The Recharge Zone Podcast

Season 5, Episode 5 | The EAA Rebranded Oct 25, 2024

On this historic episode, hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret sit down with Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) General Manager, Roland Ruiz; EAA Executive Director for Communications and Development, Michael De La Garza; and EAA Creative Manager for Communications and Development, Ed Flores, as they share how the EAA is rebranding. They will discuss how the EAA brand has evolved over the past 28 years, the initiatives that led to the rebrand, and the new look of the EAA!

Season 5, Episode 4 | Agriculture Out West Aug 29, 2024

On this episode, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent catch up with Isabel Martinez, EAA Senior Permit and Conservation Coordinator, as she discusses the importance of agriculture out West and the EAA’s Groundwater Conservation Grant Program.

Season 5, Episode 3 | 28 years of Managing, Enhancing, and Protecting the Edwards Aquifer Jun 27, 2024

EAA General Manager Roland Ruiz met with hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret, earlier this month, to discuss aquifer conditions, managing through drought, and the evolution of the agency that has occurred over the past 28 years.

Season 5, Episode 2 | Highway to the Vadose Zone May 17, 2024

The vadose zone, also known as the unsaturated zone, is a critical part of the research happening at the EAA Field Research Park (EAA FRP), and Logan Schmidt, EAA Senior Modeler, joins us on this episode to discuss this intriguing piece of the aquifer system.

From defining what the unsaturated zone is to sharing the special techniques used to study this important area, Logan offers insight into how this data could help further the EAA’s understanding of water infiltration through the unsaturated zone and into the Edwards Aquifer System.

Season 5, Episode 1 | FRP Well Network Mar 01, 2024

Monitoring groundwater quality and quantity has always been an important aspect of the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s (EAA) mission and core value of science-based policy. The addition of the EAA’s Field Research Park (FRP) property in 2019 provided a unique opportunity to closely study the behavior and characteristics of the aquifer system over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. In 2023, the EAA installed a new monitoring well at the FRP, which provides additional insight into the interactions between the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, the quality of water in the system, and the effects of drought on aquifer water levels.

This is now the fifth well in the FRP monitoring network, joining the two existing water wells on the FRP property, and two other wells supplied by neighboring partners. Tune into this episode as Marcus Gary, EAA Principal Geoscientist, explains the process of drilling the newest edition to the FRP monitoring well network and how this data helps further aquifer research at the EAA.

Season 4, Episode 5 | The Edwards Aquifer Summit Dec 21, 2023

The inaugural Edwards Aquifer Summit was held this past October, and featured informative presentations from EAA General Manager Roland Ruiz, EAA Deputy General Manager Marc Friberg, EAA Executive Director of Aquifer Management Services Mark Hamilton, and EAA Executive Director for Threatened and Endangered Species Scott Storment. Tune in as Brent and Ann-Margaret provide some recaps and highlights from this historic event where city officials and stakeholders, from throughout the EAA’s 8 county jurisdiction, had the opportunity to hear from and ask questions to the EAA leadership team.

Season 4, Episode 4 | The Internship Experience Oct 06, 2023

The EAA has provided internship opportunities for a wide range of fields, from science to communications, and over the years many students have worked alongside EAA staff to gain enriching experiences that have set the foundation for their careers. Tune in to this episode, where hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent, interview Destiny, Karen, and Sarah about their internship experiences at the EAA, and where they are now.

Season 4, Episode 3 | Precipitation Enhancement Program Aug 02, 2023

For the past 20 years the EAA has taken a proactive approach to making rain clouds more productive by partnering with the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District (UWCD) to perform cloud seeding operations. This initiative at our agency is known as the Precipitation Enhancement Program.

The actual cloud seeding is performed by the South Texas Weather Modification Association (STWMA), which is a non-profit organization committed to enhancing rainfall across the South Texas region. STWMA is one of five permitted weather modification projects for rain enhancement in the state of Texas!

On this episode hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent are joined by Bria Hieatt, State Licensed Program Meteorologist for the STWMA, where she explains the process of cloud seeding and how it's performed over Bandera, Medina, Uvalde counties and the outskirts of Bexar County for the EAA's Precipitation Enhancement Program.

Season 4, Episode 2 | The Meadows Center with Robert Mace May 26, 2023

On this episode of the Recharge Zone Podcast, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent hit the road to interview Robert Mace in San Marcos, TX aboard a glass bottom boat! Learn about the The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the threatened and endangered species that live in the Edwards Aquifer, and more.

Robert Mace is the Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at Texas State University. Robert has over 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes, and water policy, mostly in Texas.

