Comptroller Glenn Hegar named the 2024 Rainmaker of the Year
April 25, 2024
Media Inquiries: Colin McDonald, Senior Policy Analyst, colin@texaswater.org
Austin, Texas - Every year, Texas Water Foundation selects an individual who is making a long-lasting impact in Texas water the Rainmaker of the Year. With the national focus on how we finance secure and reliable water infrastructure, the recent creation of the new Texas Water Fund, and state discussions turning toward dedicated funding streams for water infrastructure, we are fortunate to have a water champion in Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Our 2024 Rainmaker Award recipient has advocated for local and sustainable water solutions for decades. While his title has changed from farmer, to lawyer, to State Representative, to State Senator and now, Texas Comptroller, Glenn Hegar has always known the importance of water.
“The future of water in Texas is the future of the Texas economy,” Hegar said. “Whether in times of drought or flood, responsible water management ensures Texans see water as a resource — not a crisis. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to be stewards of the most important resource we have.”
On Sept. 24, 2024, Texas Water Foundation will celebrate Hegar’s commitment to water at a reception and dinner at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. The event brings together more than 300 water champions, policymakers, and advocates to celebrate our Rainmaker of the Year.
“As water champions come and go from Austin, Comptroller Hegar has been a constant and consistent advocate for prioritizing water,” said Texas Water Foundation CEO Sarah Schlessinger. “Texas needs more statewide water champions working to ensure water is prioritized. Comptroller Hegar is our only statewide elected official who recognizes water as Texas’ lifeblood.”
Hegar had an early introduction to the challenges and importance of water. The call for groundwater regulation, declining surface water availability and dependability, and the changing demand as suburban growth replaced farm fields were all playing out at the doorstep of his sixth-generation family farm outside of Katy.
From the creation of local groundwater districts to statewide environmental flows, Hegar has been involved with water at every level of state government. In each conversation, Hegar’s approach is marked by the belief that the most sustainable solutions are the ones selected by those whose lives and livelihoods depend on the resources. Those who have worked with him over the decades celebrate his dedication to understanding the nuances of water issues and making time to listen to stakeholders so he can understand their positions.
Chief among his early water successes was the crucial role Hegar played in supporting local stakeholders and reaching a consensus on management of the Edwards Aquifer, which led to the adoption of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan. Today, he is raising the political profile of water by highlighting success stories across Texas, linking water to the Texas economy, and advocating for the need to invest in infrastructure. It is, as he says, “good for Texas.”
"You and I just want to wake up in the morning and turn on the tap to brush our teeth. We don't ever think about where the water comes from. What's the origin of the source? How is it treated? How is it distributed?” Hegar said. “If we want future generations to have the same access to this precious resource and the prosperity that comes with the proper management of water, we have to invest in systems that ensure the water is there when you turn on the tap.”
Learn more about the Rainmaker of the Year event on Sept. 24 and book your table here.