University of Texas Law logo Update your account
  • Sign in or Join Account and Briefcase
    Not a member yet? Sign up Forgot password?
  • Accredited CLE
    Live Conferences Studio Webcasts eConferences eCourses Hooked on CLE Answer Bar
  • Research & Self-Study
    Materials eLibrary
  • Subscriptions
    MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
  • Browse by Practice Area
    Administrative Admiralty and Maritime Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate - Civil and Criminal Bankruptcy Business Entities Civil Rights Construction Corporate Counsel Criminal Cybersecurity Elder Law and Guardianship Employment Entertainment and Sports Law Environmental Essentials Ethics Exempt Organizations / Nonprofits Family Government Enforcement / White Collar Crime Healthcare Immigration Insurance Intellectual Property / Patent Law International Law Practice Management Litigation M&A and Securities Oil, Gas and Energy Practice Skills Real Estate Renewable Energy School Self-Care Taxation Technology Technology for Lawyers Trusts and Estates / Probate Water
  • Search
  • Shopping Cart

What are you searching for?

Skip to main content
UT Law CLE logo
  • Overview /
  • Schedule /
  • Faculty /
  • Credit Info /
  • Key Dates /
  • Venue /
Register or Buy ticket icon Buy
Conference art

2013

Texas Water Law Institute

Austin Dec 4*, 5-6, 2013 Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol
*Wednesday Evening 'Texas Water Law Overview'
Conference Concluded
Buy
Related products: Materials
Brochure thumbnail
Download Brochure (PDF)

Overview

Don't miss the Texas Water Law Institute. Get the latest information on the drought and its effect on water law and planning from regulatory agency members, water law practitioners and experts from around the state.

The 2013 program features:

  • Chairman Bryan Shaw on drought planning and response at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  • Chairman Carlos Rubinstein on the future of the reorganized Texas Water Development Board
  • The history of drought in Texas and the drought outlook for 2014, as well as its potential impact on the Texas economy
  • Drought from a hydrologist's perspective: how drought affects water planning and permitting 
  • Ethical issues in expert testimony: engineers, experts, and protecting client privilege
  • Finding and financing water for your project: the factors challenging water supply across the state
  • Development of brackish groundwater and interstate and international water projects
  • Analysis of the latest water law cases and what passed and what didn't in the 83rd Texas Legislature
  • Changes resulting from transfer of water utility regulation to the Public Utility Commission of Texas
  • Wednesday evening’s Texas Water Law Overview with Jim Mathews and Doug Caroom
  • Earn up to 15.75 hours of CLE credit including 1.50 hours of ethics.

  • Buy

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 December 4, 2013
  • Day 2 December 5, 2013
  • Day 3 December 6, 2013
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Wednesday Evening, Dec. 4, 2013
  • OPTIONAL SESSION
    Included in conference registration.

  • 5:30 pm
    Registration Opens

  • 6:00 pm
    1.50 hrs
    Texas Water Law Overview
    An overview of Texas water law cases, statutes and regulations, including vocabulary and acronyms necessary to understanding Texas water law. This session is designed for practitioners unfamiliar with the subject area, as well as non-lawyers, governmental officials and engineers.

    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX

  • 7:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Dec. 5, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:50 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • DROUGHT-RELATED ISSUES
  • 9:00 am
    0.75 hr
    The Role of Drought in Shaping Texas
    The history of drought in Texas and a drought outlook for 2014.

    Bob Rose, Lower Colorado River Authority - Austin, TX

  • 9:45 am
    0.50 hr
    Drought: A Hydrologist's Perspective
    How drought affects water planning and permitting. What if we’re in a worse drought than the drought of record?

    Bob Brandes, Robert J. Brandes Consulting - Austin, TX

  • 10:15 am
    0.50 hr
    Economic Impact of Drought
    What threat does drought pose for the Texas economy?

    Billy C. Hamilton, Billy Hamilton Consulting - Austin, TX

  • 10:45 am
    Break

  • 11:00 am
    1.00 hr
    Managing Water Supplies to Deal with Drought Conditions
    A discussion of alternative municipal, industrial and agricultural water supply management techniques used in responding to drought.

