IECA South Central Virtual Connection: Water Quality & Stormwater Management

Educated as a geologist who spent much of the late 70s and early 80s as an independent geologist in shallow oil & gas exploration in Oklahoma, Kansas. As the oil bust of the 80s progressed I became more involved with environmental work, first in petroleum and later in Phase I audits for the cellular tower systems. I have spent thirty years in the environmental industry, the last twenty in municipal stormwater and stormwater quality working for Broken Arrow what was a small suburban community on the outskirts of Tulsa.  This small community is now the third or fourth largest (I think Norman counts students at OU) city in Oklahoma. I am the current board chair of the Tulsa County Conservation District, as well as sitting on the board of the Southcentral Chapter of International Erosion Control Association as the Oklahoma representative 

Trish Ouei is an urban stormwater educator at the Benton County Cooperative Extension Service under the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.  Trish has a BS in Health Education and a Masters in Educational Technologies.  She has severed on many boards throughout her career including statewide boards such as the Society for Public Health Education and the Arkansas Environmental Education Association.  Her career allows her to not only look at water quality from a runoff management side, but with a public health eye and as part of solid waste management.  She co-authored the LakeSmart Training Manual and Evaluation Materials, which received the state, regional, and national award for best training manual by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and has received the Ginger Tatom Water Quality Professional award for Arkansas.

John Moss has been associated with storm water pollutionprevention compliance in the commercial construction industry since 2003. Mr.Moss has overseen turnkey compliance services for over 2000 projects insoutheast Texas. He has participated in the implementation of many innovativeBest Management Practices to achieve high levels of compliance in complexsituations, and has “value engineered” solutions for storm water qualityfeatures such as underground detention and pond slope stabilization. Based inHouston, Texas, Construction EcoServices pioneered the model for turnkey SWPPP complianceservices in the State of Texas and manages storm water quality on hundreds ofcommercial construction projects each year. The company is also deeply involvedin providing leading edge solutions for post construction storm water qualitytreatment, water harvesting and erosion control.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Nefi Garza has worked for both public and private industries. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Beginning his career with private engineering firms, Nefi learned hydrology and hydraulics from great mentors and became a licensed Professional Engineer.

Nefi joined the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) in 2002, where he was involved with major projects such as the Bexar County Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) update. After nine years at SARA, Nefi joined the City of San Antonio and spent three years with in the Department of Public Works. 

Nefi returned to the private sector in 2012 and worked there for over four years, establishing a successful hydrology and hydraulics practice.

Nefi returned to the City of San Antonio’s Public Works Department in 2017, where he currently serves as Assistant Director of Public works and oversees the Storm Water Division.

Nefi, his wife Maria, and his son Samuel reside in San Antonio. They enjoy camping, hiking, and activities at church and are particularly proud of their family accomplishment of climbing the highest peak in Texas.