The Red River Basin of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana was chosen as a focus area study (FAS) as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Census (NWC). The objective of the NWC is to place technical information and tools in the hands of stakeholders so that they can make decisions on water availability. With this set objective, the USGS Water Science Centers in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana conducted a study of water use and availability for the Red River Basin to improve water withdrawal estimates and investigate trends in water resources under future climate conditions and increased water withdrawals using groundwater and surface-water models (MODFLOW and PRMS, respectively). [...]
Summary
The Red River Basin of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana was chosen as a focus area study (FAS) as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Census (NWC). The objective of the NWC is to place technical information and tools in the hands of stakeholders so that they can make decisions on water availability. With this set objective, the USGS Water Science Centers in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana conducted a study of water use and availability for the Red River Basin to improve water withdrawal estimates and investigate trends in water resources under future climate conditions and increased water withdrawals using groundwater and surface-water models (MODFLOW and PRMS, respectively). The results of the FAS will facilitate better management of water resources for human use and maintainance of ecological flows in the basin. Water use and availability data and tools produced by this FAS should be useful for stakeholders in the Red River Basin such as, but not limited to, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state water-management, environmental, and wildlife-management agencies, Tribes with jurisdictional areas in the basin, water suppliers, recreation and tourism advocacy groups such as the Lake Texoma Association and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, and agricultural producers.
The Red River Focus Area Study (FAS) will compile existing information and add new scientific data and interpretation to facilitate better management of water resources for use by humans and maintenance of water quality and ecological flows in the basin. The study is organized around four important components that are intended to improve the quality and accessibility of information on water availability for humans and ecosystems in the Red River Basin, and to advance technical water assessment capabilities: Water Use, Groundwater Flow Model, Rainfall-Runoff (Surface Water) Model, and Ecological Flows.
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Red River at US 81 near Terral, Okla. (Photo taken by Shannon Brewer)