the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation organization. Brian has consulted on more than 170 water projects worldwide. He serves as a water advisor to some of the world’s largest corporations, investment banks, and the United Nations, and has testified before the U.S. Congress on multiple occasions. He teaches Water Sustainability at the University of Virginia.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#103 - Margot Molloy, Cam Wobus & Emily Lewis discuss CK Blueshift
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses water issues with Margot Molloy …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses water issues with Margot Molloy, Director of CK Blueshift, Cam Wobus, Principal at CK Blueshift, and Emily Lewis, Partner at Culp & Kelly.
Margot Molloy is the Director of CK Blueshift a strategist, a facilitator and an executive coach that works with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, public agencies, and foundations. Her areas of expertise include launching complex new initiatives, orchestrating cross-sector collaboration to shape actionable strategies, and supporting leadership in transition.
Cam Wobus is a Principal at C.K. Blueshift and a broadly trained earth scientist with expertise in hydrology, geomorphology, climate change, and economics. He supports clients with the quantification and monetization of climate change impacts on flood risk, water availability, and ecosystem health. He maintains a research affiliation at the University of Colorado, where he continues grant-funded research on behalf of the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Finally, Emily Lewis is a veteran of Talk+Water. Emily is a Partner at Culp & Kelly where she assists clients in navigating and solving complex water problems. She regularly advises water right owners, municipalities, investors, agricultural users, and non-governmental organizations. Emily’s work focuses on designing and implementing practical solutions that secure client’s water resiliency in the face of challenging and changing conditions. Emily hosts a popular water podcast, Ripple Effect– A Podcast Putting Water in Context.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#101 - Austin College’s Public Administration Symposium
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, moderates the 2025 Public Administration …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, moderates the 2025 Public Administration Symposium at Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
On October 29, 2025, at the invitation of Professor Frank Rohmer, I provided the keynote talk for the Public Administration Symposium at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. The symposium, which was titled “The Challenge of Water in Fast Growing Texas,” was sponsored by the Sumner Foundation and presented by the Austin College Pre-Law Society. The symposium was held less than a week before Texas voters approved Proposition 4, an important new funding program for Texas water infrastructure and new supplies. As part of the symposium I moderated its two panels which proceeded my talk. These panels focused on regional water issues and how the funding contemplated under Proposition 4 might impact water management in Texas.
Panel 1 included: Galen Roberts, Director of Water Resources for the North Texas Municipal Water District; Jason Pierce, Director of Governmental Affairs & Communications for the Upper Trinity Regional Water District; and Dr. Peter Schultze, Professor of Biology & Environmental Science at Austin College.
Panel 2 included: David Kelly, Government Affairs Manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District; Wayne Lee, Director of Engineering for the City of Sherman; and finally Perry Fowler, Executive Director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network.
The following discussion provided important insights into the current and future water needs of this rapidly growing region where multiple multibillion dollar semiconductor factories are already under construction.Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#100 - Brooke Paup discusses her role as Chairwoman of the TCEQ and TWDB
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the key water planning, finance …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the key water planning, finance, and regulatory institutions of Texas and some of the current issues and challenges facing the state with Brooke Paup, Chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Brooke Paup was appointed Chairwoman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by Governor Greg Abbott in January of 2025. Prior to her appointment to TCEQ, Paup served on the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) beginning in 2018. In 2021, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Paup as the first woman chair in the history of TWDB. Prior to 2018, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, in the Office of the Attorney General, and at the Office of State-Federal Relations in Washington, D.C. Paup has 19 years of state government experience.
In 2021, Paup was awarded the Texas Water Foundation's Rainmaker Award, which acknowledges exceptional leaders making lasting impacts in Texas water. She was also recently the recipient of the 2023-2024 Public Official of the Year Award from the Water Environment Association of Texas.
Paup has a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech School of Law.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#98 - Sarah Kirkle and Perry Fowler Discuss Texas Proposition 4 Water Funding
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Texas Proposition 4 with Sarah …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Texas Proposition 4 with Sarah Kirkle, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs at the Texas Water Association, and Perry Fowler Executive Director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network.
Sarah Kirkle works with members of Texas Water Association to develop policy positions through TWA’s legislative committees and to subsequently advance those policy initiatives through education and advocacy at the Texas Legislature. Previously, Kirkle was at Texas 2036 and the Sunset Advisory Commission.
Perry Fowler is the Executive Director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network (TXWIN) and Principal of Fowler Group Texas, LLC. Fowler also represents Texas811, the statewide damage prevention organization, advocating for safe excavation and utility coordination.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#99 - Caroline Ghisolfi - The homebuilding boom in Houston area flood zones following Hurricane Harvey
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the homebuilding boom in Houston …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the homebuilding boom in Houston area flood zones following Hurricane Harvey with Caroline Ghisolfi, Deputy Data Editor at the Houston Chronicle.
