Jo Karr Tedder is President of Central Texas Water Coalition (CTWC), an organization she and a small group of advocates founded in 2011. The group grew from her experience on LCRA’s Water Management Plan Stakeholder
Advisory Committee in 2010, when it came to light that Highland Lakes businesses and residents were
not at the table in water- use planning.

Jo Karr is a recognized authority on water issues and regularly speaks on behalf of the need for changes to how water is managed and valued. She is a native Texan, a former educator and education administrator, and a political consultant.

After living and working on the East Coast, she returned to Texas and has resided on Lake Buchanan since 2001.

The Central Texas Water Coalition (CTWC) is a nonprofit organization advocating for policies that will preserve the Highland Lakes as irreplaceable natural resources that supply water for Central Texas’ 2 million residents and provide an important regional economic engine for the state of Texas. Partners of the coalition include lake residents, business owners, municipal officials, home owner associations, environmentalists and stakeholder organizations. All are united by their commitment to protect our future through responsible water management and conservation policies. Without action, CTWC partners realize the consequences could be dire.

In May of 2010, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) formed the Water Management Plan Stakeholders Advisory Committee to assist in updating the management plan for Lakes Buchanan and Travis. The committee consists of 16 individuals representing diverse interests including cities, industry, lake-area businesses and residents, agriculture and the environment.

After a year of meetings, it became apparent that not all viewed the lakes as a key water supply and economic engine for the region’s residents and businesses, but rather a source for large releases of water available at discounted prices far below what municipal, business and residential customers were paying.

In response, business owners and lake residents participating in the advisory committee agreed it was time to mobilize lake interests to strengthen their ability to advocate for responsible water management policies. As a result, the Central Texas Water Coalition was formed and today it has emerged as a strong, respected and effective voice for lake interests.