Colorado River Alliance is pleased to announce the 2025 John Lay River Hero Award will be presented to Alvin Dedeaux on October 16, 2025 at Cocktails for the Colorado for his commitment to shining a light on the Texas Colorado River.

As a long-time Austinite and environmentalist at heart, Alvin is the owner and founder of All Water Guides, an Orvis endorsed fishing guide service throughout Central Texas and the Texas Coast. Alvin uses his platform as a YETI and Howler Brothers ambassador to shine a light on the importance of water conservation.

In 2018, Alvin co-founded the LoCo Trash Bash to remove trash from his favorite water, the beautiful Colorado River. To date, the annual LoCo Trash Bash has removed over 45 TONS of trash from the river and banks of the Lower Texas Colorado River past Longhorn Dam.

Colorado River Alliance has honored an individual, couple, group, business, or organization for contributions to the preservation and protection of the Texas Colorado River. Honorees have included Central Texas business leaders, corporations, conservationists, elected officials, news outlets, vineyard owners, musicians, a photographer, and a filmmaker.

The award was renamed in honor of our esteemed and beloved longtime Board President John Lay in 2020 for his outstanding service to protecting our river and his lifelong commitment to resource stewardship, education, and community building. Mr. Lay’s decades of leadership on the Colorado River Alliance Board ensured that thousands of school children had an opportunity to be inspired and excited by the Colorado River.

We will forever be grateful for his service and commitment to our mission. His impact will endure through the honor of this esteemed award. In loving memory of the remarkable Mr. Lay (1948-2023).