Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is a Texas State University research center that conducts water and climate research, delivers environmental education, and operates citizen science programs serving Texas communities, K-12 and university students, families, and municipalities from its base at Spring Lake in San Marcos.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSan Marcos, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Meadows Center for Water and the Environment does
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is a non-profit university research center operating within Texas State University, headquartered at the Spring Lake Natural Area in San Marcos, Texas. Founded in 2002 and structured around four pillars (research, leadership, education, and stewardship), the Center integrates applied environmental research with public-facing educational experiences, including glass-bottom boat tours of one of the world's largest artesian springs, snorkel programs, field trips, scout badge days, and online learning resources, collectively reaching more than 125,000 people annually.
The Center's technology platform encompasses field-based environmental monitoring, drone-based aerial surveys, remote sensing, and real-time data collection systems. Its principal digital products include the Texas One Water Hub (a statewide online platform launched in 2026 that consolidates best practices, case studies, and tools for integrated water management across drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and greywater), the Climate Dashboard (an interactive visualization of Texas climate and water data), and the Texas Stream Team data viewer/datamap supporting a citizen science network spanning Texas watersheds.
Revenue is generated through three streams: donations and philanthropy (including tiered gifts to the Headwaters Fund and program-designated funds), grants and research funding (notably from NOAA and the Texas Wellspring Fund, plus corporate partners such as H-E-B), and program fees from educational tours, scout programs, snorkel programs, and facility rentals. The Center serves K-12 and university students, Texas families and visitors, Texas communities and municipalities, and a statewide network of trained citizen science volunteers.
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
- Legal name
- The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
- Website
- https://meadowscenter.txst.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is a Texas State University research center that conducts water and climate research, delivers environmental education, and operates citizen science programs serving Texas communities, K-12 and university students, families, and municipalities from its base at Spring Lake in San Marcos.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Research and Water Resource Management
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks) (THAJAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)
Keywords
Where Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Marcos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: The center accepts charitable donations through Texas State University's giving platform, with funds directed to the Headwaters Fund for highest need programs, or designated to specific funds like Spring Lake Excellence Fund or Friends of Texas Stream Team Fund.
- Grants and Research Funding: Funded by government agencies and foundations including the Texas Wellspring Fund, NOAA, and other environmental research grants for specific research initiatives and programs.
- Education Program Fees: Revenue from educational programs including field trips, group tours, glass-bottom boat tours, scout badge programs, and special event reservations at Spring Lake.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Donation amounts from $50 to $1,000+ for general support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Meadows Center is a non-profit university research center that conducts water and environmental research, delivers hands-on environmental education programs at Spring Lake, operates the Texas Stream Team citizen science network, and runs the Texas One Water Hub statewide integrated water management platform. Its offerings include applied research on One Water, Environmental Flows, and Climate, fee-based visitor experiences such as glass-bottom boat tours, snorkel and diving programs, and statewide online resources for communities, students, and policymakers.
Product overview
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is a university-based environmental organization operating across four interconnected pillars: research, leadership, education, and stewardship. The Center's offerings include the Texas One Water Hub, a statewide online platform for integrated water management; education programs engaging over 125,000 people annually including glass-bottom boat tours, snorkel programs, field trips, scout badge days, and an online learning hub; citizen science initiatives like Texas Stream Team; interactive tools like the Climate Dashboard; stewardship activities including Spring Lake diving and ecological research; and research publications including staff works, books, and newsletters. The Center operates from Spring Lake—one of the largest artesian springs in the world—and extends its impact across Texas through policy leadership and collaborative conservation programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Texas Stream Team: Citizen science program for water quality monitoring across Texas
- Texas One Water Hub
Products and services
- Texas One Water Hub A first-of-its-kind statewide online platform designed to advance integrated water management strategies across Texas. The platform consolidates best practices, case studies, research and tools to help communities implement One Water approaches that treat drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and greywater as a single resource.
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tours Guided educational tours of Spring Lake using glass-bottom boats, allowing visitors to view underwater ecosystems including wild rice beds and aquatic life.
- Splash into Science Snorkel Program Educational snorkel program that engages participants in hands-on science exploration of Spring Lake ecosystems.
- Spring Lake Eco Adventures Outdoor adventure experiences exploring Spring Lake and surrounding natural areas with environmental education components.
- Texas Stream Team A citizen science water monitoring program that trains volunteers to collect water quality data across Texas waterways. Includes training programs, data collection tools, and a dataviewer/datamap for analyzing water quality information.
- Climate Dashboard An interactive dashboard providing climate data and education resources covering temperature, precipitation, sea-level rise, water resources, land use, wildfires, tornadoes, extreme weather, floods, human health, and critical infrastructure specific to Texas.
- Online Learning Hub Digital educational resources providing online learning opportunities about water conservation, aquatic science, and environmental topics for various audiences.
