This series provides readers the opportunity to learn about the unique insight 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.
Michael Lackey, Bexar County Board Member, District 3
Michael W. Lackey, P.E. is Principal of Lackey de Carvajal Cx (LCCx), which is an Energy Efficiency Engineering firm. As a LEED Accredited Professional, Lackey verifies that complex building systems perform as intended to achieve energy and water efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions and improve indoor environmental quality. Additionally, Lackey served on the San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2009 prior to being elected to the River Authority board in 2009.
Lackey, a native and lifelong San Antonian, is a graduate of Central Catholic High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and an M.B.A. from the University of Houston.
What do most people not know about Dams within Bexar County?
Most people don’t know that the River Authority owns, operates, and maintains 42 dams—29 of which are in Bexar County. The network of dams protects the major watersheds and the people that live nearby Calaveras, Leon, Martinez, and Salado creeks. It’s also not well known that our dams exist in major public parks, such as McAllister, Stone Oak and Mud Creek parks, where people regularly come to hike, bike, and play soccer or baseball. The dams are multipurpose because of the support they provide the parks, but also for their recharge features. Some of these structures exist over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. When these dams impound water, that water recharges the aquifer. People should think of the system of dams as a network. Each dam functions individually and as part of a greater system to provide flood safety.
What are you most proud of since you’ve been on the BOD?
I served as Chairman of the Board in 2018 when San Antonio was celebrating its tricentennial. We got to meet with a delegation from our sister city, Wuxi, China, to discuss river management and channelization. Like San Antonio, Wuxi is well known for its waterways that cut through their city. We held a signing ceremony in May of that year to commemorate our discussion and cooperation, as well as our future exchanges. I am very proud of the international attention and recognition that the San Antonio River and the River Authority have received for the great work that we do in our watershed.
What current River Authority project are you looking forward to?
I am excited to see the completion of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park. I remember the grand opening of the culture park’s first segment in 2018. San Pedro Creek is a huge local project, and we got to celebrate that segment’s opening during a big year for San Antonio. This was another event with dignitaries from across the world. I remember sitting next to former United States Representative Will Hurd and former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, discussing our enthusiasm for the park and its future phases. Since 2018, the project has opened several more sections, most recently the new El Paso Street trailhead to Alamo Street. We are in the final stages of the improvement project, and I look forward to celebrating this milestone.
