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

Monday, February 26, 2018: 2:40 p.m.
Ronald Green, Ph.D., PG , Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Beth Fratesi, Ph.D. , Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Nathaniel Toll , Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX

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.

Ronald Green, Ph.D., PG, Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Dr. Ronald Green is an Institute Scientist in the Geosciences and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas where he has worked for the past 25 years. His primary activities are in groundwater hydrology and environmental geophysics. Recent work has focused on water availability in south-central and west Texas and the impact of oil and gas activities on water resources. Of particular interest are the water resources of karst limestone aquifers including assessments of recharge, characterization of flow mechanisms, and numerical modeling. Dr. Green is a Fellow in the Geological Society of America and is certified as a Professional Geologist in Texas. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan, a B.S. in Geology from Grand Valley State University, a M.S. in Geophysics from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of Arizona.


Beth Fratesi, Ph.D., Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
Beth Fratesi, Ph.D., is a hydrogeologist specializing in numerical modeling of karst groundwater systems.


Nathaniel Toll, Earth Science Section, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
groundwater hydrologist