Season 4, Episode 1 | The EAA Act Mar 31, 2023

On this episode, Ann-Margaret and Brent visit with Darcy Frownfelter, EAA's longtime general counsel. Darcy discusses how the EAA came into existence through the EAA Act as well as some highlights of his career so far.

The EAA Act created the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) as a groundwater conservation district, which granted the EAA all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the Edwards Aquifer.

Season 3, Episode 12 | Reflecting on 2022 Dec 30, 2022

This season on the Recharge Zone Podcast brought a lot of great guests talking about the Edwards Aquifer and the work of our agency. From our GM Roland Ruiz's discussion on drought management to the last episode where hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent welcomed Brock Curry to discuss his 26 year career at the EAA, and most recently saying farewell to our EAA board of directors' chair Luana Buckner. Listen in as we reflect on some highlights of 2022 and be sure to tune in to our upcoming episodes in 2023!

Season 3, Episode 11 | Cheers to Brock's EAA Career Dec 02, 2022

Brock Curry EAA Deputy General Manager has had a memorable 26-year career at the EAA, from being one of the first employees hired at the agency to seeing the evolution of the EAA as a groundwater conservation district! Hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent sit down with Brock to reminisce on highlights, words of advice, and the lasting impression Brock will leave on the agency.

Season 3, Episode 10 | Drones, Drilling, and Boreholes Nov 02, 2022

Research on the recharge zone has continued at the EAA Field Research Park in a big way this season with LiDAR drone surveys conducted by a PhD student from the University of Texas to help identify landform changes over time, EAA Scientists working with graduate students from the University of Texas at San Antonio to describe and log drill cuttings from research boreholes, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) for detecting water in the unsaturated zone of the Edwards Aquifer by characterizing soil and rocks that the water is stored in.

Season 3, Episode 9 | Sampling Stories Oct 03, 2022

On this episode, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent are joined by EAA Senior Hydrogeologist Dr. Gizelle Luevano. She’s conducted countless water quality samplings, from wells, rivers, and springs. Hear her field stories and how water quality sampling technology has evolved over the years as she’s collected data from all across the EAA’s jurisdiction!

Season 3, Episode 8 | ET - Not the Alien Aug 31, 2022

ET, in this case evapotranspiration, is the elusive process by which water moves from earth’s surface into the atmosphere, and hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret discussed this with EAA’s Principal Geoscientist Marcus Gary. Learn about eddy covariance towers, and how they play an important role in understanding a myriad of observations occurring in the atmosphere and from the soil.

Season 3, Episode 7 | Drought Management Jul 29, 2022

As this region is in the middle of a drought, hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret sit down with EAA General Manager Roland Ruiz to discuss drought management at the EAA. This episode includes a discussion about critical period management, aquifer conditions, and revisit the EAA’s recently implemented strategic plan which focuses on furthering the long-term sustainability of the Edwards Aquifer through a responsible balance of regulatory, education and conservation-focused programming and partnerships.

Season 3, Episode 6 | Soil Matters Jun 30, 2022

Learn about the latest happenings at the EAA Field Research Park as hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent interview Thomas Marsalia and Matthew Rogers from the EAA Aquifer Sustainability Team. This episode is all about the implementation of land management techniques to slow and spread the infiltration of water across a landscape, improving soil microbiology, and researching hydrologic conductivity (aka the ability of soil to transmit water) with an instrument called a SATURO.

Season 3, Episode 5 | The EAHCP Celebrates 10 Years of Protecting Species and Spring Ecosystems - Part 2 Jun 01, 2022

This episode is part 2 of the previous episode, where hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent interview Melani Howard with the City of San Marcos and Mark Enders with the City of New Braunfels to discuss the successes of the EAHCP as they relate to the threatened and endangered species, the rivers, and springs in their cities.

Season 3, Episode 4 | The EAHCP Celebrates 10 Years of Protecting Species and Spring Ecosystems – Part 1 Apr 28, 2022

Hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent sit down with Scott Storment, EAA Executive Director for Threatened and Endangered Species, as he discusses the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan from his perspective as the manager of the program. Tune in to learn about the programmatic aspects of the EAHCP, how it functions, and what’s on the horizon for the future of the program. Part 2 of this episode will air next month where Melani Howard with the City of San Marcos and Mark Enders with the City of New Braunfels discuss the successes of the EAHCP as they relate to the threatened and endangered species, the rivers, and springs in their cities.

