Samantha Colunga
Program Specialist II
As a program specialist for the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI), Samantha works to advance the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) in South Texas. This WPP involves an integrated network of partners to improve on issues related to water quality (particularly non-point source pollution), water quantity, flooding, drainage, soil health and wildlife habitat. Samantha also reinvigorates stakeholders and fosters new partnerships with various organizations, whether in agriculture, forestry, municipal services, or resource conservation.
Prior to joining the institute, Samantha was a soil scientist with the USDA-NRCS in northwest Kansas, where she assisted with wetland determinations and playa restoration projects for groundwater recharge. Samantha was also a research assistant in the Soil Ecology Lab at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where she wrote manuscripts on soil carbon and soil health for publication, as well as assisted with climate-smart agriculture projects.
Samantha received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2021 and earned a Master of Science in Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences in 2024 from UTRGV. Her master’s thesis consisted of two projects focusing on soil carbon sequestration under conservation tillage and reforested croplands. Samantha’s research background covers soil carbon sequestration, semi-arid climates, sandy soils, conservation agriculture, soil health, and reforestation.
In her free time, Samantha enjoys being outdoors, whether for hiking, bird watching, jogging, or stargazing. She also enjoys reading, listening to music and dancing, and going to the movies.