    Ivan Langford III, Gulf Coast Water Authority - Texas City, TX
    John Grant, Colorado River Municipal Water District - Big Spring, TX
    Wayne Halbert, Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 - Harlingen, TX

  • 12:00 pm
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration.

  • Thursday Afternoon, Dec. 5, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    Drought Planning and Response at the TCEQ
    An overview addressing drought lessons learned from 2009 to the present, ongoing drought concerns, and the TCEQ's ongoing efforts to respond to the drought.

    Toby Baker, Commissioner, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Austin, TX

  • 1:00 pm
    Break

  • DROUGHT-RELATED ISSUES, CONTINUED
  • 1:15 pm
    0.50 hr
    Alternative Approaches to Managing Water Rights in Drought Conditions
    A conceptual discussion of alternatives for enforcing a priority-based water permitting system.

    C. Joe Freeland, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX

  • 1:45 pm
    0.50 hr
    Texas Farm Bureau v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
    Can TCEQ depart from the priority system and grant preferences to municipal users and power generators during a drought based on public health concerns?
    This session has moved to 4:15 p.m.

    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
    Jason T. Hill, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend PC - Austin, TX

  • 2:15 pm
    0.50 hr
    Developing Brackish Groundwater Supplies
    Discussion of current law and proposals to incentivize development of this under-utilized resource.

    Ed McCarthy, Jackson, Sjoberg, McCarthy & Townsend, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    Break

  • 3:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    Finding and Financing Water for Your Project
    Water law experts from across the state identify factors challenging water supply issues.

    Risher S. Gilbert, The Gilbert Law Firm, P.C. - El Paso, TX
    Christopher G. Jordan, Crawford & Jordan LLP - Houston, TX
    Camm C. "Trey" Lary III, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP - Houston, TX

  • 3:45 pm
    0.50 hr ethics
    Ethical Issues Involving Engineers and Experts
    What conflict standards apply to the engineer consulting on the regional water plan and also representing entities subject to the plan? What confidentiality obligation is your engineer under regarding your plans and communications? What if he is a testifying expert?

    Dewey E. Helmcamp III, Texas Board of Professional Engineers - Austin, TX

  • 4:15 pm
    0.50 hr ethics
    Expert Testimony: Protecting Client Privilege
    What risks are involved in communicating with an expert? Are emails and drafts discoverable? Are there additional risks if your client is a professional?
    This session has moved to 1:45 p.m.

    Thomas H. Watkins, Husch Blackwell LLP - Austin, TX

  • 4:45 pm
    0.50 hr ethics
    Conflicts of Interest over Scarce Water
    When does a lawyer for a client seeking scarce water have a conflict because of the law firm's work on regional planning or representing other clients with surface or groundwater interests in the same watercourse or aquifer. What can you do? What should you do?

    Pete Schenkkan, Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 5:15 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Dec. 6, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Doug Caroom, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • WATER LAW AND PLANNING ISSUES
  • 8:30 am
    0.50 hr
    Water Legislation in the 83rd Texas Legislature
    What passed, what did not, and why.

    Gregory M. Ellis, Attorney at Law - League City, TX

  • 9:00 am
    0.75 hr
    Financing the State Water Plan
    Current issues with financing water development projects and the impact of new financing capability provided by the legislature.

    Anne Burger Entrekin, First Southwest Company - San Antonio, TX
    Jerry V. Kyle Jr., Andrews Kurth LLP - Austin, TX

  • 9:45 am
    0.50 hr
    Desired Future Conditions: GMA Joint Planning, Round Two
    In 2011, the process used to adopt desired future conditions was significantly changed. This presentation takes a close look at the implementation of those changes during the ongoing second cycle of GMA joint planning.

    William D. Dugat III, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
    Materials By:
    Mary K. Sahs, Sahs & Associates, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • 10:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Conflicts in Regional Planning Process
    A discussion of the court of appeals opinion in TWDB v. Ward Timber, Ltd. and how it impacts the regional planning process.

    Marisa Perales, Lowerre, Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell - Austin, TX
    Carolyn Brittin, former Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board - Austin, TX

  • 11:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Transfer of Water Utility Regulation to the Public Utility Commission of Texas
    What changes are coming as a result of the transfer of jurisdiction for water utility regulation?

