Texas Coastal Hydrologic Monitoring Project: Shaping the Future of Coastal Hydrologic Monitoring

The Meadows Center, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, is developing a sustainable long-term hydrologic monitoring framework for the Texas coast to further understand the complex interactions between natural systems and human activities. Gaining insights into these interactions provides valuable information about the health and productivity of coastal ecosystems, which can help us protect against natural disasters and make informed decisions about managing and preserving our coastal regions.  

This project will leverage existing continuous monitoring infrastructure, optimize resource utilization, and identify opportunities to expand and improve hydrologic monitoring activities to achieve comprehensive coastal coverage. Continuous hydrological monitoring can identify trends and changes to water quality and quantity, allowing for the development of targeted strategies that mitigate negative impacts, protect, or restore coastal habitats that provide critical services. The continuous flow of data will enable better modeling and forecasting of future hydrological conditions, ensuring that Texas remains prepared for environmental shifts and challenges. 

Funded through the Texas General Land Office, this project aims to establish a Long-Term Coastal Hydrologic Monitoring Framework through a stakeholder-driven process. A Stakeholder Workgroup will guide the program’s design, ensuring it meets the needs of local communities and ecosystems. This collaborative approach will result in targeted strategies to safeguard coastal habitats vital for environmental and economic resilience. A series of stakeholder workshops will take place to compile recommendations for objectives, design, and environmental parameters. 

Key components of the project include creating a detailed inventory of existing long-term monitoring stations, conducting field surveys to identify data gaps and needs for infrastructure improvements, and developing an interactive web map for visualization and hydrologic data accessibility, and recommending improvements to the current network. Ultimately, this project will deliver a cost-effective, resilient framework for long-term coastal hydrologic monitoring, which is essential for preserving the health and sustainability of the Texas coast.