D. Wayne Klotz receives water resources engineering award

Reston, Va. — D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., ENV SP, D.WRE, F.EWRI, received the 2018 AAWRE Outstanding Practitioner in Water Resources Engineering Award by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE), a subsidiary of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Klotz is being recognized for his significant contributions in the practice of water resources engineering and his visionary leadership in the civil engineering profession.

In support of AAWRE’s mission to ‘advance the practice’ – to broaden and deepen the body of knowledge for practicing engineers, AAWRE was founded in 2004 to improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the profession of water resources engineering.

The AAWRE Outstanding Practitioner in Water Resources Engineering Award was established in 2014 to recognize a Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE) who has demonstrated a significant contribution to the engineering practice based on either a single outstanding achievement or through a body of work related to the practice of environmental or water resources engineering. Klotz is the fourth recipient of the Outstanding Practitioner in Water Resources Engineering Award.

Klotz was named a Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer in 2007 and he was the president of Houston-based Klotz Associates, Inc. He was appointed to the Coastal Water Authority’s board of directors in 2011 by Houston’s Mayor Annise D. Parker and serves as board president. He also served as co-chair for public works on Parker’s transition team and was a member the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Community Resilience Task Force. In addition, Klotz chaired Mayor Sylvester Turner’s tranisiton committee. Klotz earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1974 and a master’s degree in civil engineering, from the University of Houston in 1976, and he has established the Klotz Associates Endowed Scholarship in Civil Engineering at both universities.

His accolades include ASCE’s 2005 Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award, the 2011 Texas Engineer of the Year Award, and the 2011 Houston Engineer of the Year Award. Texas A&M named him a distinguished graduate in 2004, and ASCE’s Texas Section and that section’s Houston Branch have recognized his contributions with awards. The American Water Works Association honored him with lifetime membership for his more than 30 years of dedication to the association and the water profession.

Klotz made significant contributions throughout his 45-year career to the disciplines of environmental and water resources through engineering practice. He has been involved with ASCE at every level, including serving as its President and has supported several other professional engineering organizations.

In 2010, Klotz led ASCE to cofound the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and served as Chair in 2013. He has served on the board ever since, shepherding the institute’s education of civil engineers in sustainable design, certification of thousands of individuals nationwide and recognition of the first Gold Award for sustainable infrastructure. Klotz achieved ISI certification and encourages civil engineers nationwide to do the same. Today, some 350 projects are estimated to be using ISI’s Envision guidelines for sustainable infrastructure, and nearly 5,000 engineering professionals have earned their Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) designation.

His overall engagement in policy for water resources demonstrates his commitment to securing and providing a safe, clean, abundant water supply to the Houston area, state of Texas and the nation, and is demonstrated by his involvement in every major water initiative in this region for over 30 years. His experience has allowed him to work on major projects throughout Texas.