The Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso, located in arid Far West Texas, serves a region that is unique in climate, geography, water resources, urban and agricultural development, demographics, and culture. The El Paso Center is one of 13 research centers established by Texas A&M and strategically placed throughout the state to address various climate and geographic issues. An urban center in the Chihuahuan Desert, El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas with a population of over 974,000. Among the most important needs for agriculture and urban residents is a reliable, adequate, and safe water supply. Rapid regional growth, frequent drought, competition for existing water, and environmental issues underscore the urgency for finding and implementing effective water, soil, and food solutions.