Aquifer Systems that Recharge the Texas Reach of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo

The Texas reach of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is recharged by a number of major and minor aquifers that are sourced in Texas and Mexico. Recent studies have added to understanding the relative importance and magnitude of recharge that each aquifer contributes to the river. This understanding illuminates the need to better understand how different factors impact the watersheds that recharge the aquifers and how water-resource management decisions can alter the water budget of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo valley and watershed. Challenges to refining these conceptualizations are that the aquifers and watersheds that discharge to the river exhibit highly variable recharge rates and mechanisms. Much of the variability in recharge is due to fact that these watersheds span large changes in elevation and many occur in arid and semi-arid climates which adds a high level of complexity to the nature of recharge mechanisms and rates. Compounding this complexity, the water budgets of many of the major watersheds and aquifers that discharge to the river are being altered by large-scale groundwater extraction and changes in land use. Development of sound conceptualizations of recharge and discharge from these aquifers will enable better informed management of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo water resources.