SRWA honors Ralph Cowen for his ‘selfless and dedicated years of service’

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The board of directors of Southmost Regional Water Authority has honored secretary Ralph Cowen with a proclamation for his “selfless and dedicated years of service.”

Cowen, a longtime director of Brownsville Navigation District, has been a SRWA board member since 2012.

He chose not to seek reelection to the BND board due to ill health. 

Dr. Joseph Holman, president of Brownsville Public Utilities Board, read aloud the proclamation at a SRWA board meeting on April 8.

Cowen could not be present.

Here is the proclamation:

A Proclamation from the Board of Directors of the Southmost Regional Water Authority recognizing and honoring Ralph Cowen

---

Whereas, the Southmost Regional Water Authority (SRWA) was created in 1981 as a conservation and reclamation district to provide water solutions during drought or water supply issues for the regional partners; and 

Whereas, BPUB spearheaded a cost-effective solution to treat brackish groundwater from the Rio Grande Alluvium as a diverse source of water that would reduce the dependence on the Rio Grande: and 

Ralph Cowen

Whereas, in 2004, the construction of a 7.5 million gallon per day (mgd) Regional Brackish Groundwater Treatment Facility was complete; and 

Whereas, SRWA regional partners located in southern Cameron County consist of: City of Los Fresnos, Indian Lake, Laguna Madre Water District, Valley Municipal Utility District No. 2, Brownsville Navigation District and the Brownsville Public Utilities Board; and 

Whereas, Ralph Cowen was appointed by the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) in 2012, to represent BND on the Southmost Regional Water Authority (SRWA) board of directors; and

Whereas Ralph Cowen served for more than a decade on the SRWA Board of Directors including as Secretary; and 

Whereas, Ralph Cowen helped raise public awareness and understanding about the importance of diversifying sources of drinking water in South Texas; and

Whereas, Ralph Cowen was instrumental in SRWA’s 2015 expansion of operations; and 

Whereas, Ralph Cowen oversaw improvements to make SRWA more efficient and able to meet and exceed all state and federal drinking water guidelines; and 

Whereas, Ralph Cowen put the greater needs of his community first when making decisions about the operations of SRWA; and 

Whereas, Ralph Cowen helped ensure that this region had a reliable secondary source of drinking water, in the face of drought or water supply issues. 

Now, therefore, we the members of Southmost Regional Water Authority, by virtue of the authority vested to the Board and on behalf of the regional partners and SRWA staff recognize and honor Ralph Cowan for his selfless and dedicated years of service.

Done on this the 8th day of April 2024. 

Signed

Dr. Joseph Hollmann, President, Brownsville Public Utilities Board

Gabriela Fernandez, Treasurer, City of Los Fresnos

Marilyn Gilbert, Deputy Secretary/Treasurer, Brownsville Public Utility Board

Roger Nelson, Vice-President, VMUD #2, Rancho Viejo 

Mayor John A. Chambers, Board Member, Town of Indian Lake

Southmost Regional Water Authority will be presenting this present to board member Ralph Cowen.

More recognition

---

Cowen is expected to receive more recognition for his many years of public service in the weeks ahead. He is slated to be honored by the City of Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership soon.

BND Election

---

The Brownsville Navigation District election is May 4, 2024.

With Cowen retiring, a new board director will be elected in Place One. The candidates are: Patrick Everitt, Humberto (Beto) Torres, Carlos L. Garcia, and Ernesto “Ernie” Gutierrez.

Place Three is being contested by incumbent director John Reed, along with challengers Andres Rios,  Norma Lee Valle, and Eduardo “Eddie” Campirano.

Place Five is being contested by incumbent director Sergio Tito Lopez, along with challenger Josette Cruz Hinojosa.

Fore more information on the BND election go to: https://www.portofbrownsville.com/commission/bnd-election/

The post SRWA honors Ralph Cowen for his ‘selfless and dedicated years of service’ appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.