The Texas Section of the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of Texas awarded the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) with the 2026 Watermark Award in Communication Excellence at Texas Water, the largest regional water conference in the United States.

The Watermark Award recognizes members who have produced top-quality, effective communications, and this year’s award was earned by HGSD for its altruistic approach to celebrating its 50th anniversary. The campaign capitalized on HGSD’s 50th anniversary to advance measures on subsidence education and the importance of reducing reliance on groundwater in the greater Houston area, and included:

  • A year-long celebratory rebrand to open the door to important discussions and recognition for the District’s milestone anniversary.
  • An educational coffee-table book strategically designed as a statement piece for display, enticing demand as a collector’s item while offering a convenient way to access straightforward information on subsidence in the greater Houston area.
  • Recognition by the Texas Legislature through a bipartisan bill, HCR128, passed on May 20, 2025.
  • A legislative lunch-and-learn event at the Texas Capitol, where legislators and their staff enjoyed a delicious lunch while learning about subsidence.
  • A collaborative episode with Waterloop, a nonprofit news agency focused on water issues in America, that shared how changing water management practices through a science-led endeavor by HGSD ensured the long-term sustainability and physical stability of the greater Houston area.
  • A celebratory reception featuring a speaking program that highlighted HGSD’s progress in subsidence mitigation over the past five decades, while sharing the importance of collaboration to support our region’s impressive growth projections.
  • Optimized traditional media activities, including a bi-annual e-newsletter, magazine features, collaborations, and podcast episodes.

The results of this altruistic approach were beyond successful, with a significant increase in digital media metrics, but ultimately experienced through the connections made, stories shared, and memories created throughout the year-long celebratory campaign.