San Luis Valley, Colorado
Jacob's Well, headwaters of Cypress Creek
Bull Creek, 1904
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ONGOING
RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Development
of a Participatory Decision Support System for the Cypress
Creek Watershed. The Cypress Creek watershed in Hays County, Texas, like
many other watersheds near large urban centers, is experiencing
increasing pressure on water resources as the urban-development
envelope expands into previously minimally developed areas.
The goal of this project is to develop a Decision Support
System (DSS) that empowers decision makers with sound, understandable
science to assist in solving complex problems, such as those
faced by local planners, managers, and stakeholders wishing
to allow for economic growth, while preserving water quality
and protecting the local environment. The DSS will be developed
in collaboration with Cypress Creek stakeholders for the
analysis of future scenarios, such as economic development,
land-use change, or regulatory change. www.cypresscreekproject.org
Vulnerability
and the San Luis Valley agricultural system of southern
Colorado.
This project involves understanding the fundamental philosophies
that lead to resource policies and laws, that in turn may
increase a social system's vulnerability to changes in the
resource base. Specifically, this project will analyze the
development of water policy and laws from early common law
and 16th century philosophy to evaluate their current applicability.
Additionally, it will follow the agro-social system of the
valley through time to detect influences of changes in water
policy, law, economics and resources. Ultimately, understanding
why a social system chose a course of action that led to
vulnerability can improve the ability to make choices which
lead to reduced vulnerability.
Integrated
Policy Analysis for Management of the Edward's Aquifer.
Resilience
and Urbanization in the Bull Creek Watershed, Austin, Texas.
This project will track historical changes in land use,
land cover, and flow regimes of a small urbanizing watersed
in northwest Austin, Texas. The goal of the project is to
analyze the areas where the social-ecological system of
the watershed may be resilient to, and where it may be most
vulnerable to probable future scenarios of continuing urban
expansion, drought, and wildfire.
Evaluating
Social and Ecological Change in the Lower Brazos River Basin.
Integrated
Watershed Assessment of the Pedernales River Basin.
The purpose of this study is to identify the dominant function
and processes that characterize and form the eco-hydrologic
system within the boundaries of the Pedernales Watershed
(a rural sub-basin facing change due to urbanization). Specifically,
circular links between the Pedernales Watershed’s hydrology,
ecology, and social system will be investigated. Systems
thinking will be employed to construct a conceptual model
whereby traditionally specialized research can be integrated
within the watershed and thus illicit linkages. Ultimately,
the conceptual model will be enhanced to accommodate new
understanding; in order to serve as a heuristic tool for
planners seeking to assuage the Pathology of Command and
Control.
COLLABORATIONS:
River Systems Institute, San Marcos, TX
Texas Stream Team , San Marcos, TX
USDA-ARS
Southwest Watershed Research Center, Tucson, AZ
USDA-ARS
Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, Temple,
TX
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