- Spring Lake Diving Scuba diving access and programs at Spring Lake, including the Open Water Checkout Program and AquaCorps training, allowing certified divers to explore one of the largest artesian springs in the world.
- Field Trips and Group Tours Educational field trips for PreK-12th grade, group tours, university seminars, and teacher tours offering TEEAC credit, providing hands-on environmental education experiences.
- Research Programs Applied research initiatives covering One Water, Environmental Flows, STEM Education, Water Conservation, Watershed Management, Stream Habitat and Ecology, Water Policy, and Climate Research that inform the Center's programs and service mission.
- Headwaters Fund Donation Program Charitable donation program accepting one-time, recurring monthly, or installment gifts through Texas State University's giving platform, with suggested amounts of $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1,000+. Funds support highest need programs including Spring Lake Excellence Fund and Friends of Texas Stream Team Fund.
Quantifiable outcome
- Engages more than 125,000 people annually in environmental education and outdoor learning
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Texas State UniversitycoreThe Meadows Center is an official center of Texas State University, operating within the university's academic framework with shared resources, facilities, and institutional support.
- Texas Water JournalminorCollaborative partnership for producing the Texas+Water monthly newsletter providing water news analysis and updates on Texas water issues.
- Texas Water Resources InstituteminorCollaborative partnership for producing the Texas+Water monthly newsletter and advancing water resources research in Texas.
- Education PartnersminorNetwork of educational institutions and organizations collaborating on environmental education programs and student experiences.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Texas Water Resources Institute: Texas A&M-affiliated institute conducting applied water resources research, watershed management, and outreach across Texas. Direct peer in mission, university research center structure, and statewide water engagement model.
- The Nature Conservancy in Texas: Leading conservation nonprofit operating across Texas with land stewardship, freshwater programs, and education. Closely comparable nonprofit conservation, education, and stewardship focus, with overlapping Texas water and springs priorities.
- Edwards Aquifer Authority: Regional water management agency overseeing the Edwards Aquifer that feeds Spring Lake. Highly comparable mandate on water resource monitoring, scientific research, and public education around the same aquifer ecosystem the Meadows Center stewards.
- San Marcos River Foundation: Local nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring the San Marcos River and Spring Lake. Direct peer on local water stewardship, citizen engagement, and conservation of the same ecosystem the Meadows Center operates within.
- Hill Country Alliance: Regional nonprofit focused on conserving the Texas Hill Country, including water resources, land, and wildlife. Comparable emphasis on water stewardship, education, and policy advocacy within an overlapping Central Texas geography.
- Keep Texas Beautiful: Statewide nonprofit running environmental education and community-based stewardship programs, including Earth Day-style festivals and litter prevention. Comparable statewide reach, donor/philanthropy model, and education-and-events programming.
Broad incumbents
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: State agency operating state parks, natural areas, and environmental education programs across Texas, including Spring Lake Natural Area. Comparable stewardship of public natural areas and education programs at much larger scale and budget.
- National Audubon Society: National conservation nonprofit operating nature centers, citizen science (notably the Christmas Bird Count), and environmental education programs. Comparable citizen science and conservation education mission, though scaled nationally and across species beyond freshwater.
- Environmental Defense Fund: Major national environmental nonprofit with substantial Texas water, climate, and ecosystem programs. Comparable research-and-advocacy posture and donor-supported funding model, though with national remit and policy intensity beyond the Center's scope.
Regional players
- Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority: Regional river authority managing water resources for the Guadalupe River basin, which includes Spring Lake and the San Marcos River. Comparable mandate on water quality, conservation, and public education across a shared geographic watershed.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment social profiles
Digital presenceMeadows Center for Water and the Environment financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
What does Meadows Center for Water and the Environment do?
The Meadows Center is a non-profit university research center that conducts water and environmental research, delivers hands-on environmental education programs at Spring Lake, operates the Texas Stream Team citizen science network, and runs the Texas One Water Hub statewide integrated water management platform. Its offerings include applied research on One Water, Environmental Flows, and Climate, fee-based visitor experiences such as glass-bottom boat tours, snorkel and diving programs, and statewide online resources for communities, students, and policymakers.
Is Meadows Center for Water and the Environment a public or private company?
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Meadows Center for Water and the Environment founded?
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment was founded in 2002.
Where is Meadows Center for Water and the Environment based?
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is headquartered in San Marcos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Meadows Center for Water and the Environment make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are grants and Research Funding and education Program Fees.
Who are Meadows Center for Water and the Environment's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Texas Water Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy in Texas, Edwards Aquifer Authority, San Marcos River Foundation, Hill Country Alliance and Keep Texas Beautiful. Broad incumbents are Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, National Audubon Society and Environmental Defense Fund. Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is listed as a regional player.
Does Meadows Center for Water and the Environment have an API?
No public API is recorded for Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.
What industry is Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in?
Meadows Center for Water and the Environment's product category is Environmental Research and Water Resource Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAL, Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks), with a secondary code of EDALAIAF, Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding). Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 4941.