Centers and Institutes
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Research centers and institutes supporting scholarly and creative activities across the university.
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Browsing Centers and Institutes by Subject "agriculture"
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Item Arroyo Colorado Data Report(2011-08) Texas Stream TeamThis report provides a summary of data taken at three sites along the Arroyo Colorado, for a total of 153 samples from June 2007 to March 2011 (see map on page six). These sites were chosen because they have a long and relatively complete data set and provide an overall geographic coverage of the Arroyo over both designated segments. For information on other monitoring sites in the Arroyo Colorado Watershed, please refer to the Texas Stream Team Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program 2009 Arroyo Colorado Data Summary, available at http://txstreamteam.rivers.txstate.edu/Data/Data-Reports.html.Item Sustainable Agricultural Water Conservation in the Rio Grande Basin(2011-08) Sansom, Andrew; Warren, EmilyThe transboundary watershed of the Rio Grande river is a region with enormous potential for recreational river program development. However, for most Laredo residents, the Rio Grande River is a place to avoid. Any opportunities to advance developments in recreation activities are often hampered by media coverage of illegal activities and environmental degradation in the basin. The fewer people who enjoy the river, the less likely it is to be understood and protected. In order to increase local concern for the river, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (Meadows Center) has completed a study that both provides an explanation for the general lack of public concern for watershed health and explores options for sustainable agricultural water conservation in the Rio Grande Basin. This report includes the following elements: 1. an assessment of the base-line attitudes of the local population about recreation on the Lower Rio Grande; 2. outdoor-activity oriented teaching models; 3. festival planning guidance; and 4. groundwater activities for corporate investment in future binational river festivals. Analysis of these elements will help residents of both countries understand, appreciate, and respect their greatest natural resource. One goal of this project is to compile information for developing recreational and educational programs in order to increase the local estimation of the river in both community residents and tourists. Curricula for experiential river-based programs was researched and compiled for this project, as were educational and informational river related resources. These materials include watershed and river educational programs, handouts, and other materials. Findings were integrated into a river festival planning guide and toolbox. In order to determine the Laredo community’s baseline attitudes and perceptions of Rio Grande recreation, a 10-question survey was administered both online through email and partner websites and to focus groups in an interactive setting. A total of 948 people completed the 10-question survey over a 90 day period. Of those who responded, 82% stated that they would not endorse recreational activities on the Rio Grande. When asked during the focus groups, “what can people do around here for fun,” river recreation never was mentioned. The most common reasons (42%) given by participants who never engage in Rio Grande recreation were either a “lack of access” or the participant “never learned [to play one of various river-related sports]”. A combined 53% of the population surveyed either had “no reservations” or was neutral to the idea of recreation on the Rio Grande. All of these findings confirm that opportunities existence for reforming public opinion in communities along the Lower Rio Grande through creation of new access points; outdoor environmental educational programs and activities; and providing a venue for recreation based activities, such as festivals.Item Sustainable Agricultural Water Conservation: Leadership, Database, and Clearinghouse(2011-09) Warren, Emily; Sansom, Andrew; Van Zant, Mary; Miller, Meredith; Parchman, LauraResearchers at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (formerly River Systems Institute) of Texas State University-San Marcos were granted continued funding for data management and leadership for the Sustainable Agriculture Water Conservation (SAWC) projects in support of the Rio Grande Research Center at Sul Ross State University. The overarching goal of the SAWC is to develop and apply a holistic management approach for sustainable water users within the basin. In order to achieve this goal, this project encourages communication, accessible data sharing, and acts as a central repository for a vast amount of information. This project has a basin-wide focus and addresses the SAWC's Diagnostic Study Objective 1.1.Item Water Grand Challenges: Physical Effects of Drought(2013-06) Warren, EmilyPersistent periods of abnormally low levels of precipitation result in instances of prolonged drought in Texas that can cause a plethora of physical changes to a landscape. In 2011, unusually warm and dry weather resulting from the weather phenomenon known as La Niña resulted in the driest year for Texas yet. Prolonged drought events such as this can physically effect the environment, resulting in wildfires, subsidence, parched farmlands, and damaged wetlands. Climatologists recognize four different types of drought: 1) meteorological drought, 2) hydrological drought, 3) agricultural drought, and 4) socioeconomic drought. 2 Meteorological drought occurs due to shifts in dominant weather patterns. Hydrological drought becomes apparent with low ground and surface water levels, which is usually a result of repeated months of meteorological drought. Agricultural drought occurs when low water levels affect crops and agricultural production. The last form, socioeconomic drought, is a prolonged instance of drought, which adversely affects various commodities and industry.Item Water Grand Challenges: Policy and Education Driven Water Conservation(2013-06) Warren, EmilyGiven the long tradition in Texas of independently addressing and solving problems, it is not surprising that a similar methodology has been enacted to confront water conservation. There are many approaches to achieving a more effectual use of Texas waters and, as conservation efforts become more important with residents, Texas has begun to implement various conservation programs that have had differing levels of success. As the need for water rises, especially during drought, the approaches to effective water resource management need to change with demand. The Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) 2012 Texas Water Plan lays out a proposal to increase water supply through a variety of means. According to TWDB projections, 34% of future water supply will have to come from effective water conservation efforts in order to meet demand. The strategies for conservation approached by the state rest within three main methods: incentive driven policy that offers financial rewards for those who implement water conservation, coercive driven policy that punishes those who fail to meet a certain level of conservation, and education policies that attempt to give individuals and communities the tools to reach conservation goals voluntarily.Item Water Grand Challenges: Water Conservation Agricultural Irrigation(2013-06) Warren, EmilyA driving force behind economic success in Texas is a strong and fertile agricultural industry. Irrigation is vital for productive agricultural practices. Roughly two-thirds of Texas surface and groundwater use is accounted for through irrigation.> Irrigated agriculture adds $4.7 billion in economic value to the state annually and provides the dominant area of employment for many rural areas. While the entire state benefits financially from agricultural success, certain regions depend upon it. Agricultural production accounts for 15 percent of the entire region’s economy in the High Plains, and adds 103,000 jobs directly from crop production. Due to regional difference the effects would be felt more severely in different areas if changes to agricultural methods were enacted. In the Texas High Plains, the total regional economic impact of converting all irrigated acres to non-irrigated dryland farming would be an annual net loss of over $1.6 billion of gross output, over $616 million of value added, and nearly 7,300 jobs. Loss of irrigation in the Winter Garden (Frio, Medina, Uvalde, and Zavala counties) would result in a loss of $55 million in vegetable and melon production, $22 million in additional economic activity, and 872 jobs. In Uvalde County alone, total economic impact of irrigated agriculture is estimated at $44 million and supports 600 jobs. In light of persistent drought and increasing competing water use demands from the municipal sector, irrigation conservation techniques are paramount to long-term agricultural and water sustainability. To tackle the environmental and economic concerns surrounding irrigation in Texas, continued innovative irrigation techniques are necessary.