Pecos River Watershed Protection
The Pecos River is a depleted western river winding 418 miles through semi-arid/arid landscapes in Texas. The Pecos River is crucial to many communities, mainly as an irrigation source, for recreational and environmental use, and to recharge underlying aquifers.
Flows of the Pecos River have dwindled to a mere trickle and the aquatic community is no longer healthy and diverse. Irrigation demands, long-and short-term droughts, dams and oil and gas activities are among the factors causing this decline. If the integrity of the Pecos is to be improved and maintained, it is crucial that its water quality and quantity be increased.
This project is assessing the physical features of the Pecos River basin, helping in communications with stakeholders and landowners in eight neighboring counties and monitoring the water quality of the river. Through this project, a Watershed Protection Plan is being developed to assess current management measures as well as determine future management measures to implement within the basin to protect water quality of the Pecos River.
Objectives
- Establish a research baseline for the Watershed for water quality and quantity monitoring
- Educate rural and urban stakeholders on issues relating to water quality and quantity issues in the Pecos River Basin
- Develop a Watershed Protection Plan for Pecos River segments 2312, 2311 and 2310
Components
- Basin Assessment: Develop a baseline assessment on the Pecos River Basin with regards to stream channel morphology, riparian vegetation, land use, salinity mapping, water inflows and outflows, and aquatic habitats
- Educational Programming: Assemble publications and conduct a series of educational meetings targeted at stakeholders and policymakers
- Monitoring Programs: Estimate the effects of saltcedar control on water quantity and quality
Collaborators
- Texas Water Resources Institute
- Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
- Texas Cooperative Extension
- International Boundary and Water Commission
Funding Agencies
- Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency