Martin Castro began his professional career in environmental work with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2013 as a Natural Resource Specialist with the Rio Grande Watermaster Program (RGWM) in Laredo, Texas. In his role at TCEQ, Martin monitored and conducted site inspections and investigations of authorized surface water diversion sites along the Rio Grande and its tributaries to ensure strict compliance with Texas state laws, agency requirements, and watermaster rules and regulations. His jurisdiction included a large area, covering roughly 200 river miles from El Indio, Texas to Zapata, Texas as well as the Trans-Pecos area of Big Bend in west Texas and the “Forgotten Reach” of the Upper Rio Grande approximately 50 miles south of El Paso near Fort Quitman, Texas.

As the Watershed Science Director for the Rio Grande International Study Center, Martin has worked to develop RGISC’s emerging Water Security Program by assembling information and scientific research that identifies and prioritizes necessary actions to restore the surrounding watershed, prepare Laredo for the effects of climate change, and while informing local and regional policy makers. This year, Martin will oversee the launch of a groundbreaking $2 million riparian restoration project along the Rio Grande that will seek to manage invasive plant species, reforest ecologically sensitive areas with natives, improve water quality, restore critical wildlife habitat, control erosion/sedimentation, and improve water availability.

An experienced grant writer and project manager, Martin has successfully applied and written over $5M in federal, state, local, and private foundation grants for the organization.