Sul Ross State University
A Member of the Texas State University System

Background and Project Overview

Background

Far West Texas demographic trends clearly indicate an escalating competition for all natural resources, specifically water. Developing a transboundary water management plan for the sustainable use of the Rio Grande remains an elusive goal with significant economic and ecosystem implications for both the United States and Mexico. Current water use policies are not sustainable over time.

The Rio Grande Basin has been radically altered by intentional engineered means that affect watershed ecology in dimensions that are incompletely understood. Natural flood and drought cycles have changed, and the scientific and professional communities are engaged in a serious debate about the causes and the effects of these observed climate changes.

The once might Rio Grande has been humbled by humans, and current water use practices and priorities are a potential trigger for social, political and economic conflict. Our research and intergovernmental collaboration is focused on developing a proper Basin-wide diagnosis (Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis) that leads to the development of a total water management plan. This Basin-wide plan will address total water use sustainability: agricultural, social, economic, environmental and urban water use patterns.

Project Overview

The Sustainable Agricultural Water Conservation Research Project coordinates the dedicated research efforts and related data compilation of five universities in the Texas State University System to facilitate sustainable water resources for agriculture and other major water uses in the Rio Grande drainage basin. This project is being closely coordinated with the research being undertaken by Texas A&M under the Rio Grande Basin Initiative.

The Rio Grande Research Center located at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, serves as the SAWC project headquarters. Project administration is coordinated at Sul Ross State University working in partnership with sister universities in the Texas State University System.

Download the Surface Waters Pathogen Project Fact Sheet (PDF, 62.6 KB)