By Puente H.R. No. 408 77R6346 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 Martha Clifton McNeel for her outstanding commitment to the 1-3 residents of Central Texas; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Ms. McNeel has worked diligently to preserve, 1-5 protect, and enhance the San Antonio River throughout the 1-6 four-county basin, encompassing Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad 1-7 counties; her passion for the river's well-being came from her 1-8 grandfather, whose efforts as a contractor in the 1950s resulted in 1-9 considerable improvements to the waterway; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A member of the board of directors of the San 1-11 Antonio River Authority (SARA) since 1983, she demonstrated 1-12 judicious leadership as chair of the panel since 1997 and in the 1-13 office of vice chair from 1993 to 1997; in addition, Ms. McNeel has 1-14 served on various board committees and represented SARA on the 1-15 River Corridor Committee, the Executive Committee of the Alamo Area 1-16 Council of Governments, and the Bexar County, City of San Antonio, 1-17 and San Antonio River Authority Committee of Six for River 1-18 Planning; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Ms. McNeel helped secure cleaner river water by 1-20 participating in a litigation effort that also resulted in the 1-21 creation of the Dos Rios Wastewater Treatment Plant and 1-22 enhancements to the Salado and Leon plants; a proponent of 1-23 developing new water resources, she supported a regional study that 1-24 was called for in the 75th Legislature's Senate Bill 1, and she 2-1 facilitated an agreement for 70,000 acre feet of new water from the 2-2 Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, as well as the SARA 2-3 administration of the Trans-Texas Water Planning Project for the 2-4 West Central Study Area; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Her water-related civic involvement also includes 2-6 serving as president of the Paseo del Rio Association and vice 2-7 president of Missions, Parks-Plazas, River-Waterways and all 2-8 Natural Beauty for the San Antonio Conservation Society; and with 2-9 her solid support, flood control projects along the river are now 2-10 designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as effective, and 2-11 they have earned praise from the American Society of Civil 2-12 Engineers and the National Endowment for the Arts Federal Design 2-13 Achievement Program; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Ms. McNeel's legacy to Central Texans includes the 2-15 San Antonio River Tunnel Inlet Park, and river improvements in the 2-16 King William neighborhood and along the downtown River Walk; her 2-17 lasting influence will ensure desirable water conditions for 2-18 countless Texans and will continue to be felt for years to come as 2-19 well, as plans for the environmental restoration of the southern 2-20 reach of the San Antonio River in Bexar County and upgrading the 2-21 river north of downtown are completed; and 2-22 WHEREAS, In addition to her commitment to protecting water 2-23 quality, she has been especially vigilant in her concern for the 2-24 river's impact on the ecology of bays and estuaries, and she has 2-25 emphasized strongly that, "If you remember the bays and estuaries, 2-26 you will protect the river"; and 2-27 WHEREAS, Ms. McNeel aspires to the highest level of 3-1 professionalism and achievement in all her endeavors, and her 3-2 significant efforts in behalf of her fellow citizens are truly 3-3 exemplary; now, therefore, be it 3-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-5 Legislature hereby commend Martha Clifton McNeel for her 3-6 distinguished service on the San Antonio River Authority Board of 3-7 Directors and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; 3-8 and, be it further 3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-10 prepared for Ms. McNeel as an expression of high regard by the 3-11 Texas House of Representatives.