The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (District) is pleased to announce Tim Loftus has been named General Manager. Dr. Loftus comes to the District with a wealth of experience in regional water supply planning, water-use conservation, and extensive knowledge in water resource management issues. He will also serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the District.
Prior to joining the District, Dr. Loftus served as Professor of Practice in Geography and held the Meadows Endowed Chair in Water Conservation at Texas State University. Across campus, he also worked closely with the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. In these roles Dr. Loftus’ responsibilities included grant writing, research, and project management. Additionally, he taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses in water resources and mentored graduate advisees in both the Geography and Sustainability Studies Master’s Programs. During this time, Dr. Loftus was appointed by the Texas Water Development Board to the Water Conservation Advisory Council representing Higher Education. His work has been published in the Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Ecological Economics, Texas Water Journal, and other outlets.
“My career to date has prepared me to work alongside the District’s accomplished staff and Board of Directors to advance our mission in the rapidly evolving environment of central Texas,” said Dr. Loftus.
Dr. Loftus received his Ph.D. in Geography from Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he also earned his B.S. (Bachelor of Science) and M.S. (Master of Science) in Forestry. He has held positions at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Graduate Research Assistant, Post-Doctoral Associate), Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond (Assistant Professor), Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio (Director of the Water Quality Laboratory), and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (Senior/Principal Water Resource Planner).
While working for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, he served as Project Director of northeastern Illinois’ first stakeholder-driven regional water supply planning process. He managed a 35-member regional water supply planning group that included elected officials from multiple levels of government. After a three-year effort, the group was successful in producing a first-of-its-kind regional water supply plan that set the standard in Illinois.
With continued growth in Central Texas, the District’s mission for conserving, protecting, recharging, preventing waste of groundwater and preserving all aquifers in the district is more important than ever. Under the direction of Dr. Loftus, the District is ready for a new chapter.
“Groundwater is an essential resource for the health and prosperity of central Texans, and the aquatic ecosystems that are a hallmark of our region. The District will collaborate with our permittees by applying sound science, providing outreach and communication, and achieving sustainable management of the shared resource.”
“We are fortunate to have Tim Loftus join the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District” said Board President Blayne Stansberry. “His extensive work with water supply planning, conservation, and his overall expertise of water resource management issues in Central Texas will take the organization to the next level. Under Tim’s leadership, our passionate staff of experts and dedicated board of directors will continue to build on the District’s strong reputation for providing leadership in the groundwater community.”