Texas State University–San Marcos officials announced Aug. 24 that the school will receive millions of dollars during the next few years to improve its water research program and hire faculty.

At a news conference, university President Denise M. Trauth said The Meadows Foundation, a Dallas-based philanthropic group, has given the school $1 million and plans to give future gifts eventually totaling $5 million.

In response, the university has renamed its River Systems Institute The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, she said.

The Meadows Center's stated mission is "to develop and promote programs and techniques for ensuring sustainable water resources for human needs, ecosystem health and economic development," according to background documents.

Trauth said the university plans to apply for matching Texas Research Incentive Program funds as well as seek other private donations toward the goal of building a $10 million water research and science center.

She added that the foundation was one of the River Systems Institute's earliest supporters when it was founded in 2002.

Meadows Foundation President/CEO Linda Perryman Evans said the issue of water scarcity was not going away any time soon. She said she had great confidence in Texas State's ability to assemble experts and researchers to study how to best manage water in the future.