Watersheds and Water Quality Research Lab

10/07/2026

10/06/2026

🌎💧 Interinstitutional Collaboration for Sustainable Water Management

It was a pleasure to welcome Dr. Jorge Andrés Espinosa Marín and MSc. Renato Haro, faculty members from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Universidad Central Del Ecuador and members of the technical team of the FIASA.CA 2024-030 project, to Mississippi State University.

During their visit, we held a technical training and knowledge-exchange session at our Watersheds and Water Quality Research Lab, strengthening collaboration between our institutions and sharing experiences in hydrologic modeling, water management, and agricultural systems.

This visit contributes to the objectives of the project “Development of a simulation model for agricultural production systems through water assessment to 2030 in the Cayambe-Pedro Moncayo Irrigation Canal.”

We appreciate the opportunity to welcome our colleagues from the Universidad Central del Ecuador and continue building bridges between Ecuador and Mississippi through research, education, and collaboration toward sustainable water management. 🌱💧

Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas - UCE

09/09/2026

Mississippi State Associate Professor John Ramirez-Avila now holds two national awards from an internationally recognized professional society for his contributions to soil and water conservation research and practice.

MSU’s Ramirez-Avila receives two national conservation awards Contact: Camille Carskadon STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Associate Professor John Ramirez-Avila now holds two national awards from an internationally recognized professional society for his contributions to soil and water conser...

08/18/2026

🎉 Celebrating Four Outstanding Mentees! 🎉
We are proud to celebrate four of our AIH-HEARS mentees from the Watersheds and Water Quality Research Lab who have been recognized as part of the AIH 2026 RISE Awards:

💧 Valeria Hernández Zambrano - Universidad del Magdalena, Colombia
💧 Jesus Ortiz Garcia - Mississippi State University
💧 Diego Galindo Cruz - Mississippi State University
💧 Lia Vergara Peña - University of Georgia

Four talented researchers, four inspiring journeys, and a shared commitment to advancing hydrology, water resources, and watershed science.

Congratulations, Valeria, Jesus, Diego, and Lia! 👏💧

We are very proud of your accomplishments and excited to see what comes next!

07/15/2026

We are pleased to share our latest publication in the ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering!

"Sensitivity of Initial Abstraction Ratio Selection in the NRCS Equation for Runoff Estimation" examines how the selection of the initial abstraction ratio (λ) influences runoff predictions using the NRCS Curve Number method. The findings provide new insights into when λ selection is most critical and help improve hydrologic modeling and engineering design.

This work represents another collaborative contribution from members of the ASCE Curve Number Hydrology Committee, advancing the science and application of Curve Number hydrology through research and technical collaboration.

05/16/2026

🎓 Trevor Timberlake has officially received his doctoral degree in Engineering (Civil Engineering Concentration) from Mississippi State University 🎓

His doctoral research represents an important contribution to Water Resources Engineering, providing a practical tool to support improved flood risk management, reservoir operations, and decision-making under forecast uncertainty.

This achievement reflects years of dedication, technical excellence, and perseverance.

Congratulations, Dr. Timberlake. A very well-deserved accomplishment!
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters
Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

04/14/2026

Congratulations to Jesus Ortiz García for becoming a Hidrologist-in-training and member of the American Institute of Hydrology.

Proud of you, Jesus!

It's time to congratulate the newest member of AIH! Let's welcome Jesus Rafael Ortiz Garcia on becoming a Hydrologist-in-Training (HIT) as he works towards full certification as a Professional Hydrologist (PH)! https://aihydrology.org/membership/

03/18/2026

John J. Ramirez-Avila John J. Ramirez-Avila, Ph.D., Ing., PH, F.EWRI, F.ASCE, associate professor, graduate coordinator, and head of the Watersheds and Water Quality Research Lab in the Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mississippi State University, has been named a fe...

02/23/2026

Advances in hydrologic design are driven by research grounded in technical rigor and aligned with practical needs.

Jesus Rafael Ortiz Garcia, M.S. student in our Watersheds and Water Quality Research Lab of the Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is contributing to this advancement through his study, which strengthens national efforts to refine Curve Number calibration, initial abstraction ratio conversion, and precision mapping, supporting a more consistent and reliable CONUS‑scale framework for watershed analysis.

Jesus' impact has been recognized at Mississippi State University, where he earned second place in the oral presentation of his work titled “Precision vs. Conservatism in Initial Abstraction Ratio: Implications for Hydrologic Design,” at the 2026 Graduate Research Symposium, a distinction that highlights both the technical relevance of his research and the clarity with which he communicates its value.

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, he brings the same professionalism, discipline, and commitment to the classroom that define his research.

A well‑deserved recognition of meaningful contributions to hydrologic science.

Congratulations, Jesus!

02/17/2026

Our hope is to develop best practices that farmers and landowners can use to achieve improved water quality and prevent algal blooms in streams and rivers. You can have sustainable agricultural production and good water quality. Best management practices are how we try to obtain both.
Dr. Tim Schauwecker.

Dr. Tim Schauwecker from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design, Dr. Todd Mlsna from the Department of Chemistry, and Dr. John Ramirez-Avila from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering lead a collaborative research project focused on improving water quality in the Red Bud–Catalpa Creek watershed. At the MAFES Bearden Dairy Research Center, the team tested the use of engineered biochar and electric arc furnace slag to reduce phosphorus runoff, stabilize streambanks, and prevent harmful algal blooms—combining innovative science with sustainable agricultural practices. 🌾 Photo by David Ammon. Pictured are: Dr. Tim Schauwecker, Casey Johnson, John Ramirez-Avila, Lorena Chavarro-Chaux, and Cece Marascalco.

🔗 Read more about the project here: https://www.mafes.msstate.edu/discovers/article.php?id=247