Department of Biology

Walter Rast, Ph.D.

Professor, Aquatic Resources;
Professor of International Studies;
Director, International Center for Watershed Studies;
Science Advisor, Texas Stream Team, River Systems Institute

Phone: 512-245-2284
Fax: 512-245-7919
E-mail:wr10@txstate.edu

Freeman Building 122
Department of Biology
Texas State University - San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666

Education

Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of Texas at Dallas, 1978
specialization areas: aquatic chemistry/limnology; water resource management; environmental modeling
M.S. Environmental Science, University of Texas at Dallas, 1976
M.S. Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 1974
B.A. Zoology, University of Texas at Austin, 1970

Professional Background

2000-2001 Environmental Scientist & Secretary/Great Lakes Water Quality Board, Great Lakes Regional Office, U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission, Windsor, Ontario, CANADA
1999 Chief, Technical Cooperation Unit, Division of Policy Implementation, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, KENYA
1996-1998 Deputy Director, Water Branch, UNEP, Nairobi, KENYA
1993-1995 Chief, Freshwater Unit, UNEP, Nairobi, KENYA
1986-1992 Research Hydrologist, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Austin, Texas, USA
1981-1985 Research Hydrologist, Water Resources Division, USGS, Sacramento, California, USA
1979-1981 Senior Environmental Advisor, U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission, Washington, D.C., USA
1977-1981 Limnologist, Great Lakes Regional Office, International Joint Commission, Windsor, Ontario, CANADA

Research Interests

My general research interest focus on integrated water resources management and related environmental and socioeconomic issues, including the assessment, management and sustainable use of aquatic resources for beneficial human needs and for maintaining ecosystem integrity and quality. Specific research interests include:
(1) Development of practical, scientifically-sound principles and guidelines for integrated management and use of freshwater and coastal waters;
(2) Assessment and control of lake and reservoir eutrophication;
(3) International dimensions of sustainable aquatic resources with a focus on the Rio Grande and other transboundary water systems;
(4) Environmental linkages between water, land, atmosphere and biodiversity, and their impacts on sustainable aquatic resources;
(5) Assessment and control of nonpoint-source pollution of aquatic ecosystems.

Courses Taught

BIO 3308 -- Global Ecology [ Syllabus ]
BIO 5319 -- Special Topics in Ecology
BIO 7102 -- Seminar in Aquatic Resources
BIO 7302 -- Problems in Aquatic Resources
BIO 7303 -- Research
BIO 7310 -- Global Aquatic Resources [ Syllabus ]
BIO 7312 -- Government Policy Impacts on Aquatic Resources [ Syllabus ]
BIO 7314 -- Integrated Research Experience
BIO 7360 -- Special Topics in Aquatic Resources: Sustainable Use of the Rio Grande
BIO 7366 -- Integrated Management of Aquatic Resources for Sustainable Use
BIO 7399/7699 -- Dissertation

Dissertations & Theses Directed

Dissertations:

(1) Dissertation Supervising Professor:

ALEXANDER, Kathy, 2003-present (Aquatic Resources): "Institutional Effectiveness in Allocating Water Resources in the International Rio Grande Basin" (Full-time; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
ARMITANO, Emily, 2004-present (Aquatic Resources): "Development and Application of a Drainage Basin- Scale Database for Sustainable Use of the Rio Grande"(Part-time; River Systems Institute, Texas State University)
CHANDLER, Brad, 2003-present (Aquatic Resources): "Impacts of Reservoirs and Interbasin Water Transfers on Water Quality and Biological Integrity in Texas Watercourses"(Part-time, Alamo Community College District)
MOLTZ, Heidi, 2005-present (Aquatic Resources): "Assessment and Arrangement of Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Rio Grande Basin" (full-time, Biology Dept., Texas State University)
RAMOS, Humberto, 2005-present (Aquatic Resources): Topic to be determined.
MIX, Ken, 2003-present (Aquatic Resources): "Evolution of Water Use Attitudes in the San Luis Valley, Rio Grande Watershed " (Full-time; Biology Dept., Texas State University)
ROBERTS, Susan, 2003-present (Aquatic Resources): "Establishing Influences and Criteria for Conjunctive Management of Rivers and Aquifers in the Rio Grande Watershed " (Full-time; Biology Dept., Texas State University)

(2) Dissertation Committee Member:

GOTTSCHALK, Brian, 2005-present (Geography): "Experimental study of sediment deposition and erosion rates in stream channels with emergency vegetation (Full-time, Geography Dept., Texas State University)
KEEN-ZEBERT, Amanda, 2003-present (Geography): "Effects of Impoundments on Sediment Supply and Transport in Bedrock Channels with a Series of Small Dams" (Full-time, Geography Dept., Texas State University)
WALLACE, Mary Ann, 2003-present (Aquatic Resources): "Ecology of Algal Blooms in Lake Travis, Texas" (Full-time; Biology Dept., Texas State University)
YU, Guang, 2005-present (Geography): Title to be provided (Full-time; Geography Dept., Texas State University)

Theses:

LITTRELL, Brad, 2005-present (Aquatic Biology): "Can Invasiveness of Native Cyprinids Be Predicted from Life History Traits: A Comparison Between a Native Invader and a Regionally Endemic Cyprinid" (Full-time, Biology Dept., Texas State University)
MALDONADO, Amy, 2005-present (Aquatic Biology): "A Classification System for Impaired Water Segments in Texas Water Bodies"
MARTIN, Joe, 2002-2003 (Aquatic Bology): "Influence of Abiotic Factors on the Growth of a White Bass Population in a Subtropical Texas Reservoir"(Graduated 2003)

