A Publication of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Fall 2017 3 / Hydro Repairs Underway 8 / Zebra Mussels 16 / Grant Helps SOLC Constituent Communiqué Building Relationships In its 10-county statutory district, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority works with a variety of customers for water sales and treatment, wastewater treatment, power sales, recreational undertakings and other services. In conducting those operations, GBRA staff also work closely with elected officials, developers and other constituents to determine their current and future needs and to see how GBRA can help address those needs. The purpose of our efforts is to provide exceptional service for their benefit. We are able to do this by ensuring that GBRA has highly skilled employees who receive relevant training year round. This also includes state licensed operators for the water and wastewater treatment facilities that we own and Ithose that we operate in partnership with customers in our basin. Today, GBRA continues to nurture long-standing relationships with its current customers while building new relationships with new partners. Furthering existing partnerships and addressing a need for a geographic area that lacks certain utilities, GBRA is securing a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) to provide wastewater services to an unincorporated area between New Braunfels and Seguin. GBRA will work in partnership with New Braunfels Utilities and the city of Seguin to provide wholesale wastewater treatment to wastewater that is collected from the new developments that are occurring in this high growth area. GBRA is stepping up to build these relationships because the area is growing and circumstances demand it. Since 2000, Guadalupe County grew more than 130 percent reaching a population of nearly 150,000. The United States Census Bureau listed New Braunfels as the ninth fastest growing city with a population of 50,000 or more in the country. Its population increased 4.7 percent in 2016. In that same timeframe, GBRA’s district was home to three of the top 10 fastest-growing counties in the nation with a population of 10,000 or more: Kendall County ranked second with 5.15 percent growth, Hays County ranked third with 5.09 percent growth, and Comal County ranked sixth with an increase of 4.4 percent. GBRA leads as a regional partner managing watershed resources to protect and support the needs of a growing population, economy and healthy environment. We look forward to working with you as we grow together on this journey. Kevin Patteson General Manager/CEO Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Board of Directors Rusty Brockman, Chair (Comal County) Dennis L. Patillo, Vice-Chair (Victoria County) Don B. Meador, Secretary-Treasurer (Hays County) Tommy Mathews, (Kendall County) William R. Carbonara, (DeWitt County) Building Relationships Ronald J. Hermes, (Guadalupe County) Kenneth Motl, (Calhoun County) Oscar H. Fogle, (Caldwell County) Executive Management Kevin Patteson, J.D., General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Darrell Nichols, Senior Deputy General Manager Jonathan Stinson, Deputy General Manager Alvin Schuerg, Senior Advisor to the General Manager David Welsch, Advisor to the General Manager Cindy Demers, Executive Manager of Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer Darel Ball, Executive Manager of Operations and Water Quality Todd Votteler, Ph.D., Executive Manager of Resource Policy and Stewardship LaMarriol Smith, Executive Manager of Strategic Communications and Education George “Tom” Bohl, J.D., General Counsel Thomas Hill, P.E., Executive Manager of Project Engineering and Development, Chief Engineer GBRA River Run Fall 2017 Contents Editor LaMarriol Smith Departments Art Direction and Design Mark Steele, Projects and Publications Specialist Editorial Ja’Nise Solitaire, Social Media and Community Relations Specialist Field and Office Danielle Wilson, Communications and Education Assistant 2 I GBRA River Run is published by the Office of Communications and 19 I The Trust Education of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. The Office of Communications and Education retains the right to determine the editorial content and presentation of information contained herein. 20 I Inside GBRA Articles or opinion written by guest writers do not necessarily reflect official views or policy of the GBRA or its Board of Directors. Contact GBRA River Run: Office of Communications and Education Features Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority 933 E. Court St. Seguin, TX 78155 Phone: 830 . 379 . 5822 Email: [email protected] 8 I Zebra Mussels The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of GBRA not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for 12 I Harvey Hits employment because of race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, veteran status or disability. 