Caroline Ghisolfi combines data analysis, visualization and investigative techniques to drive accountability reporting for Texas communities. She oversees a team journalist-coders and spearheads data literacy initiatives across Hearst Newspapers in Texas.
Caroline joined the Chronicle as a data reporter on the investigative team in 2023. Before coming to Houston, she was at the Austin American-Statesman where she was part of a team selected as a Pulitzer finalist in public service. Caroline trained in data journalism in multiple roles at the Associated Press and holds a journalism master's degree from Stanford University.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#97 - Tony Willardson talks Western States Water Council
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses common western water needs and …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses common western water needs and challenges with Tony Willardson, recently retired Executive Director of Western States Water Council.
Tony Willardson was named as Executive Director of the Western States Water Council in July 2009, and served the Council in various capacities since 1979. He is a member of the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration and has been recognized by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) with the Mary H. Marsh Medal for Exemplary Contributions to the Protection and Wise Use of the Nation’s Water Resources. Further, he oversees publication of the Council’s weekly newsletter, Western States Water.
For more information about Tony Willardson's decorated service to the world of water, please review his bio here.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#96 - Martha Pskowski returns with updates on the Rio Grande
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses recent developments in the Rio …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses recent developments in the Rio Grande with Martha Pskowski, a Texas reporter for Inside Climate News based in El Paso.
Martha reports on water, oil and gas, and the impacts of climate change. She was previously an environmental reporter at the El Paso Times and a freelance reporter in Mexico City.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#95 - John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist on extreme weather and the July 4th flood on the Guadalupe River.
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses extreme weather with Texas State …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses extreme weather with Texas State Climatologist, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon. He is a Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University and also serves as the Director of the Southern Regional Climate Center.
John Nielsen-Gammon has been on the faculty at Texas A&M University since 1991. He conducts research on various types of extreme weather from droughts and floods to air pollution and computer modeling. As Texas State Climatologist, he helps the state of Texas make the best possible use of weather and climate information through applied research, outreach, and service on state-level committees. He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#94 - Vanessa Puig-Williams, Jeremy Mazur, and Carlos Rubinstein on the 89th Texas Legislative Session and Water.
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the 89th Texas Legislative session …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses the 89th Texas Legislative session with Vanessa Puig-Williams, Senior Director of Climate Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund, Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Policy at Texas 2036, and Carlos Rubinstein, Principal at RSAH2O, LLC.
The 89th Legislative Session was a historic, generational water infrastructure-focused session. From legislation geared toward water infrastructure funding, coalitions formed to investigate and address water challenges in Texas, and more, these water policy experts discuss the outcomes of this session over a jovial luncheon.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#93 - Martha Pskowski, Water Challenges in the Rio Grande, Produced Water & Water Journalism
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses water challenges in the Rio Grande …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses water challenges in the Rio Grande with Martha Pskowski, a Texas reporter for Inside Climate News based in El Paso.
Martha reports on water, oil and gas, and the impacts of climate change. She was previously an environmental reporter at the El Paso Times and a freelance reporter in Mexico City.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#92 - Dr. Bridget Scanlon Discusses the Implications of Drought Impacts on the Management of the Lower Colorado River
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Multidecadal drought impacts on the …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Multidecadal drought impacts on the Lower Colorado Basin with implications for future management with author, Dr. Bridget Scanlon, Research Professor at the Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Scanlon's current research focuses on various aspects of water resources, including global assessments using satellites and modeling, management related to climate extremes, and water energy interdependence. She has authored or co-authored ~200 publications. Dr. Scanlon is a fellow of AAAS, AGU and GSA and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#91 - El Paso Water's Gilbert Trejo and Christina Montoya-Halter - Direct Water Reuse
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses El Paso water resources with El …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses El Paso water resources with El Paso Water's Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Operations and Technical Services, and Christina Montoya-Halter, Communications and Marketing Manager.
Gilbert Trejo oversees engineering, operations and technical services. Previously, he served as Chief Technical Officer. Before coming to El Paso Water in 2014, he was the Principal in charge of Arcadis' Water Division in the El Paso, Texas region. In that role, he led business development, designed and managed projects, and ensured financial performance. Trejo is also past chair and former board member for the WateReuse Association and Water Research Foundation. He is a published author on water reuse and water infrastructure topics. He is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas, a Certified Floodplain Manager and a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer. Trejo earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin.
Christina Montoya-Halter has 24 years of media, communications and marketing experience. She is the Communications and Marketing Manager for EPWater, overseeing internal and external communications. A University of Southern California graduate, prior to her role at EPWater, she was a broadcast journalist in El Paso. She is President of WateReuse Texas and is serving her third term on the American Water Works Association's Public Affairs Council.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#90 - Austin Water’s Shay Ralls Roalson and Marisa Flores Gonzalez
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Austin water resources and the …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Austin water resources and the 100-year water plan with Shay Ralls Roalson, Director of Austin Water, and Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Program Manager for Austin Water's Water Forward Plan.
