The mission of The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) is to protect the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers, the springs that flow from this interconnected system, and these precious waters for the people and wildlife who use and depend on them.
The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) was founded in 2015 to fight the threat posed by Electro Purification (EP) with its proposal to pump 2.5 million gallons per day from the Trinity Aquifer in Hays County between Kyle and Wimberley. Through court filings, administrative law filings, and arousing public outcry, TESPA and local citizens were able to defeat this effort, and EP is no longer a threat.
CHALLENGES PERSIST. TESPA continues to monitor and protect groundwater in the region. Our work is far from over. The Hill Country is hot and dry right now. Jacob’s Well has been closed since 2022. Yet, development continues and investor-owned utilities like Aqua Texas continue to violate their groundwater permits. Local groundwater conservation districts do their best to enforce and apply penalties while avoiding lawsuits that tight budgets cannot support.
TESPA REMAINS ON CALL. TESPA board members are local landowners who not only care about our natural water resources, but are willing to take up a big legal stick to protect them. Our members and supporters understand that litigation is not always an action of last resort—but can sometimes be just the deterrent or tool we need to get the protection we deserve.
TESPA Board of Directors
Board members gather to in January 2020 to thank Vanessa Puig-Williams for years of exemplary service as TESPA executive director. She is now director of the water program at Texas Environmental Defense Fund.
(l-r: Jim Blackburn, Vanessa Puig-Williams, former executive director, Robin Rather, Patrick Cox, Bob Elkins, Ron Weiss)
Andrew Weber, President
Andrew recently retired as a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman—in charge of the Austin office and co-chair of the firm’s Public Law practice. For the last 15 years, he has assisted clients in navigating the intersection of law, policy, and politics at the Legislature and before State agencies. Andrew previously served as Texas First Assistant Attorney General to Attorney General Greg Abbot. He is currently Board President of Friends of the Wimberley Parks, Board President of Wimberley Library Foundation and a member of other local and state nonprofits, including the Texas Bar Foundation.
Andrew received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from SMU in Dallas, and after a 20-year pause in the construction industry, graduated from Baylor Law School, served on Law Review and became a member of the Order of the Barristers. He and wife Lin live in Wimberley, Texas. They live in Wimberley because they share fond memories of early years spending time in the Blanco River in Wimberley.
Jim Blackburn, Past President
Jim has been a practicing environmental lawyer and planner since 1973. He is a Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Rice University where he teaches environmental law and sustainable design courses. Blackburn is co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disaster (SSPEED) Center at Rice University where he is also a Rice Faculty Scholar at the Baker Institute and Director of the Undergraduate Minor in Energy and Water Sustainability. He is owner of a planning firm called Sustainable Planning and Design and teaches courses in sustainable design and environmental law in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice. Jim owns a home in Wimberley, Texas on Lone Man Creek.
Peter Way, Vice President
Peter Way is President of Way Holding, Ltd., a mechanical engineering, construction, and service company; WF Management, Inc., an investment company, and Blanco Holdings Inc., holding oil and gas and real estate investments. He started CES/Way, an energy savings company in 1986 which he sold in 1997 to Sempra Energy, the utility company serving southern California. He is a registered engineer in the State of Texas and a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Way was a founding member and Chairman of The Friends of Blue Hole, a 126-acre regional park in Wimberley, Texas. The Board raised $7 million to purchase the land and build the park, which has been recognized by “Texas Monthly” as one of the 10 best swimming holes in Texas. Peter owns property along Cypress Creek and the Blanco River.
Robin Rather, Secretary
Robin is CEO of Collective Strength and specializes in market research and strategy for a range of business, non-profits, and governmental clients and is a recognized advocate for sustainability and related policy issues. Ms. Rather previously served as a Vice President of Hill Country Conservancy and President of the Save Our Springs Alliance.
Patrick Cox, PhD
Dr. Cox is an award-winning and nationally recognized historian, author, conservationist and community leader. A sixth generation Texan, he resides with his wife Brenda on their ranch near Wimberley, Texas where they conduct wildlife and resource management on their property. Dr. Cox is a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas State University, Past President of the Texas State Historical Association, and a past President of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association when Jacob’s Well Natural Area was assembled and became a protected natural area. He also was Past President of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD).
Dr. Cox has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), the nation’s largest electric cooperative. His service and achievement awards include: Distinguished Alumni Award- Texas State University; Member of the Texas Institute of Letters; Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association; and recipient of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development – Merit Award.
Bob Elkins
Bob is a Wimberley resident who lives near the Blanco River and is exclusively on rainwater. He is passionate about conserving groundwater resources and has been involved as a landowner member in TESPA’s contested case related to the Needmore Ranch groundwater permit at the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Joseph Jaworski
Joseph has devoted much of his life to exploring the deeper dimensions of transformational leadership. As founder and Chairman of both Generon International and the Global Leadership Initiative, Joseph advises CEOs and senior executives in Fortune 500 companies. He specializes in the design and execution of large-scale organizational change as well as strategy formation and implementation. He is a pioneer and prominent thought leader in the discipline of ‘Strategic Foresight’, enabling leaders to deepen their capacity for tactical and strategic insight.
From his home just outside of Austin, Texas, Joseph remains actively working with Generon Clients and enjoys spending time practicing Qigong, mediation and communing with nature.
Scott Way
Scott grew up swimming in Cypress Creek and the Blanco River where he and his family now have a home near the river. Scott owns The Wimberley Inn as well as 7A Ranch and Pioneer Town, an historic lodging and entertainment venue in Wimberley.
In 2020, Scott chaired the Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC), a citizen commission appointed by Hays County Commissioners to advise on the bond election where Hays County voters dedicated $75 Million to support parks and open space projects. Scott has been a board member of the Hill Country Conservancy and currently serves on its land committee. An attorney, Scott has been General Counsel for several public and private medical device companies.
Ron Weiss
Ron has been a restaurateur in Austin since 1975. He and his wife, Peggy, are founding partners of Jeffrey’s Restaurant and Cipollina West Austin Bistro. Peggy and Ron were named to Who’s Who in Food and Wine in Texas by Texas Monthly and the Texas Department of Agriculture. Ron served as Chair of the Texas Book Festival and is currently on the advisory board. He is also on the advisory board of Explore Austin, an organization that mentors and provides outdoor adventures for underserved teenage youth. He also served on the University of Texas Libraries Advisory Council. Ron owns a home on Lone Man Creek in Wimberley.