Water in the Desert 2026: Meadows Lightning Rounds

Small team, big vision for West Texas water In one of the most anticipated sessions of the conference, the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water (MRI) took the stage for its public debut. They jumped right in, with gusto. Their “Research Lightning Rounds” session packed five presentations — plus opening remarks from The Meadows Foundation’s Eric Meadows — into just 30 minutes. The rapid-fire format was intentional: a fast-paced introduction to the institute’s research priorities, early findings and future direction. This was MRI’s small-but-mighty team stepping forward together — scientists from different disciplines united by a shared mission to address water challenges in the Trans-Pecos. It was also a defining moment for the institute, offering a glimpse of how applied research, education and collaboration will come together to serve the region. From groundwater science to aquatic ecology to invasive species management, the presentations reflected both the breadth of expertise and the urgency of the work ahead. The pace was brisk. The ideas were big. And the message was clear: The institute is here, and getting to work.