Shay Ralls Roalson P.E. became the Director of Austin Water in January 2023, leading a team of 1,300 employees committed to providing high quality drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services to more than one million people in the Austin metropolitan area.
Shay has 29 years of experience working with water utilities on the planning, design, and construction of complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects. She joined Austin Water as Assistant Director in April 2020, where she led the engineering services team responsible for delivering the utility’s $1.4 billion five-year capital program. Prior to joining Austin Water, Shay was a consulting engineer, working with utilities across Texas.
Shay is a past Chair of the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association and has served on the External Advisory Committee for the University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Texas Section AWWA George Warren Fuller award.
Shay received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Marisa Flores Gonzalez leads the Water Resources Team at Austin Water and is the project manager for Water Forward, Austin’s 100-year Integrated Water Resource Plan. Ms. Flores Gonzalez has 14 years of experience working in local government and utilities in multiple areas including water supply, water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater management planning.
She brings a holistic approach to water planning, with a belief in the value of community engagement and adaptive management to create a resilient and equitable water future for the Austin community. Ms. Flores Gonzalez holds a B.A. in Geography and the Environment from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Public Administration from Texas State University.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#88 - Daniel Rothberg - Communicating Western Water Challenges
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, explores the importance of communication in …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, explores the importance of communication in addressing Western water issues with Daniel Rothberg, a writer who focuses on research regarding water, public land, mining, and energy.
Daniel writes a newsletter, Western Water Notes, focusing on water in the Western U.S. For six years, Daniel worked as an environmental reporter for The Nevada Independent, where his work was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, Best of the West, and the Society of Environmental Journalists. During that time, he served as president of the Nevada Press Association, working to support and advocate on behalf of outlets across the state. Daniel’s environmental writing has been published in The Nevada Independent, The New York Times, Smithsonian, Inside Climate News, Sierra Magazine, Vox, and High Country News. He is currently based in Davis, California, where he is working toward a master’s in environmental policy.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#89 - L’Oreal Stepney, Texas' First Statewide Flood Plan (recorded 12/09/2024)
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation (recorded on 12/09/2024), Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses …
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In this conversation (recorded on 12/09/2024), Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, discusses Texas' statewide flood plan with L'Oreal Stepney, P.E., Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board. This plan provides a comprehensive assessment of flood risk and solutions to mitigate that risk.
L'Oreal Stepney was named Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board by Governor Greg Abbott on January 8, 2025. Governor Abbott appointed her to the Board in December 2022 for a term beginning January 1, 2023.
Stepney previously served as the deputy executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). She began working for TCEQ in 1992, first in the Air Permitting Division for eight years, then as section manager for the Wastewater Permitting Section before being promoted to director of the Water Quality Division in 2003. She also served as deputy director of the Office of Water upon its creation in 2009. The Office of Water encompasses TCEQ's water availability, water districts, groundwater, river compacts, water quality permitting and planning, and public drinking water functions. During her time at TCEQ, Stepney worked closely with the Texas Water Development Board on several water programs.
Additionally, Stepney has participated in the group from Texas that meets with Mexico and the International Boundary and Water Commission to negotiate water deliveries under the Rio Grande 1944 Treaty. She is a board member for the Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program and a graduate of the University of Texas Governor's Center Executive Management Program and the University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution Fellows Program.
Stepney received a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering and a master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Her term will expire February 1, 2029.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
#86 - Emily Lewis, Colorado River, Utah water, Great Salt Lake
Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, explores the complexities of Colorado River …
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In this conversation, Dr. Todd Votteler, Principal of Collaborative Water Resolution and Editor-in-Chief of Texas+Water and the Texas Water Journal, explores the complexities of Colorado River management and related water issues in Utah, with Emily E. Lewis, a Director, Shareholder, and Co-Chair of the Natural Resources and Water Law Practice Group at Clyde Snow and Sessions in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Emily assists clients in navigating and solving complex water problems. She regularly advises individual water right owners, water conservancy districts, municipalities, mining companies, investors, and mutual shareholder irrigation companies. Her strategic projects practice extends to innovative policy work and specialty project management. For example, she recently oversaw the Utah Statewide Water Marketing Strategies Project, produced a comprehensive Water Law Policy Inventory and Assessment to inform the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan, and hosts a weekly podcast, Ripple Effect – A Podcast Putting Water in Context. Emily is curious, creative, and an upcoming thought leader in the water space.
Take a deep dive into the world of water with those making waves!
Also, just a note that Talk+Water has been ranked as one of the top water podcasts in the world by FeedSpot and MillionPodcasts!
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