    Moderator:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Michele Gregg, Office of Public Utility Counsel - Austin, TX
    Thomas S. Hunter, Public Utility Commission of Texas - Austin, TX
    Susan G. Zachos, Of Counsel, The AL Law Group, PLLC - Austin, TX

  • 12:00 pm
    Pick Up Lunch
    Included in registration.

  • Friday Afternoon, Dec. 6, 2013
    Presiding Officer:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    Moving Forward under the Reorganized Texas Water Development Board
    Paths forward for the newly reorganized TWDB.

    Chairman Carlos Rubinstein, Texas Water Development Board - Austin, TX

  • 1:00 pm
    Break

  • WATER LAW AND PLANNING ISSUES, CONTINUED
  • 1:15 pm
    1.00 hr
    Interstate and International Water Projects
    As water demands increase and supplies diminish, interstate and international legal rights and obligations become critical in several areas of the state.

    Moderator:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Gabriel Eckstein, Texas A&M University School of Law - Fort Worth, TX
    Patrick R. Gordon, Commissioner, Texas Rio Grande Compact Commission - El Paso, TX
    R. Glenn Jarvis, Law Offices of Glenn Jarvis - McAllen, TX

  • 2:15 pm
    1.00 hr
    Takings Litigation: Post-Day, Post-Bragg
    A discussion of the state of regulatory takings law in Texas with a focus on claims involving groundwater.

    Paul M. Terrill III, The Terrill Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX
    Deborah Clarke Trejo, Kemp Smith, LLP - Austin, TX

  • 3:15 pm
    Break

  • 3:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Endangered Species: TAP v. Shaw
    How much will the Endangered Species Act shape Texas water law? What are TCEQ’s obligations regarding enforcement of the ESA in its management of the state’s water resources?

    Moderator:
    Jim Mathews, Mathews & Freeland LLP - Austin, TX
    Panelists:
    Charles W. Irvine, Blackburn Carter - Houston, TX
    Aaron M. Streett, Baker Botts - Houston, TX
    Materials By:
    Carlos R. Romo, Baker Botts - Austin, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 December 4, 2013
  • Day 2 December 5, 2013
  • Day 3 December 6, 2013
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Toby Baker

Commissioner, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Austin, TX

Bob Brandes

Robert J. Brandes Consulting
Austin, TX

Carolyn Brittin

former Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Doug Caroom

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

William D. Dugat III

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Gabriel Eckstein

Texas A&M University School of Law
Fort Worth, TX

Gregory M. Ellis

Attorney at Law
League City, TX

Anne Burger Entrekin

First Southwest Company
San Antonio, TX

C. Joe Freeland

Mathews & Freeland LLP
Austin, TX

Risher S. Gilbert

The Gilbert Law Firm, P.C.
El Paso, TX

Patrick R. Gordon

Commissioner, Texas Rio Grande Compact Commission
El Paso, TX

John Grant

Colorado River Municipal Water District
Big Spring, TX

Michele Gregg

Office of Public Utility Counsel
Austin, TX

Wayne Halbert

Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1
Harlingen, TX

Billy C. Hamilton

Billy Hamilton Consulting
Austin, TX

Dewey E. Helmcamp III

Texas Board of Professional Engineers
Austin, TX

Jason T. Hill

Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend PC
Austin, TX

Thomas S. Hunter

Public Utility Commission of Texas
Austin, TX

Charles W. Irvine

Blackburn Carter
Houston, TX

R. Glenn Jarvis

Law Offices of Glenn Jarvis
McAllen, TX

Christopher G. Jordan

Crawford & Jordan LLP
Houston, TX

Jerry V. Kyle Jr.

