USDA Opens New Research Facility to Strengthen Water Efficiency and Agricultural Productivity in the Southwest

(Tucson, Arizona, October 27, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced the opening of the Southwest Watershed Research Center (SWRC) in Tucson, Arizona. This state-of-the-art facility will provide innovative solutions for water, plants, and soil agricultural challenges in the American Southwest.

"America's farmers and ranchers need practical solutions that help them produce more and make the most of every drop of water," said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "This new facility gives USDA scientists the tools to tackle the challenges facing producers across the Southwest and turn research into results on the farm and ranch. Investing in agricultural research strengthens American agriculture and helps keep our producers the most productive in the world."

The new 15,650-square-foot research complex features laboratories, collaborative workspaces, and research infrastructure designed for ARS and University of Arizona researchers. Their work will advance understanding of weather patterns, water movement, and soil erosion in semi-arid regions, helping to develop tools producers can use to manage their land and water resources.

"With the opening of the Southwest Watershed Research Center, we are strengthening our commitment to farmers, ranchers, and communities across the American Southwest," said Dr. Scott Hutchins, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and Chief Scientist. "This new facility will help translate scientific discovery into actionable tools that increase farm profitability in the Southwest."

Research at this facility will support field-level studies at the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed and Santa Rita Experimental Range research sites. Notably, scientists have created rainfall simulators, drought studies, and remote sensing technologies, including drones, to measure runoff and erosion, evaluate how plants respond to limited water, and better understand how water moves through the landscape.

"ARS is committed to delivering practical, science-based solutions that help America's farmers, ranchers, and producers meet today's challenges and prepare for tomorrow's opportunities," said ARS Administrator Joon Park. "Here in Tucson, our dedicated scientists and staff carry out that mission through research that helps producers across the Southwest conserve water, protect soils, and sustain productive working lands. This new research complex represents an investment in our people and the important work they do, providing the tools and collaborative spaces to build on that legacy and help American agriculture remain productive and competitive for generations to come."

The Southwest Watershed Research Center traces its origins to 1951, when the Southwest Watershed Studies Group was established to address soil erosion and natural resource concerns. In 1953, researchers selected Walnut Gulch as an outdoor laboratory to study water and erosion in the Southwest. Today, the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, remains the most densely instrumented long-term, semiarid experimental watershed in the world.

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