What have been your goals and top priorities as a River Authority board member in 2026?
After five years on the board, my priorities remain flood resilience, water quality, and public access to the river. A key focus this year has been ensuring River Authority programs and investments benefit Wilson County and other downstream communities as much as they do in urban areas. Whether the agency is investing in flood-warning technology, water-quality monitoring, or park improvements, I want to make sure our residents are included in the planning process and see the benefits firsthand.
You serve on the River Authority’s Flood Task Force. Why is that work important to Wilson County?
The Flood Task Force gives board members an opportunity to look closely at flood risk across all four counties, including how floodplain mapping is progressing, how flood-warning systems perform during storm events, and how projects are prioritized.
The River Authority operates more than 200 High Water Alert Lifesaving Technology (HALT) sensors that feed information to our dashboard at SARiverFlood.org, allowing residents to check conditions at low-water crossings and sign up for alerts. In Wilson County, flood warning sirens have also been installed at key locations, including Helton Nature Park. More recently, the River Authority and Bexar County launched the NextGen Flood Warning System, which uses radar, rain gauges, and upstream sensors to provide earlier warnings and improve roadway closure notifications.
My focus is ensuring that these types of investments continue reaching downstream communities. Rural counties often have fewer resources and more miles of road to manage, so it’s important that new technologies and flood-mitigation efforts are evaluated through that lens.
Residents Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties can sign up to receive alerts on SARiverFlood.org.
You attended the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) Annual Meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, this July. What did you bring back?
Three key takeaways stood out to me.
First, communities across the country are facing many of the same challenges we face, including aging infrastructure, heavier rainfall, and limited funding. There is value in learning from the successes and lessons of others.
Second, discussions about flood insurance and federal programs reinforced the importance of local and regional agencies being prepared to justify and support their own projects.
Finally, conversations about governance and public communication highlighted the importance of transparency. The agencies that navigate difficult situations most successfully are often the ones that communicate clearly with residents before an emergency occurs, not after.
What Wilson County recreation would you like readers to discover this fall?
The John William Helton-San Antonio River Nature Park in Floresville is a great place to start. The park offers hiking and biking trails, campsites, a pavilion, a playground, and other family-friendly amenities. Recent improvements have added outdoor fitness stations, with additional enhancements planned.
Jackson Nature Park in Stockdale provides another opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking along Cibolo Creek.
For those interested in paddling, the SASPAMCO Paddling Trail travels through Wilson County and provides several access points along the San Antonio River. Together, these parks and recreational areas help connect residents to the river and encourage stewardship of this important natural resource.
How can Wilson County residents help keep our creeks and rivers safe, clean, and enjoyable?
There are several simple ways residents can make a difference.
I encourage residents to take advantage of the River Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events to properly dispose of materials such as paint, oil, tires, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Keep litter and excess fertilizer out of ditches and storm drains to help protect water quality. And during severe weather, check the status of low-water crossings before traveling.
I also encourage residents to reach out to their board members with concerns or ideas. The San Antonio River has long been part of our community’s identity, and protecting it is a responsibility we all share.
Mr. Carvajal was an attorney for 12 years with the Texas Attorney General office before going into private practice. Carvajal Law Firm, PC opened its doors in 2006. Since then, the practice has moved in the direction of specializing in Real Estate, Probate and Last Will and Testaments. For approximately 25 years Mr. Carvajal has provided legal counsel for businesses and individuals in a variety of situations including multi-party real estate transactions, probating of loved one’s estates, Last Will & Testaments, medical and financial Power of Attorney’s and corporation formation amongst many other areas of law. He started his career in Civil and Family Law working in The State of Texas and is now in private practice specializing in Real Estate and Business Law. In 2011 he became a co-owner and title examiner of Wilson County Abstract Company. Mr. Carvajal has been a River Authority Board member since 2021, and his current term expires in 2027.
This series provides readers with the opportunity to learn about the unique insights and experiences of the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) Board of Directors and their personal connection to the San Antonio River, in hopes of inspiring stewardship of area creeks and rivers.
