EXPLORE the wide range of research from The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

Cypress Creek Project

The main goal for the Cypress Creek Project is to ensure that the long-term integrity and sustainability of the Cypress Creek watershed is preserved and that water quality standards are maintained for present and future generation.

Rio Grande River Basin

A series projects that will collect, compile, and analyze the relevant data needed to conduct hydrologic, environmental, and socioeconomic analyses within a comprehensive and holistic scientific framework within the Rio Grande basin.

• Rio Grande Research Center
• Watershed Characterization
• Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)
• Publications Database
• Rio Grande Institutional Database
• Conjunctive Use Strategies for Over-drafted Aquifer

Hill Country Water Resources

An educational collection of information on the water resources found in the hills of Central Texas, including the basics about aquifers, the management of groundwater, and the economic value of the water.

San Marcos Springs

An initial gathering of data concerning the paleo environment of Spring Lake through conducting a geophysical survey utilizing a sub bottom profiler to read into the sediments of the lake bed and identify target areas from which to extract core samples.

Spring Lake Watershed Characterization

This project will obtain high-resolution data on nutrient and suspended sediment inputs to Spring Lake in order to determine the influence of various water sources on the water quality of Spring Lake and the Upper San Marcos River.

Estuarine Communities

Production of a final land cover/land use map with overlays of riparian and estuarine vegetation distribution, as well as a final project report that relates hydrologic and hydrographic data to estuarine habitat dynamics.

The Lost Shipwrecks of Henry Morgan

The first-ever archaeological survey of the mouth of the Río Chagres in Panama in 2008 as the initial phase of the ongoing Río Chagres Maritime Cultural Landscape Study, which continues as the Lost Ships of Henry Morgan Project, one aspect of the overall study.

H2O--Headwaters To Ocean

H2O is an inquiry-based STEM environeducational experience that uses advanced digital interactivmental e learning opportunities designed around the theme of “Headwaters to Ocean” as well as outdoor education opportunities designed to complement and leverage existing programs. Features include innovative curricula, materials, and delivery methods.

UAV Program

Use of small, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in fisheries, wildlife, watershed management, and restoration practices has gained increasing attention.

 

 

 Blanco River Basin Land Use & Land Cover Change Project

With the continuing economic development and urban expansion in the Blanco River watershed, it is imperative to characterize the land uses and land cover changes in the region and assess their effects on water quality, as well as instream, riparian and terrestrial habitats.

Characterizing Precipitation and Evaporation Trends

An examination of the impact of changing climatic conditions on Texas precipitation and evaporation.

Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP)

An evaluation of the biological impacts of different flow regimes and other factors on three federally listed species: Texas wild rice (San Marcos Springs), Comal Springs riffle beetle (Comal Springs) and fountain darter (Comal and San Marcos Springs).

Environmental Educational Capabilities

A compilation of information for developing recreational and educational programs in order to facilitate communities’ and tourist’s appreciation for the river.

Environmental Flows

In 2003, the Texas Legislature established the Study Commission on Water for Environmental Flows.

Groundwater and Sustainable Use

Developing a system of instructional workshops and educational programs intended to provide direct assistance to Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) in Texas.

Initiative for Watershed Excellence (IWE)

The Initiative for Watershed Excellence extends and enhances existing capacity-building initiatives that target impaired watersheds.

Irrigation Water Management Issues for Texas Golf Courses

This project seeks to identify the benefits and impediments with the use of recycled water as an irrigation source on golf courses in Texas. Golf course superintendents will be surveyed and their responses will form the basis of the best practices guide for golf course irrigation using recycled water.

 Lower Colorado River Authority - San Antonio Water System

A study to discover whether water from the Colorado River downstream from Austin could be captured and stored in a reservoir, then piped to San Antonio.

Pedernales River Project

A collection of current watershed data for the development of a conservation plan for the Pedernales river basin, from its headwaters in Kimble County to its confluence with the Colorado River.

Red River Project

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, in collaboration with the Oklahoma Water Resources Research Institute, has designed, implemented, and evaluated a comprehensive, long-term, integrated watershed planning and implementation process that supports sustainable water resource management in the Red River Basin.

San Marcos Composting System

Large-scale composting system as a means of managing water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) within the San Marcos watershed.

San Marcos Observing System (SMOS)

From groundwater to surface water, endangered species to common macrophytes, storm events to variable water flow, SMOS is studying the interactions of the system as a whole through continuous monitoring and computerized habitat modeling.

Texas Springs

Ecological Recovery Foundation (ERF) mapped 1,840 possible spring locations in a 71-county project area.

Watershed Planning and Implementation

Monitoring and data analysis in Texas State Parks and other target areas as a part of the Geography and Water (GAW) Project