Our Mission

Our mission: To create an intuitive system to index, document, search, and access Texas water data.

The underlying motivation for the Texas Water Data Hub is the belief that good decision-making is based on good data. Unfortunately, water data can sometimes be fragmented or locked away, making it difficult to value or use. By creating a catalog of datasets with standardized documentation that follows the principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data, the Hub will increase access to and usability of Texas water data, serving both water data producers and users across Texas.

The Hub is an evolving and responsive project, meaning we still have a lot of work ahead of us. We depend on data contributions from across geographies, entities, and disciplines, and we know that you are the greatest asset of the Hub! Let us know what you think of the Hub so far by filling out a short survey. If you have a suggestion or are interested in contributing data, please contact us. We will continuously work with stakeholders to ensure that the Hub is advancing FAIR water data in Texas and meeting your needs. To stay informed about the latest updates and enhancements to the Hub, sign up for the Hub newsletter.

Background

In 2018, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) hosted stakeholders from across the state’s water landscape at the ‘Connecting Texas Water Data’ workshop. The workshop concluded with a unified commitment to making Texas water data FAIR, giving rise to the idea of the Texas Water Data Hub. 

In 2019, funding from the 86th Texas Legislature allowed TWDB to enhance flood web tools and begin connecting publicly available water data across Texas. Initial groundwork for the Hub began in 2020, with a design phase launching in 2021, supported by philanthropic funding. Employing Human-Centered Design methods, the Hub's development focused on understanding the real needs of water data users and producers. User research, stakeholder workshops, iterative prototype development, and testing guided the design process, ensuring the Hub was shaped by the people who would use it. 

Thanks to further philanthropic support in 2022, development accelerated, and the Beta version of the Texas Water Data Hub was released to the public in February 2023. The Beta version  provides essential functionalities to users now, while the remaining intended features are still in process. Continuous updates and enhancements will be made as we work towards the full release of version 1.0 

One important thing to know about the Hub is that we are not done yet! Enhancements and updates are released as we complete them, and we are working toward the launch of the Hub version 1.0. Additionally, we are committed to advancing FAIR water data in Texas, which means that work on the Hub will never truly be finished. We will continue to build out the catalog, enhance and adapt the platform based on user feedback, and offer guidance on data standards and best practices among other efforts.

Partners and Sponsors

The Texas Water Data Hub has transitioned from an aspirational idea to a usable system thanks to the support of our philanthropic funders, key partners, and enthusiastic data stakeholders.

Special thanks to the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and the Windward Fund’s Water Funder Initiative for their generous support of this project. Additional thanks to the Internet of Water Coalition for their guidance throughout the Hub’s development.

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