Peer-reviewed publications by Texas A&M AgriLife and Texas A&M University System scientists
Engaging the public in groundwater conservation through digital communication: Pathways to inclusive policy: In this study, TWRI’s Saboor Rahmany, program specialist, and Allen Berthold, Ph.D., associate director, conduct a qualitative content analysis of groundwater conservation district websites, alongside Texas A&M AgriLife researchers. They found variation in content quality, accessibility, and inclusivity, and a need for more interactive, user-centered, and language-accessible digital tools. They also present a framework for evaluating digital communication strategies in environmental governance. In the future, they say research should explore the influence of digital outreach on stakeholder behavior and participation.
The Role of Emotions in Water-Related Decision-Making Processes: A Systematic Scoping Review: Coauthored by Rosario Sanchez, Ph.D., TWRI senior research scientist, this systematic review explores how communities emotionally connect to water and environmental governance from 2000 to 2025. The study offers insight into how different communities feel, experience, value and connect to water. They found that communities have deep emotional attachments to the flow of shared water. They observed that many under-served communities, which were denied historical access to water, experience emotional distress as a community. The study says that some important factors remain unexplored.
Removal of microbial and genetic contaminants from livestock wastewater using chemically enhanced primary treatment for agricultural irrigation: Coauthored by a Texas A&M AgriLife researcher, this paper evaluates the use of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) to remove contaminants and pollutants from farm wastewater. They found that CEPT effectively removed significant amounts of intracellular antibiotic-resistant genes, total coliforms and E. coli. These findings could help mitigate the adverse effects of contamination and pollution from agricultural irrigation.
Wetter conditions amplify simulated deep drainage differences between grasslands and forests in the Post Oak Savanna: Woody plant encroachment in the Post Oak Savanna has been linked to reduced groundwater recharge. This study, from Texas A&M University researchers, seeks to understand if removal of woody plants could increase groundwater recharge rates. The study used simulated deep drainage at 18 paired grassland–forest sites. They observed that deep drainage was higher in grasslands, which also had greater variability, while forests had uniformly limited deep drainage. They determined that woody plant removal may increase potential groundwater recharge. This research highlights the importance of regional differences in planning groundwater-related restoration efforts.
Drought pattern under climate change in Harris County, Texas, USA based on CMIP6 projections: In this study, Prairie View A&M researchers use five General Circulation Models (GCMs) to assess future drought conditions in Harris County, Texas. The results indicate a substantial increase in drought frequency, intensity, and severity in Harris County, especially in 2056 through 2085. They also observed an oscillating drought pattern.
Recent research from other Texas Universities
Comparative assessment of STIC sensors, streamflow and rain gauges for quantifying river connectivity in intermittent systems: This study, from Texas Tech University researchers, uses Stream Temperature, Intermittency, and Conductivity (STIC) loggers to document streamflow. They then compared the data to publicly available data from streamflow discharge and precipitation gauge networks. They found that STIC loggers are useful for filling in data gaps and increasing accuracy in intermittent flow systems.
Supplied by the Sky: The First Rainwater-Sourced Public Water System in Texas, USA: In this study, Texas State University researchers explore how the Campsite at Shield Ranch mitigated water availability challenges by implementing a public water system fully supported by rainwater harvesting and evaporative waterless toilets. This system, which is approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, is the first of its kind in Texas. The system serves as an example of how to implement such a system and navigate a permitting system that has yet to adapt to support such approaches.
Machine learning-enhanced precipitation forecasting in arid regions: advancing climate modelling techniques in Lubbock, Texas: This study, from Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin researchers, examines the effectiveness of machine learning models, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, for predicting precipitation in Lubbock, Texas, an area with high variability. They found that LSTM networks effectively predicted precipitation after some refinement, such as the integration of region-specific adaptations. This study’s findings offer a replicable framework that can be used to improve water resource management and planning.
