ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL WATER CONSERVATION IN THE RIO GRANDE BASIN PROJECT
Mission: To improve our understanding of the water resources in the Rio Grande Basin and to provide approaches for their sustainable use.
The Sustainable Agricultural Water Conservation (SAWC) Research Project coordinates the dedicated research efforts and related data compilation of five universities in the Texas State University System to create a basin-wide perspective for integrated management and sustainable use of the water resources of the Rio Grande. Because agricultural activities comprise the single largest water use in the basin, particular attention has been given to water-issues related to agricultural water use.
This project arose through the interest of Congressman Henry Bonilla whose district includes the stretch of the river from El Paso to Laredo.
The proposed three-year project is receiving its second year funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is being administered by Sul Ross State University, working in partnership with sister universities in the Texas State University System
The Rio Grande Research Center located at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, serves as the SAWC project headquarters.
This project is being closely coordinated with the research being undertaken by Texas A&M University under the Rio Grande Basin Initiative and with the Environmental Protection Agency.
