John Sutton, Municipal and Institutional, Commercial, & Industrial (ICI) Water Conservation Programs, Drought Response of the Texas Water Development Board in Austin. He coordinates conservation activities and programs of the state agency to educate youth and the general public.

Ken Kramer, Ph.D., chapter director of the Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club in Austin, has 25 years of experience working on water and other environmental issues as an academic, environmental group leader and public policy specialist. Water conservation is the main initiative of the chapter. Kramer will focus on the critical role of conservation and education in helping to meet our mid- to long-term water supply needs.

Karen Guz, director of conservation at San Antonio Water System, is responsible for meeting long-term conservation goals of the SAWS Water Supply Plan and saving money for SAWS ratepayers. As a result of the investment San Antonio has made in conservation, the gallons per capita per day has declined by 40% during the last 10 years in one of the fastest growing U.S. housing markets. A comprehensive conservation ordinance unanimously passed by the City Council will provide billions of gallons water savings in the future.

Billy Kniffen, county extension agent, Agriculture/Natural Resources, Menard County, has been an agent for 25 years and is very knowledgeable about actions which might be taken by home/land owners such as rainwater collection, xeriscaping, and brush clearance. He is active in the organization and training of Texas Master Naturalist, rainwater harvesting and catchment organizations.

For more information, check www.schreiner.edu/water or contact Bob Hickerson or Dr. Tom Arsuffi at 325.446.2301, bob.hickerson@ttu.edu or tom.arsuffi@ttu.edu, or Dr. Mike Looney at Schreiner University, 830.792.7371 or mlooney@schreiner.edu.

The last symposium will be on March 6 at Schreiner University in Kerrville. All of the forums will be taped and broadcast on Texas Public Radio. The Jan. 24 program will air on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.