2024-2025
Impact Report
Year at a Glance
12,306
6,354
Views of the Digital Resource Center, CRA’s growing hub for teachers, students, and families
4,255
Elementary and middle school students received direct services through CRA’s YES! Programs
3,130
Community members were introduced to their water source via The Mobile River at a community event
1,049
Volunteers of all ages contributed 2,098 hours to cleanup efforts
20
Counties reached by CRA programs
78 Billion
Gallons of water conservation per year inspired
Stories From the River
Letter from the Executive Director
At the heart of our mission, you will find our Youth Environmental Stewardship programs, also known as our YES! Programs. Whether it is a group of 3rd graders from Galindo Elementary visiting the Wilkerson Center for Colorado River Education or 7th graders from Bedicheck Middle School stepping aboard our traveling water-science center, The Mobile River, these students are gaining more than knowledge. They experience what I refer to as the “ah-ha” moment. The moment the light bulb goes off and they “get it”, they connect with the source of their drinking water and understand their role in protecting it.
Each year, CRA—through your support—creates this experience for thousands of students. Colorado River Alliance has a simple but powerful mission: To champion the long-term vitality of the Texas Colorado River– not just for today or tomorrow, but for generations to come.
And while our work is grounded in science, stewardship, education, and action — it is deeply rooted in community—in you.
Thanks to your generosity and partnership the Alliance has become a leading voice for youth environmental education about the River and community action in Texas. This is the impact you make possible.
Vision
A day when the Texas Colorado River is valued and protected by all
Mission
To champion the long-term vitality of the Texas Colorado River
Purpose
Reach every Texan with a message of the River’s importance
2024-2025 Impact
Education
Wilkerson Center Field Trips
The Wilkerson Center for Colorado River Education connects 3rd–5th grade students to Texas’ most vital natural resource through hands-on, bilingual lessons in geology, watersheds, and conservation.
2,039
Students connected to the Colorado River through immersive, bilingual field trips.
6,117
Hours of hands-on TEKS-aligned STEM education delivered.
The Mobile River
The Mobile River is a 42-foot traveling science center that delivers TEKS-aligned, immersive STEM education to middle schools and community events across the basin. Since 2015, it has brought river science to classrooms that might not otherwise access a field trip. In FY25, the program continues to expand its reach up and down the river basin by delivering the award-winning program to schools and community events in Manor, Del Valle, Leander, Elgin, and Matagorda Bay while developing meaningful partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA of Austin and the Boys & Girls Club of the Highland Lakes.
2,216
Middle school students engaged in interactive lessons on watersheds, weathering, and water conservation.
5,540
Hours of immersive, TEKS-aligned STEM learning delivered inside The Mobile River and classrooms.
Groundwater to the Gulf (G2G)
Over three days each summer, Central Texas educators step out of their classrooms and into the field for Groundwater to the Gulf. From Barton Springs to McKinney Roughs, they learn side by side with scientists, park rangers, and conservationists — earning continuing education credits at no cost while gaining new tools to inspire their students. In June 2025, 48 teachers logged 1,080 hours of professional learning, guided by nine partner organizations:
- Austin Water Wildlands Conservation
- Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
- City of Austin Park Rangers
- City of Austin Watershed Protection
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
- The Meadows Center
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Wild Basin Creative Research Center – St. Edward’s University
Internship Program
Colorado River Alliance interns bring energy, curiosity, and commitment to every corner of its mission. This year, 21 college students contributed 1,518 hours leading classroom lessons, supporting community outreach, and helping tell the story of the river.
Engagement
Cleanups
From the depths of Lake Travis to the banks of Onion Creek, CRA volunteers rolled up their sleeves to keep Central Texas waters clean.
1,049
Volunteers rolled up their sleeves at Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and creek cleanups in the Texas Colorado River Basin.
9
Cleanups at 30 locations throughout the Texas Colorado River Basin.
9,808
Pounds of trash and recycling were removed from the lake, creeks, and parks.
Digital Resource Center
The Digital Resource Center is a growing hub for teachers, students, and families to explore the Colorado River. With 4,697 active users and 6,354 page views last year, it is helping classrooms and households across Texas connect with water science in new ways.
From quick reads and river facts to printable activities and classroom clips, the resources center makes water science easy to teach and fun to learn. All resources are free and simple to share.
4,697
Active users on the CRA website.
2
New Ripple activity books launched in English and Spanish.
Awareness
Speaker Series
Thanks to the visionary leadership of Laura and Kyndel Bennett, Colorado River Alliance re-launched the River Resilience Speaker Series in 2023 to host strategic conversations to discuss water issues and the future of the Texas Colorado River.
In November 2024, the River Resilience Speaker Series brought together 85 water leaders, policymakers, academics, and representatives of the business, conservation, and philanthropic communities for an informational and inspirational presentation led by Daniel Woodroffe, President and Founder of dwg. Daniel captivated us with his insights on the intersection of landscape architecture, water conservation, and designing spaces that foster deep connections between people and the environment.