Season 3, Episode 3 | The First Aquifer Education Center on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Mar 30, 2022

Hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent welcome back Sarah Valdez, EAA Senior STEAM Outreach Educator, and welcome Mike De La Garza, EAA Executive Director for Communications and Development, to discuss the highly anticipated EAA Education Outreach Center (EAA EOC). Mike and Sarah walk us through the partnership between the EAA and Morgan’s Wonderland Camp, and all the awe-inspiring interactive exhibits the center will have to offer once it opens its doors to the public on April 14th!

To learn more about the EAA EOC, please visit www.eaaeoc.org

Season 3, Episode 2 | The Evolution of Regulation at the EAA - Forging a Path of Regulation Through Service Feb 28, 2022

The EAA officially began as regulatory agency back in 1996, and the regulatory programs that relate to groundwater production and protection are crucial to the overall mission of the EAA. Tune in to this episode as hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret interview EAA Executive Director for External and Regulatory Affairs, Marc Friberg, about regulation through service, how the agency works with other entities and organizations, and carries out its mission to ensure the quality and quantity of water in the Edwards Aquifer for 2.5 million South Central Texans.

Season 3, Episode 1 | Looking Ahead In 2022 with General Manager Roland Ruiz Jan 31, 2022

In this episode, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent welcome back EAA GM Roland Ruiz to recap all the progress the agency made in 2021 and get his perspective on the Next Generation and Beyond strategic plan as he celebrates 10 years of being the General Manager for the EAA. From the highly anticipated grand opening of the EAA Education Outreach Center to all the research taking place at the EAA Field Research Park, and the next chapter for the EAHCP as it celebrates its 10th year ensuring a suitable habitat exists for the covered, threatened and endangered, species in both the San Marcos and Comal Springs.

Season 2, Episode 12 | State of the Edwards Aquifer Dec 23, 2021

For our final episode this season, and last one for 2021, we wanted to look at how the Edwards Aquifer conditions are doing this year compared to previous years, in a segment we’re calling the State of the Aquifer with EAA Director of Aquifer Science, Paul Bertetti.

Season 2, Episode 11 | Fact or Fiction: Aquifer Edition Nov 30, 2021

Learn about some myths and impressive facts about the Edwards Aquifer as hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent discuss what is fact or fiction when it comes to information they've heard over the years while working at the EAA.

Season 2, Episode 10 | Aquifer Science Visualized Oct 28, 2021

What is GIS and how is it used at the EAA? On this episode, hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret discuss the realm of Geographic Information Systems, aka GIS, with Taylor Bruecher, EAA Hydrologic Coordinator. Find out how we display data for the public so they can view it, identify patterns to answer questions, and pose more questions based on their understanding.

Season 2, Episode 9 | Quality Data Reigns Supreme Sep 29, 2021

Why is collecting environmental data about the Edwards Aquifer important and how is it stored? On this episode Bryan Anderson, EAA Data Management Director, discusses with hosts Brent and Ann-Margaret the continuous data collected by the EAA Data Management Department. This department oversees 151 active monitoring sites where they collect data, process that data, and disseminate it to the public. Learn all about how the EAA manages these continuous data sets, and how they help us understand the Edwards Aquifer System.

Season 2, Episode 8 | EAA's Plan to Advance Aquifer Education at its Anticipated Education Outreach Center (EOC) Aug 26, 2021

On this episode hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent interview Sarah Valdez, EAA STEAM Outreach Educator, about the EAA Education Outreach Center located at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp. Tune in as she discusses the one of a kind exhibits that will go in the 3,500 square foot space, which will feature unique learning experiences that will broaden imaginations through participation in innovative STEM opportunities with an inclusive mindset. This permanent location, which is scheduled to open Spring 2022, will be dedicated to teaching up to 500 students per day about the Edwards Aquifer!

Season 2, Episode 7 | A Well Told Story About Groundwater Protection Jul 29, 2021

On this episode hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent interview Mariah Bonham, Groundwater Protection Coordinator, regarding the groundwater protection initiatives at the EAA – ranging from the importance of well registration to historic records serving as a tool for finding abandoned wells throughout the EAA jurisdiction.

Season 2, Episode 6 | A 25-year EAA perspective: Luana Buckner and Carol Patterson Jun 28, 2021

We’ve officially made it to the anniversary month that launched the EAA into existence back on June 28, 1996, and on this episode hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent have two very special guests that have held longstanding positions on the EAA board since the EAA began operations, EAA chairman Luana Buckner, representative for Medina / Atascosa Counties, known as District 13 and board member Carol Patterson, representative for Bexar County, District 1. Hear their perspectives from serving on the board to the work the EAA has done and continues to do to manage, enhance, and protect the Edwards Aquifer.

