Photo by Dana Jones
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 5, 2026
Media Contact:
Billy Tarrant billy.tarrant@sulross.edu
432-837-8452
Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water Launches at Sul Ross State University
$2.75 million commitment establishes endowment and multi-year operational support
ALPINE, Texas — In one of the most arid regions of Texas, where water sustains communities, working lands, wildlife, and local economies, Sul Ross State University has launched the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water, supported by a $2.75 million commitment from The Meadows Foundation that includes both long-term endowment funding and multi-year operational support.
Housed at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water advances collaborative water solutions in Far West Texas through applied research, education, and technical expertise to ensure a resilient water future for people, land, and wildlife.
The philanthropic commitment from The Meadows Foundation includes $500,000 annually for five years to establish the Institute’s endowment, providing durable, long-term support for faculty leadership, research, and academic programming. In addition, the commitment includes $250,000 in matching funds over five years—$50,000 annually—to support early operational needs and help catalyze additional investment during the Institute’s formative years.
Water in Far West Texas is increasingly scarce. Limited aquifer recharge, stressed spring systems, aging infrastructure, and growing demands place mounting pressure on the region’s water resources. The Meadows Research Institute was created to strengthen understanding of desert water systems and expand the tools, workforce, and partnerships needed to steward this vital resource wisely.
“This new Institute reflects both Sul Ross State University’s long-standing commitment to serving our region and the extraordinary leadership of The Meadows Foundation,” said Dr. Carlos Hernandez, president of Sul Ross State University. “This $2.75 million commitment—one of the largest philanthropic investments in the university’s history—provides the foundation to build a world-class research institute that connects science, education, and community needs, ensuring that water solutions are grounded in the people and landscapes of Far West Texas.”
“Water has always shaped the people, places, and opportunities of Far West Texas,” said Eric R. Meadows, president and CEO of The Meadows Foundation. “Our commitment to the Institute and Sul Ross State University reflects our belief that careful, science-based stewardship is essential to sustaining both this vital resource and the communities that depend on it. This gift is an investment in the region to strengthen the knowledge and leadership needed for generations to come.”
The Meadows Research Institute builds on decades of Sul Ross leadership in water science, land stewardship, and community engagement. It also emerged from strong regional demand, highlighted during the 2024 Water in the Desert conference, where landowners, scientists, community leaders, and policy makers called for more coordinated research, training, and support across the Trans-Pecos. Building on that momentum, Institute faculty and staff will be fully engaged in the upcoming Water in the Desert conference, scheduled for Feb. 11–13, 2026, contributing research, expertise, and leadership as the Institute’s work continues to take shape.
The Institute’s work will center on three core areas: applied research, education and workforce development, and technical assistance and community support. Initial efforts will focus on groundwater recharge and flow paths, groundwater-surface water interactions, desert spring systems such as San Solomon Springs and Independence Creek, watershed dynamics, and the impacts of land management and climate variability.
According to Dr. Louis Harveson, associate provost for research and development at Sul Ross State University, who helped guide this effort from conception to launch, the new institute reflects the importance of philanthropic leadership in advancing water solutions.
“The Meadows Foundation has consistently provided the spark for meaningful, science-based efforts like this—investments that strengthen both people and landscapes,” Harveson said. “Their leadership has helped advance water research and stewardship across Texas—including the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in San Marcos—and now extends to Far West Texas through this new Institute. That kind of vision allows universities to address regional water challenges while contributing knowledge that resonates far beyond a single place.”
Over time, the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water will build a suite of education and workforce development programs to help address projected water workforce shortages in Texas, while also expanding practical tools and services for landowners, groundwater districts, municipalities, and rural utilities.
For Billy Tarrant, interim director of the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water, the Institute’s mission is rooted in collaboration and place.
“The Meadows Research Institute was created for the region—and with the region,” Tarrant said. “The combination of long-term endowment support and early operational investment gives us the foundation we need to grow thoughtfully, work alongside communities, and deliver real-world solutions that support a resilient water future for West Texas and other arid landscapes facing similar challenges.”
About the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water
Housed at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water advances collaborative solutions through applied research, education, and technical expertise to support a resilient water future for people, land, and wildlife. The Institute connects scientists, students, landowners, communities, and partners to deepen understanding of desert water systems, prepare the next generation of water professionals, and translate science into practical tools. While rooted in the Trans-Pecos, its work informs water stewardship across other arid landscapes facing similar challenges.
About The Meadows Foundation
The Meadows Foundation was established in 1948 by Algur H. and Virginia Meadows to benefit and serve the people of Texas. The Foundation has given more than $1.4 billion to 3,800 organizations across the state. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations and public institutions in arts and culture, civic and public affairs, education, environment, health, human services, and initiatives focused on postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, and homelessness. For additional information, visit www.mfi.org.
Since 2007, the Borderlands Research Institute has encouraged effective land stewardship of the Chihuahuan Desert. Housed at Sul Ross State University, the Borderlands Research Institute builds on a long-lasting partnership with private landowners, the university’s natural resource program, cooperating state, federal, and non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Through research, education and outreach, the Borderlands Research Institute is helping to conserve the last frontier of Texas and the Southwest.
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