This study analyzed precipitation probability distributions, percent runoff, and trends in precipitation from 1980 to 2019 in the Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, Neches, Red, and Trinity river basins in Texas for 25 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs and 15 other reservoirs for the purpose of flood risk and water-resource management. Probability distribution analyses include annual and monthly precipitation depths, maximum 2-day monthly precipitation for 5-, 10-, 20-, and 50-year return periods, monthly frequency of 2-day events exceeding these thresholds, and the mean and maximum day intervals between such events. Precipitation depths for a selected return period can be used with computed monthly percent runoff values during wet and dry conditions to estimate inflow volume. Inflow volume from different precipitation intensities, focusing on a return period and wet and dry conditions, serves a crucial role in providing guidance to make decisions regarding water storage and discharge. Results indicate mostly statistically significant upward trends in maximum 2-day monthly precipitation and in the number of events per year where 2-day precipitation totals exceed 5-, 10-, and 20-year return period amounts. Mostly downward trends were indicated in the average and maximum number of days between events, indicating the time between large precipitation events is decreasing.
Editor-in-Chief’s Note: In May 2025, the Texas Water Research Network, led by the Environmental Science Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, held its 12th meeting. For the first time, presenters were invited to submit extended abstracts associated with their contributions to the Texas Water Journal. Seven extended abstracts were submitted and underwent a blind peer-review process before being included in this special issue.
Editor-in-Chief’s Note: In May 2025, the Texas Water Research Network, led by the Environmental Science Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, held its 12th meeting. For the first time, presenters were invited to submit extended abstracts associated with their contributions to the Texas Water Journal. Seven extended abstracts were submitted and underwent a blind peer-review process before being included in this special issue.
Editor-in-Chief’s Note: In May 2025, the Texas Water Research Network, led by the Environmental Science Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, held its 12th meeting. For the first time, presenters were invited to submit extended abstracts associated with their contributions to the Texas Water Journal. Seven extended abstracts were submitted and underwent a blind peer-review process before being included in this special issue.
Torpedograss (Panicum repens L.) is a highly invasive grass that is difficult to control in aquatic environments. Dredging was used to remove a torpedograss invasion above a run-of-river dam in a Central Texas spring run. Following dredging, the sediment was disturbed along a gradient from aquatic to upland habitats, and no vegetation was present. This study evaluated the success of replanting native aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial plants following the dredging of sediment accumulation to remove torpedograss above the run-of-the-river dam. Planting of native plants occurred in the disturbed areas on four occasions between September 2018 and November 2019. Planting of native graminoids resulted in the most successful establishment and increase of plant coverage at 5 years post-planting from the upland-mesic to the riparian zone. The aquatic habitat was dominated by the spontaneously occurring Chara spp. pre- and post-treatment. Planting of apical tips was not successful in the reestablishment of aquatic plants post-restoration. The upland to transitional zone was the most susceptible to spontaneous non-native plant invasions in this study, especially by yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum [L.] Keng). At 5 years post-planting, no torpedograss was observed within the restoration area, indicating that excavation of sediment removed the torpedograss rhizomes resprouting.