Andrews Kurth LLP
Austin, TX

Ivan Langford III

Gulf Coast Water Authority
Texas City, TX

Camm C. "Trey" Lary III

Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP
Houston, TX

Jim Mathews

Mathews & Freeland LLP
Austin, TX

Ed McCarthy

Jackson, Sjoberg, McCarthy & Townsend, L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Marisa Perales

Lowerre, Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell
Austin, TX

Carlos R. Romo

Baker Botts
Austin, TX

Bob Rose

Lower Colorado River Authority
Austin, TX

Chairman Carlos Rubinstein

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Mary K. Sahs

Sahs & Associates, P.C.
Austin, TX

Pete Schenkkan

Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody P.C.
Austin, TX

Aaron M. Streett

Baker Botts
Houston, TX

Paul M. Terrill III

The Terrill Firm, P.C.
Austin, TX

Deborah Clarke Trejo

Kemp Smith, LLP
Austin, TX

Thomas H. Watkins

Husch Blackwell LLP
Austin, TX

Susan G. Zachos

Of Counsel, The AL Law Group, PLLC
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Doug Caroom—Co-Chair

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Jim Mathews—Co-Chair

Mathews & Freeland LLP
Austin, TX

Tom Bohl

Attorney General's Office
Austin, TX

Jeremy Brown

The University of Texas Law Energy Center
Austin, TX

Todd D. Chenoweth

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Lyn E. Clancy

Lower Colorado River Authority
Austin, TX

Gregory M. Ellis

Attorney at Law
League City, TX

Ronald J. Freeman

Freeman & Corbett
Austin, TX

Myron J. Hess

National Wildlife Federation
Austin, TX

Richard W. Lowerre

Lowerre, Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell
Austin, TX

Thomas G. Mason

Attorney at Law
Austin, TX

Ed McCarthy

Jackson, Sjoberg, McCarthy & Townsend, L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Mark McPherson

Attorney at Law
Dallas, TX

Hon. Jan P. Patterson

Baylor Law School
Waco, TX

Kenneth L. Petersen

Texas Water Development Board
Austin, TX

Suzanne Schwartz

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Gregory J. Smith

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Fred B. Werkenthin Jr.

Booth, Ahrens & Werkenthin, P.C.
Austin, TX

Paulina Olin Williams

Baker Botts
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 15.75 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Real Estate Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Toggle view California – 15.75 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov.  UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Toggle view Oklahoma – 19.00 hrs  |  2.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 18.50 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.
Toggle view TX Real Estate Commission (TREC) – 0.00 hr
To request continuing education elective credit for real estate related courses approved by the State Bar of Texas for minimum continuing legal education participatory credit, a license holder is required to file an Individual Credit Request for State Bar Course.

https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CE_CLE-1%2004.10.23.pdf
Use this link to obtain the TREC MCE form for self-reporting your TREC credit. To obtain your Certificate of Attendance you will need to claim credit in your UTCLE account and once claimed you will be able to download a Certificate of Attendance to include with your credit request form.

Key Dates

Austin – Dec 4*, 5-6, 2013 – Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol
*Wednesday Evening 'Texas Water Law Overview'
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Individual
Last day for $495.00 Regular pricing: Nov 22, 2013

$545.00 for registrations received after this time

TX Alliance of Groundwater Districts Member
Last day for $350.00 Regular pricing: Nov 22, 2013

$400.00 for registrations received after this time

Group 10% (5-9) (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $450.00 Regular pricing: Nov 22, 2013

$500.00 for registrations received after this time

Group 20% (10+) (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $400.00 Regular pricing: Nov 22, 2013

$450.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Nov 22, 2013

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Dec 2, 2013

Venue

speaker

Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

701 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-478-1111
1-888-627-8349 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$139 room rate good through November 11, 2013 (subject to availability). 

Reserve your room online.

Parking Information

$5 per day event parking; $8 per day overnight parking.

Stay in the loop with UT Law CLE

Sign-Up Now  
Accredited CLE
Live Conferences
Studio Webcasts
eConferences
eCourses
Hooked on CLE
Answer Bar
Research & Self-Study
Materials
eLibrary

Subscriptions
MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
Your UT Law CLE
Your Briefcase
Your Account
Your Cart
Redeem Your Code
Sign In or Join
About
Scholarships
Sponsorships
Speakers
Texas Law Resources
UT Law CLE
About Us
Our Volunteers
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Security
Help & Contact
FAQ
Contact Us
Facebook    LinkedIn    Youtube

© 2025 The University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education | 512.475.6700 | Version 9.021

Back to top
More Information
Warning
Error
Warning
Please sign in to continue
Forgot Password   |  Create Account
Item has been added to your cart.

Item description

Checkout
Item has been added to your Briefcase.

Item description

Go to your Briefcase