Talk+Water

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !

Send us Fan Mail 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 !