Our Research

Together, Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Water Resources Center, are researching how to improve water availability in southwest Oklahoma. To improve water availability, saline water is being combined with freshwater or directly applied to crops, depending on the crop’s salinity tolerance.

 

Adding saline water to freshwater could stretch available water supplies, but the key is keeping the salinity levels balances, so they do not harm the crops or soil. Researchers will use a new tool called SWAT-MODFLOW to evaluate scenarios of combining various levels of saline water combined with freshwater.

 

Data is being developed by researchers that will be used to generate models by continuously monitoring seven surface water bodies and three groundwater wells in southwest Oklahoma. This will show how salinity changes throughout the year as it moves through the water systems and wells.

 

Day in the life:

 

Partners of the OWRC

• OSU Extension
• Colorado State University
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln