Texas State University announces $10m plan to expand water research

Texas State University announced a $10m plan to expand its research and teaching on water-related subjects including drought, rivers and springs.

As part of the plan, the university’s River Systems Institute will receive a $1m donation from the Meadows Foundation, and consequently be re-christened Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, reported the statesman.com.

In addition to the $1m donation, the foundation is expected to make further donations worth $5m over the next few years.

The rest of the $10m will be sought from philanthropists and state funds for emerging research universities.

The funding will underwrite graduate student fellowships, research projects and endowed faculty positions in environmental flows, watershed management, environmental education and water conservation and sustainability.

Meadows Foundation president and CEO Linda Perryman Evans said; "Establishing the centre is a critical step toward our goal of preserving a sustainable supply of water to support the needs of Texas’ residents, wildlife and natural habitats by providing scientific research on which to base sound water management policies in Texas."

Texas State University president Denise Trauth said; "Water is a core value at Texas State, and the Meadows Center is uniquely poised to be a leader in this country on that topic by combining research, stewardship, education and service."

The university’s campus includes the second-largest spring in the American Southwest and is a center for studying the relationship between water and environmental quality.

Founded in 2002 with support from the foundation, the institute oversees San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake.

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Image: Texas State University announced a $10m plan to expand its research and teaching on water-related subjects. Photo: Courtesy of Billy Hathorn