Richard Bagans is an Associate based in Austin, Texas.

Richard brings water resource planning and policy expertise from the Texas Water Development Board, where he was instrumental in developing the State Water Plan and spearheading the first-ever State Flood Plan. His work took him across Texas to meet with water leaders at municipal utilities, irrigation districts, and regional planning groups, building relationships and understanding the diverse challenges facing water managers in every corner of the state.

Richard’s recent MBA from UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business expanded his capabilities in financial analysis, valuation, and business analytics, adding sophisticated financial tools to his technical hydrogeology foundation.

Beyond the office, Richard traded in spreadsheets for the open ocean, becoming an advanced freediving instructor in the Gulf of Thailand in 2019. His personal best dive is currently at 51 meters (167 feet!) on a single breath. He’s also on a mission to explore every National Park, having visited 27 so far with no signs of slowing down.

Education

• MBA, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas
• S. Geosciences (Hydrogeology), University of Texas

Areas of expertise

• Water Supply Planning
• Water Infrastructure Finance
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Data Visualization

Experience

• Research Associate, WestWater Research, 2025–Present
• Senior Regional Flood Planner, Texas Water Development Board, 2020–2023
• Water Resources Planner, Texas Water Development Board, 2015–2018
• Groundwater Modeling Intern, Texas Water Development Board, 2015