Water Pledge
In 2023, Colorado River Alliance launched the Colorado River 2085 Water Pledge Campaign with in-kind support from local advertising agency, Hiebing, to encourage Texans to evaluate their water usage and take steps to conserve water in their daily lives. Just a few small conservation habits can make a big difference in preserving the Colorado River and helping our community thrive for the next 10, 50, or even 500 years.
Throughout the year, students and community members were encouraged to participate in the Colorado River 2085 Water Pledge Campaign, resulting in over 78,498,711,130 gallons of water remaining in the river rather than “going down the drain” per year.
Thank You, Partners
Legacy Leaders
Legacy Leaders are philanthropic leaders with a serious commitment to protecting the Texas Colorado River.
Board of Directors
Sally Allen
Bryan Beckworth
Mikah Berlingeri
Susan Bufkin
Susan Butler
Breck Harrison
Lindsey Holubec
Mickey Jamail
Hill Krause
Dan Martin
Tina O’Jibway
Hondo Powell
Justin Westmoreland
Jennifer Walker
Wade Webster
Tributary League
Like the tributary rivers that flow into the Texas Colorado River contributing to its vitality, Tributary League members provide a steady flow of funding that helps to sustain the mission of Colorado River Alliance.
Betsy & Hughes Abell
Pam & Marty Akins
Nathan & Krista Alderman
Wick Alexander
Kathi & David Allen
Sally & DJ Allen
Lydia & Tom Barton
Janet Bates
Laura & Kyndel Bennett
Tim & Mary Beth Bosworth
Chip & Tamara Bray
Susan & Ben Bufkin
Susan Butler
Scott Covington
Jeanne & Michael Crosno
Mersaydes & Reed Curtis
Melissa & Matt Dausch
Cindy & Jim DeCosmo
Trask Dix
Will & Brande Draper
Stephanie & Clayton Duncan
Chad & Holly Eppes
Roberto & Debra Espinosa
Gary & Susan Farmer
Craig & Alyssa Gilden
Nancy & Louis Herlin
Paul & Lea Holubec
Sandra Johnson
Matthew & Britta Klucznik
Hill Krause
Paige & Carl Lay
Jill Lay
Mollie & Steve Leach
Paul & Wendy Linehan
Adam Loewy
Stephanie Long
Adrienne Longenecker
Catherine Lucchesi
Carol & Tom Martine
Sarah McCracken
Lynn & Mike McHenry
Bill & Carlotta McLean
Juan Mendoza
Elizabeth & Nick Michael
Chris Mugica
Robert & Melinda Neblett
Steve & Abbe Oden
Jeff & Tina O’Jibway
Wells & Leslie Person
Jason & Elizabeth Pitts
Chris Shields
Robert & Katie Spurk
Katherine & Nathan Thornhill
Tim & Leslie Timmerman
Andy Trimble
Augusto & Katey Villalon
Meg & Dathan Voelter
Wade & Sarah Webster
Justin Westmoreland
Ray & Karen Wilkerson
River Society
The River Society is a group of emerging conservation leaders dedicated to preserving and protecting the Texas Colorado River by: attracting new people to support CRA; connecting members through unique social events, networking opportunities, and outdoor activities; and cultivating new leaders to further CRA’s mission.
Savannah Aday
Will Allensworth
Parker Badger
Bianca Bejarano
Barkley Bennett
Britt & Elaine Benton
Mikah Berlingeri
Christopher Berry
Bill Boebel
James Breed
Cam Budd
Jeff Burke
Tim Caperton
Madison Carter
Abby Daigle
Jason and Andrea Davidson
Alex De La Fuente
Patrick Dentler
Trask Dix
Carson DuPont
Amanda Fier
Randol Flume
Camila and Garrett Forthuber
Logan Fowler
Zachary Giberson
Caitlyn Grimm
Chris Hall
Christine & Patrick Herlin
Audrey Herrera
Aubry Hinners
Keith & Joyce Jackson
Mickey Jamail
Andrea and Ryan Jestice
Weston Keenan
Sam Kent
Connor and Meg Kidd
Jeffrey & Lindsay Killeen
Cristian Koitzsch
Ellen Lake
Jacqueline Mariie
Andrew & Caroline Marquis
Elizabeth Matson
Trevor McManis
Will Morse
Alicia Murphy
Stefanie Nelson
Allison Orr
Kristin & Matthew Pohl
Miller Polly
Grace Raulet
Lee Rigby
Kyle Saidnawey
Natalie Schuessler
Offir Schwartz
Laurel Seymour
Elizabeth & Brian Shahan
Zane Taylor
Andy Trimble
James Tyng
Adam Varner
Alexis Van Riper