16 I Grant Facilitates Watershed Education at Learning Center © 2017 Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority www.gbra.org Cover photo of Kevin Patteson by Janet Thome Fall 2017 FIELD & OFFICE GBRA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS By Ja’Nise Solitaire Photo by Janet Thome by Photo From L to R: Melanie Olguin, Kaleigh Lawson, Alexa Beard, Jesus Hernandez Alvarez, and Kolin Ploetz Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) officials multiple placements in state and national shooting awarded three $2,000 academic scholarships and championships, the 4-H Gold Star Award and Texas three $1,000 academic scholarships to area students FFA Lone Star Degree. In 2016, Lawson exhibited the within GBRA’s 10-county district. The scholarships, Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2016 Houston presented annually, are part of GBRA’s Employee Livestock Show. Volunteer Program. New Braunfels Listed below, by city, are the scholarship recipients: Melanie Olguin graduated from Canyon High School San Marcos in Comal County. She is attending Texas Lutheran Jesus Hernandez Alvarez is a graduate of San University in Seguin, studying nursing with future plans Marcos High School in Hays County. He is a first- to become an emergency nurse practitioner. In high generation graduate and attends the University of school, Olguin was in the top two percentile of her Texas at San Antonio. He is working toward a degree class and a National Hispanic Scholar, a member of the in biology with future plans to attend dental school. French Club, Family, Career and Community Leaders While in high school, Alvarez was in the top 10 percent of America (FCCLA) and HOSA. She also was involved of his class as well as a member of the National Honor in the Varsity Color Guard and won the 2015 Texas Society and Key Club. He also was a volunteer with the Educational Color Guard Association Championships, Hays County Food Bank. in the Scholastic Region A Division. Canyon Lake Lockhart Alexa Beard graduated from Smithson Valley High Laurel Eeds is a graduate of Lockhart High School in Comal County. She is studying nursing at School in Caldwell County. She attends Texas State Texas State University in San Marcos. While in high University and studies sonography. In high school, school, Beard was a member of the Varsity Dance Eeds participated in cross country, track and field and Team, the Family and Consumer Science class and on competed at the state level in powerlifting placing in the A/B Honor Roll. She volunteered with the highway the top 15. She has volunteered with her church, the clean-up, blood drive, homeless shelter, senior center, local animal shelter and was a member of FCCLA. and community center. Beard also held employment Geronimo positions with VIP Gymnastics, Clear Springs Kolin Ploetz is a graduate of Navarro High School in Restaurant, San Pedro Church and Walmart. Guadalupe County. He attends Angelo State University Kaleigh Lawson graduated from Smithson Valley where he studies agribusiness. In high school, he High School in Comal County. She is attending Texas studied advanced animal science, advanced soil Tech University, studying agribusiness and agricultural science, fabrication of metal and design and biology. communication. In high school, Lawson participated He has volunteered with his church, Pecan Fest, the in the National Honor Society, 4-H Club and Future Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center as Farmers of America Club (FFA). Her achievements well as the Guadalupe County Youth Show. He also include several Comal County Junior Livestock Show has worked with Becker’s Feed and Fertilizer, Laubach Association Senior Showmanship Awards, Comal Bowling Alley and in chicken processing. ISD Superintendent Student of the Month Award, 2 GBRA River Run Photos by Michael Schultze by Photos In August and September respectively, Guadalupe- Blanco River Authority hydroelectric crews lowered Crews Lake Nolte (Meadow Lake) and Lake Placid to perform scheduled repairs. At Lake Nolte, repairs include replacement of structural Work on steel members inside the spillgates as well as the replacement of wooden timbers on the downstream side of the spillgates. Lake Nolte will remain lowered for several months while the repairs take place. Hydro Similar maintenance work, including replacement of structural steel members inside the spillgates and wooden timbers on the downstream side of the spillgates was occurring at Lake Placid. Facilities Crews also plan to have Lake Placid lowered for several months during repair time. Occasionally, both lakes may fluctuate by 8-10 inches during periods of hydroelectric power generation. As part of this project, repairs also will be scheduled in the future for lakes McQueeney and Gonzales. While the lakes are lowered for repairs, lake users and recreationalists should exercise caution as lower lake levels may expose debris and other potential hazards that normally are underwater. 3 Fall 2017 Water Hyacinth Treated at Goff Bayou By Ja’Nise Solitaire San Antonio Bay Foundation (SABAY) staff coordinated efforts to combat water hyacinths that were clogging area waterways through funding X provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Invasive Weed Program. “Crews sprayed more than 60 acres, which is Photos by Leigh Crettenden Leigh by Photos about 2.5 miles, within Goff Bayou near Tivoli with X AquaNeat,” said SABAY Executive Director Dan Alonso.