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 Sistema de alerta de inundaciones NextGen, 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?
El Parque natural del río John William Helton-San Antonio 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.
Parque Natural Jackson in Stockdale provides another opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking along Cibolo Creek.
For those interested in paddling, the Sendero de remo SASPAMCO 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 Eventos de recolección de desechos domésticos peligrosos 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.
El Sr. Carvajal trabajó como abogado durante 12 años en la Fiscalía General de Texas antes de dedicarse a la práctica privada. Carvajal Law Firm, PC, abrió sus puertas en 2006. Desde entonces, la firma se ha especializado en bienes raíces, sucesiones y testamentos. Durante aproximadamente 25 años, el Sr. Carvajal ha brindado asesoría legal a empresas y particulares en diversas situaciones, incluyendo transacciones inmobiliarias con múltiples partes, sucesiones de bienes de seres queridos, testamentos, poderes notariales médicos y financieros, y constitución de sociedades, entre muchas otras áreas del derecho. Comenzó su carrera en Derecho Civil y Familiar en el Estado de Texas y actualmente ejerce en la práctica privada, especializándose en Derecho Inmobiliario y Comercial. En 2011, se convirtió en copropietario y examinador de títulos de Wilson County Abstract Company. El Sr. Carvajal ha sido miembro de la Junta de la Autoridad del Río desde 2021 y su mandato actual expira en 2027.
Esta serie ofrece a los lectores la oportunidad de conocer las perspectivas y experiencias únicas de la Junta Directiva de la Autoridad del Río San Antonio (Autoridad del Río) y su conexión personal con el río San Antonio, con la esperanza de inspirar la gestión responsable de los arroyos y ríos de la zona.
