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Dear friend,

These are extraordinary times. 

The intersecting pandemics of racism and coronavirus have shined a light on just how much work must be done to achieve the sustainable world our founders dreamt of.

The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation continues to work alongside our grantees and other partners in pursuit of our mission, seeking innovative solutions for human and environmental challenges. To that end, we've included select news and information summaries from the first six months of 2020. 

As we move forward this summer and into the fall, we begin our transition to a first-time non-family chief executive in September. Our board and staff are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Even in the face of so many challenges, we promise to stay true to our mission and to Cynthia and George Mitchell's philanthropic legacy-investing in innovative leaders, thinkers, and organizations to seek sustainable solutions to complex problems.

Sincerely,

The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation

Galveston County Recovery Fund collaborates for COVID-19 response

Galveston''s Juneteenth Celebration 

CGMF-funded study causes alarm about emissions along Texas Gulf coast

Former First Lady Laura Bush''s conservation organization recognizes CGMF initiative

The Respect Big Bend Coalition was named a 2020 Conservation Wrangler by Texan by Nature, a Texas-led conservation nonprofit. Texan by Nature recognizes six innovative conservation projects across Texas for their science-based and results-driven approach to conservation and their ability to positively impact people, prosperity, and natural resources.

"Every year, Texan by Nature shines a light on conservation stewards and their efforts to take care of the state I'm proud to call home," said former First Lady and founder of Texan by Nature, Laura Bush. 

The mission of Respect Big Bend is to inspire and empower stakeholders in far West Texas to conserve the unique resources and protect the iconic communities of Texas''s greater Big Bend region while developing energy responsibly. Respect Big Bend pursues its mission by employing rigorous science, community outreach and education, landscape-scale planning, and economic development. The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation catalyzed this initiative in 2018.

Circle of Blue to publish 5-part long-form series,"Water, Texas," in August 2020

Circle of Blue will publish a 5-part series, "Water, Texas," scheduled from August 3-31, 2020. The series is funded by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation. Circle of Blue is an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism at the center of frontline reporting, research, and analysis on water resource issues and their relationship to food and energy in a changing climate.

In many ways, Texas''s story over the last century is the state's devout allegiance to the principle that humanity has dominion over nature. The meteorological disruption occurring in Texas in the 21st century, along with booming population and economic growth, is challenging that allegiance and writing a much different story of vulnerability-to nature's bullying and to government's uncertain capacity to adjust to the realities of nature.

The series will take an in-depth look at the issues, individuals, organizations, and policies that influence water in Texas-from surface water and groundwater to wastewater and stormwater-and how they affect the drying state''s landscape, residents, and supply of clean water. 

Stories are being reported and written by Keith Schneider, a long-time national correspondent for The New York Times and current contributor to The Times, Pro Publica, and National Geographic. Brian Lehmann, an award-winning photojournalist, is photographing the series. The Fulbright scholar is a regular contributor to National Geographic and The New York Times.

CGMF leverages Water Funders'' Initiative
for new funding for Texas NGOs

In the first six months of 2020, the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation's Water Program helped two Texas grantees leverage more than $1 million in matching funds from the Water Funders' Initiative (WFI). The Texas Hill Country Conservation Network cultivated the WFI's match opportunity, raising more than $810,000 in incremental funding. Also, CGMF utilized the WFI match opportunity to help the nonprofit news organization, The Texas Tribune, receive a contribution of $200,000.
 
These matching grants are a result of CGMF's Texas-based initiative with WFI that started in 2019, focusing on sustainable water management in the Texas Hill Country. In 2019, CGMF''s effort helped raise a total of $409,500 in new funding for Texas-based NGOs. 

CGMF awards grant for first-ever environmental flows transactions in Texas 

In April 2020, the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation's Water Program awarded a grant to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to complete the first-ever water right transactions for environmental flows in Texas and establish the market for future transactions in the state.
 
TNC has been negotiating two voluntary water rights transactions in the San Saba River and in the Guadalupe River basin. TNC anticipates that the San Saba transaction could provide as much as one cubic feet per second of critical instream flow benefit during times of drought, creating wetted habitat within stressed systems for the benefit of species of conservation concern.
 
The Guadalupe transaction would bring significant conservation value to the basin by adding "instream-use" as a beneficial use for protecting mussels and potentially the endangered Whooping Crane habitat and by ensuring that critical flows reach the bay during times of drought.
 
Once executed, the transactions will set the precedent for future environmental flow transactions in the state of Texas, setting the model for other organizations to engage in environmental flows work.

Texas Monthly''s 11-part podcast series, "Boomtown," features CGMF-related initiative

Three CGMF grantees among water organizations with leadership change in 2020

The first six months of 2020 saw several transitions in organizations addressing water issues in the state of Texas, including three leadership positions among CGMF grantees.
 
Amanda Fuller was appointed to director of Texas Living Waters and director of Texas coast and water program at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Amanda is an attorney and was formerly the deputy director of NWF's Gulf restoration program. In her new role, she will oversee both programs. 
 
Robert Mace was named executive director at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in April after serving as the Meadows Center chief water policy officer since 2017. Before joining the Meadows Center, Robert worked at the Texas Water Development Board for 18 years, with his most recent position being deputy executive administrator for water science and conservation. Read Robert's blog post, "Being FAIR During a Pandemic."
 
Vanessa Puig-Williams was named water director at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), leading EDF's efforts to advance sustainable groundwater management in Texas. Prior to joining EDF, Vanessa was the executive director of the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, a landowner organization focused on protecting property rights and groundwater resources in the Texas Hill Country. Read Vanessa's blog post, "The Credible Case for a Resilient Water Supply in Texas."