Season 2, Episode 5 | I.Y.C.K. Animal of the Year – Cave Beetles May 27, 2021

As you all may know by now this year is International Year of Caves and Karst, and the ‘cave beetle’ has been designated as animal of the year. Hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent discuss two endangered beetle species with Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) Department’s Kristy Kollaus, EAA Environmental Scientist, and Kristina Tolman, EAA Habitat Conservation Coordinator.

Season 2, Episode 4 | Celebrating the International Year of Caves, Karst, and the Edwards Aquifer Apr 21, 2021

On this episode, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent speak with Paul Bertetti, EAA Director of Aquifer Science, about characteristics of karst and how it relates to the Edwards Aquifer. Also, Paul provides an overview of how the aquifer recharges and discharges, and how the index wells in Bexar County and Uvalde county are important to monitoring the Edwards Aquifer System.

Season 2, Episode 3 | Regulation Through Service - A Community Approach to Aquifer Stewardship Mar 30, 2021

On this episode, hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent speak with Earl Parker, EAA Director of Regulatory Affairs, about aquifer management and protection programs where the general principles outlined in the EAA Act were the catalyst for key regulatory programs, groundwater withdrawal management, water quality and recharge zone protection. Listen and learn more about the details of these programs, and how the EAA works to implement a community approach to Edwards Aquifer stewardship.

Season 2, Episode 2 |Will berm and swales be winning water retention practices on the Recharge Zone? Feb 25, 2021

Hosts Brent Doty and Ann-Margaret Gonzalez speak with EAA Executive Director of Aquifer Management Services, Mark Hamilton, about long-term research for groundwater systems, surface water systems, and soil and land management practices out at the 151-acre EAA Field Research Park located in the Cibolo Creek Basin on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Season 2, Episode 1 | What’s in store for the EAA? Jan 28, 2021

Hosts Brent Doty and Ann-Margaret Gonzalez speak with EAA General Manager, Roland Ruiz, as he further expands on the Next Generation initiative as a way to broaden the EAA’s opportunity to partner and collaborate, discusses a land management demonstration site that is underway at the EAA Field Research Park, and highlights the future EAA Education Outreach Center at Morgan’s Wonderland Camp.

Episode 5 | What exactly is aquifer modeling? Nov 25, 2020

On this episode, hosts Brent Doty and Ann-Margaret Gonzalez speak with Jim Winterle, EAA Director for Modeling, about aquifer modeling in which water well pumping and aquifer recharge data collected from over the past 80 years is used to simulate outputs like the springflows at Comal and San Marcos Springs or the water levels at index wells J-17 in Bexar County and J-27 in Uvalde County. Learn how aquifer models play an important role in the implementation of water conservation measures and protection for the Edwards Aquifer not only as a habitat, but as a water supply for over 2 million South Central Texans.

Epsiode 4 | Catfish, Salamanders, Amphipods, oh my! Oct 27, 2020

Did you know? The underwater world of the Edwards Aquifer has predator species, some endangered, that dwell in the dark depths that are found nowhere else in the world? Also, discover the innovative way the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan is reducing the presence of the invasive, armored suckermouth catfish in San Marcos Springs Aquatic Ecosystem.

Learn all about these species on this episode where hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent interview Kristy Kollaus, EAA Environmental Scientist.

Episode 3 | Reflecting on the EAPP and The EAA’s Next Generation Legacy Initiative Oct 21, 2020

On this episode of the Recharge Zone Podcast hosts Ann-Margaret Gonzalez and Brent Doty speak with Thomas Marsalia, EAA Aquifer Protection Supervisor, to reflect on the successes of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program (EAPP) and how the EAA will continue to serve the program. Also, EAA General Manager, Roland Ruiz, makes his first feature on the podcast and discusses with Ann-Margaret the EAA’s Next Generation Legacy Initiative.

Episode 2 | ASR, not to be confused with ASMR May 28, 2020

Aquifer Storage and Recovery, aka ASR, is a water resource management technique for storing or injecting water underground for recovery in the future – typically during dry periods. In this episode our podcast hosts Ann-Margaret and Brent discuss the topic of ASR with Jenny Adkins-Schudrowitz, EAA Hydrogeologist, and Javier Hernandez, EAA Special Programs Liaison.

Episode 1 | What is the Edwards Aquifer System? Apr 08, 2020

In Episode 1 Ann-Margaret and Brent breakdown the facts about the Edwards Aquifer System referencing Maddy's interviews from attendees that visited our EAA booth at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo this past February.

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