Major Water Research & Outreach Programs New Mexico State University

What is it? By Karl Wood, Director

Is the Water Resources Research Institute all of New Mexico’s six state universities, the Southwestern and Borderlands Regions, and the Nation At:New Mexico State University In:Las Cruces, New Mexico Serving:

Areas of Specialty 1. Water Conservation 2. Planning and Management 3. Atmospheric-surface- groundwater relationships 4. Water Quality

Facilities WRRI is solely housed in Stucky Hall on the NMSU Campus.

1. Education and Health Disparities – Serving the Underserved 2. Information-Centric Security and Defense 3. Systems Biosciences 4. Twenty-First Century Aerospace NMSU Clusters 5. Natural Resources Sustainability and Renewal Water SubCluster Energy SubCluster Land SubCluster

Water SubCluster Formulation And Strategic Plan “Anyone who solves the problem of water deserves not one Nobel Prize but two – one for science and the other for peace. President John F. Kennedy

Highlights of the Strategic Plan Vision To be a regional, national, and international leader in water research, technology, education, service, and policy. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Membership: Water related courses at NMSU: Undergraduate: 118 Graduate: 85 Web page: 84 faculty Water SubCluster

1. Improve existing supply enhancing technologies 2. Assess levels of vulnerability of New Mexico aquifers 3. Examine cost-effective methods to promote water conservation 4. Improve water use efficiency and increase economic returns for water used 5. Increase safety of wastewater treated for use as drinking water State-Wide Survey in 2006

6. Promote conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater 7. Develop better measures for reducing water pollution 8. Understand what influences water use by agriculture, municipal, industrial, and environmental users 9. Understand effects of land use changes on water pollution State-Wide Survey in 2006

Climate Data Collection NMCC Climate State Data Other NM Climate Station Data Crop Information Water Resources Climate Links Agriculture Models and Tools 1. Improve existing supply enhancing technologies

US Saline Aquifers Needs and applications are international in scope, including the U.S. - Mexico border region Issues include brine disposal, saline water variability, energy use Inland desalination is a major concern Desalination of Groundwater 1. Improve existing supply enhancing technologies College of Engineering College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Business Administration and Economics

A Comprehensive Groundwater Assessment 2. Assess levels of vulnerability of New Mexico aquifers College of Engineering College of Arts and Sciences

Evapotranspiration College of Engineering College of Agriculture and Home Economics 3. Examine cost-effective methods to promote water conservation

Water Policy and Economics College of Business Administration and Economics College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Engineering Water Resources Research Institute 3. Examine cost-effective methods to promote water conservation

College of Agriculture and Home Economics 4. Improve water use efficiency and increase economic returns for water used A. Research B.Instrumentation C.Delivery D.Techniques of application amounts and timing

Conversion of river water for municipal use Conversion plants planned for: El Paso Juarez Las Cruces Hatch 5. Increase safety of wastewater treated for use as drinking water College of Engineering

Membranes and Desalination College of Engineering Physical Science Laboratory (PSL) 5. Increase safety of wastewater treated for use as drinking water

Surface-Groundwater Interactions College of Engineering College of Agriculture and Home Economics 6. Promote conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater

Invasive and exotic plant species management 6. Promote conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Engineering New Mexico Department of Agriculture

Environmental enhancements for the watershed 7. Develop better measures for reducing water pollution College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Arts and Sciences College of Engineering

Endangered Aquatic Species Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Cooperative Wildlife Unit 7. Develop better measures for reducing water pollution

Geographic Information Systems GIS Geography Department Water Resources Research Institute College of Agriculture and Home Economics 8. Understand what influences water use by agriculture, municipal, industrial, and environmental users

Water quality for irrigation and human health 8. Understand what influences water use by agriculture, municipal, industrial, and environmental users College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Health and Social Services

Region-wide assessment and planning for future water needs 8. Understand what influences water use by agriculture, municipal, industrial, and environmental users Water Resources Research Institute College of Agriculture and Home Economics College of Business Administration and Economics College of Engineering

Water-borne Pathogens Major Emphasis on Rio Grande and Border Health Biology Department and College of Health And Social Services 9. Understand effects of land use changes on water pollution

College of Agriculture and Home Economics Gerald Thomas Endowed Chair 9. Understand effects of land use changes on water pollution

This is a sunrise, not a sunset! A new day! “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors” African proverb

“The future ain’t what it used to be” Yogi Berra