Texas Water Action Collaborative

MISSION & GOALS

The Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) matches companies and funders with conservation projects to positively benefit Texas’ water resources. Launched in 2021 in the Trinity River Basin, TxWAC is facilitated by Texan by Nature – check out our impact in 2021/22. The goals of TxWAC are to:

  • Benefit the quality and volume of water in Texas;
  • Spread awareness and education regarding the need for water conservation and projects that have succeeded;
  • Build collaborative relationships to align goals, metrics, and timelines between conservation organizations, corporate entities, and communities;
  • Create a matching methodology for funding, activity, measurement, and reporting of water conservation projects;
  • Build a replicable matching model for all water basins in Texas.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Project Matching:

  • Need funding & can articulate your project’s water benefits? – complete the Conservation Efforts Survey
    • 2023 Deadlines for Corporate Proposal Inclusion: Feb 22, May 25, July 25, and Sept 25
  • Want to fund a project? – complete the Company/Funder Survey
    • 2023 Proposal Distribution dates: Mar 15, June 15, Aug 15, and Oct 16

Join the Dialogue:

Tools & Services:

  • If you provide tools and services that provide research, metrics/data scoping, collection, reporting, etc. for conservation projects please complete this survey. Many conservation projects lack the tools and data needed to quantify their impact. The information from this survey is added to our Conservation Service Resource Guide – a repository of organizations, tools, and resources that allow stakeholders to better navigate this space and find the right fit for their organization/business.

If you have questions about how to best get involved with TxWAC, contact taylor@texanbynature.org or join TxWAC bi-weekly office hours – REGISTER HERE.

TxWAC MEMBERSHIP

Texan by Nature requests a suggested business membership fee of $3,000-$5,000 annually to support the services that are provided through TxWAC. In 2023, businesses that join at the $5,000 level or higher will receive the benefits of Texan by Nature’s Catalyst Membership. Learn more about joining TxWAC as a business member here.

There is no membership fee for conservation organizations. In 2023, there will be a suggested transaction fee on projects funded through TxWAC matching.

Membership does not guarantee funding or partnerships as a result of joining. If you are interested in learning more about TxWAC membership, please contact Taylor Keys at taylor@texanbynature.org.

HOW IT STARTED

TxWAC was officially announced on World Water Day in March of 2021 after ongoing conversations and collaborations between conservation organizations and corporations in the Upper Trinity River Basin. Texan by Nature was pulled in to develop, facilitate, and operate TxWAC, using the successful model of the California Water Action Collaborative as inspiration. Support from Hess Corporation in March of 2022 allowed for the expansion of TxWAC to the Lower Trinity River Basin.

WHO’S INVOLVED

Texan by Nature facilitates TxWAC in partnership with individuals from the following organizations and companies that make up the TxWAC Planning Team:

TxWAC MEMBERS

CORPORATE MEMBERS:

CONSERVATION MEMBERS:

RESOURCES

FAQS

Why is TxWAC needed in Texas?
Texas’ population of 29 million people is expected to double by 2050, putting pressure on the state’s land, water, wildlife, and infrastructure. As the 10th largest economy in the world and a GDP of $1.9T, new water opportunities and conservation actions are needed to maintain economic leadership.

Why did TxWAC start in the Trinity River Basin?
The Trinity impacts the two largest human and corporate populations in the state of Texas. The Trinity River Basin extends 715 river miles and drains 18,000 square miles before emptying into Trinity Bay near Anahuac. Approximately 7.5 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex depend on the Trinity River water supply for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. In addition, the downstream population of 6 million people, including the city of Houston, depend on this water source and is directly impacted by the actions of upstream users.

How is conservation different in Texas than in other states and why is it so important?
Texas is ~95% privately owned. Successful, broad-based voluntary conservation efforts require collaboration between private landowners and other entities. View Texas Land Trends for the Trinity River Basin.

What are TxWAC’s plans for the future?
Expansion and replication. TxWAC would like to welcome additional corporate and conservation partners and create a model that can be replicated on all Texas river systems.

 

Texan by Nature’s efforts to convene and accelerate statewide initiatives are made possible due to the support from our sponsors that are dedicated to conservation. Support of the Texas Water Action Collaborative is brought to you by the following sponsors:

Resources

Title Link
2021/22 TxWAC Impact Report Download
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