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Research on Environmental
Sustainability of Semi-Arid
Coastal Areas
Centers for Research Excellence in Science and
Technology
National Science Foundation

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Vision
CREST-RESSACA serve as a center of national excellence of research on environmental sustainability , and address the significant under-representation of
Hispanics at the MS and PhD levels in
Environmental Engineering.

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History of CREST-RESSACA
• CREST-RESSACA was conceived in Fall of 2001
• CREST-RESSACA I was approved by NSF and initiated in
September 2002
– Funded at $ 1 Million/Year + $0.3 Million/Year (match)
• Reverse Site Visit in March 2005
• CREST-RESSACA II was approved by NSF and initiated in
September 2007
– New proposal and review
– Funded at $ 1 Million/Year (No NSF Match requirements)
• CREST RESSACA will continue to function under the
Institute of Sustainable Energy and Environment (ISEE)

Current CREST-RESSACA TEAM
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8 Faculty + 4 Staff + 27 Students

CREST-RESSACA Research Overview
Our Faculty study a wide range of issues pertinent to environmental sustainability of land, air and water systems at a variety of scales
Nano-materials (10 -9 )
Global Climate Change (10 7 m)

Faculty and Specializations
Lee Clapp
Environmental Biotechnology
Kim Jones
Ecological Engineering
Alvaro Martinez
Air Quality and Emissions Control
David Ramirez
Atmospheric Pollution and Nanoscience
Jennifer Ren
Water Quality and Monitoring
Venkatesh Uddameri
Environmental Modeling and
Water Resources
Hongbo Su
Remote Sensing Technology and
Hydrologic Evaluations
Kuo-Jen Liao
Air Pollution Modeling and
Climate Change 6

GC-MS FE-SEM Flume
Thermo Electron
Series II ICP-MS
High Performance Computing Cluster

CREST-RESSACA Research Organization
• CREST-RESSACA research is divided into three sub-projects
– Environmental Monitoring & Assessment (EMA)
• Use monitoring to understand fundamental behavior of pollutants in air and water systems
– Environmental Modeling and Informatics (EMI)
• Develop decision support systems using state-of-the-art mathematical tools and techniques for fostering sustainable natural resource management
– Sustainable Technologies for the Environment (STE)
• Develop innovative products stressing reuse and processing of natural and recycled materials while reducing pollution in a variety of applications.
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Graduate
Research
Activities
Research
Experience for
Teachers
CREST
Robotics
YESTexas
GEMS
ESF
Undergraduate
Research
Experience
May-mester
NSF STEP

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Books and Special Issue Journals:
• Uddameri, V.; Ren, J., Ramirez, D. (2012) Environmental
Sustainability in South Texas; Springer Verlag
• Norwine, J. and John, K. eds. (2007) South Texas Climate
2100: Problems and Prospects, Impacts and Implications,
BookMasters, Inc., Columbus, Ohio. ISBN 978-0-9798426-0-3
• V. Uddameri; guest editor (2007) Systems Analysis for
Sustainable Aquifer Management in Semi-Arid South Texas;
Special Issue - Environmental Geology, Vol. 51 (1)
Disclosures of Invention
• R. Rivas, K. Jones and P. Mills (2009); Process for Citrus waste
Pretreatment & Conversion to Bioethanol and Value Added
Products

• A broad range of research activities and expertise related to climate change and its impact on environmental sustainability
– Sustainable groundwater management
– Air quality studies focused on shale gas development
– Sustainable use of alternative and renewable energy
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Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

CKWRI Mission
To produce scientifically sound, unbiased information
• Research
One of the most prestigious research institutes in North
America
• Information
Scientific and popular publications
• Education
Top graduate program in collaboration with TAMUK

CKWRI Mission Focuses on
South Texas & Northern Mexico

A Region of Key Importance for Wildlife
• Game species
• Threatened & endangered species unique to
South Texas
• Primary funnel for migratory birds

Game Species

Sensitive Species

Song Birds

Wetland Birds

Birds of Prey

Diseases & Contaminants

by Carter P. Smith, Executive Director
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Fred C. Bryant, Director
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Presenter: Mohamed Abdelrahman
Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Examples
Worst Habitat Concrete, pavement
Bermuda Grass
Other Exotic Plants
•King Ranch Bluestem
•Wilman Lovegrass
•Buffelgrass
Fragmented Native Habitat
Best Habitat Unfragmented Native Habitat

–Roads
–Pads
–Flow-lines
–Pipelines
–Pits

–Habitat fragmentation
–Loss of topsoil
–Altered wildlife movements
–Spread of invasive plants

• The Cascading Effects…
Overabundance of Exotics
Reduced Number of Flowering Plants and Native Grasses
Lower Native Plant Diversity
Reduced Number of Insect Numbers and
Species

• More Cascading Effects…
Reduced Populations of Species that
Require Insects as Food
50% Decline in Bobwhite Quail Populations
(affects landowner income and rural economics)
May last forever without restoration

–Habitat/ecological assessment
–Periodic ecological review
–Mitigation strategies on impacts implemented
–Review of location and habitats