Selected Publications

Rast, W. and G.F. Lee. 1978. Summary analysis of the North American (U.S. portion) OECD Eutrophication Project: Nutrient loading--lake response relationships and trophic state indices. Ecological Research Series, No. EPA-600/3-78-008, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon. 454 p.
Vollenweider, R.A., W. Rast and J.J. Kerekes. 1980. The phosphorus loading concept and Great Lakes eutrophication. In: Loehr, R.C., C. Martin and W. Rast (eds.), Phosphorus Management Strategies for Lakes, Interscience, Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 207-234.
Lee, G.F., R.A. Jones and W. Rast. 1980. Availability of phosphorus to phytoplankton and its implications for phosphorus management strategies. In: Loehr, R.C., C. Martin and W. Rast (eds.), Phosphorus Management Strategies for Lakes, Interscience, Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 259-308.
Rast, W. and G.F. Lee. 1983. Evaluation of nutrient loading estimates for lakes. Jour. Amer. Society Civil Engr., Environ. Engr. Div. 109: 502-517.
Rast, W., G.F. Lee and R.A. Jones. 1983. Predictive capability of U.S. OECD phosphorus loading - lake response models. Jour. Water Pollut. Cont. Fed. 55: 990-1003.
Rast, W. and M.M. Holland. 1988. Eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs: A framework for making management decisions. Ambio 17:2-12.
Ryding, S.-O and W. Rast. 1989. The Control of Eutrophication of Lakes and Reservoirs. Parthenon Press, Man and the Biosphere Series (MAB), vol. 1, UNESCO, Paris. 311 p.
Rast, W., M.M. Holland and S.-O. Ryding. 1990. Eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs: A management framework. Man and the Biosphere Series (MAB), Digest No. 1, UNESCO, Paris. 84 p.
Thornton, J.A. and W. Rast. 1993. A test of hypotheses relating to the comparative limnology and assessment of eutrophication in semi-arid, man-made lakes. In: Straskraba, M., J. Tundisi and A. Duncan (eds.), Comparative Reservoir Limnology and Water Quality Management, Developments in Hydrobiology, vol. 77, Kluwer, Dordrecht. pp. 1-24.
Thornton, J.A. and W. Rast. 1995. The management of international river basins. In: D.M.L. da Motta Marques (ed.), Brazilian Jour. Hydrology (ABRH), Publ. No. 2, I Seminario de Qualidade de Aquas Continentas no MERCOSUL, Porte Alegre, Brazil, 7-9 Dec. 1994. p. 75-102.
Rast, W. and J.A. Thornton. 1996. Trends in eutrophication research and control. Hydrological Processes 10:295-313.
Thornton, J.A., W. Rast and W. Steele. 1996. Reservoirs. In: D. Chapman, Water Quality Assessments, E & FN Spon, Routledge Publishers, United Kingdom. p. 369-412.
Lee, R.W. and W. Rast. 1997. Light Attenuation in a shallow, turbid reservoir, Lake Houston, Texas. Water Resources Investigations Rept. 97-4064, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Austin, Texas. 33 p.
Smith, D. and W. Rast. 1998. Environmentally-sustainable management and use of internationally-shared freshwater resources. In: R.J. Reimold, Watershed Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. p.277-298.
Rast, W. 1999. Overview of the status of implementation of the freshwater objectives of Agenda 21 on a regional basis. Sustainable Development International Journa1:53-56.
Rast W. and J.A. Thornton. 1999. Reservoirs: Environmental process, management and policy. In: B.H. Kay (ed.), Water Resources: Health, Environment and Development, E & FN Spon, Routledge Publishers, United Kingdom. pp. 1-12.
Thornton, J.A., W. Rast, M.M. Holland, G. Jolankai and S.-O. Ryding. 1999. Assessment and Control of Nonpoint-Source Pollution of Aquatic Ecosystems. Parthenon Press, Man and the Biosphere Series (MAB), vol. 23, UNESCO, Paris. 455 p.
Rast, W. and M. Straskraba. 2000. Lakes and reservoirs: Similarities, differences, importance. Environmental Library Series, Vol. 1, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Otsu, Shiga, Japan. 24 p.
Rast, W. and A. Calcagno. 2001. The watershed: Water from the mountains into the sea. Environmental Library Series, Vol. 2, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Otsu, Shiga, Japan. 36 p.
Moore, J.G., W. Rast and W.M. Pulich. 2002. Proposal for an integrated management plan for the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo. In: Aldama, A., F.J. Aparicio and R. Equihua (eds.), First International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management, Avances en Hidraulica 10, XVII Mexican Hydraulics Congress, Monterrey, Mexico, Nov. 18-22, 2002. p. 189-204.
Rast, W. 2003. Sustainable freshwater resources: The promise and the reality: In: Holland, M.M., E. Blood and L.R. Shaffer (eds.), Sustainability of Wetlands and Water Resources, Chpt. 1, Island Press, Covelo, California USA. p. 11-39.
Rast, W. and M.M. Holland. 2003. Sustainable freshwater resources: The reality of secure systems. In: Holland, M.M., E. Blood and L.R. Shaffer (eds.), Sustainability of Wetlands and Water Resources, Chpt. 13, Island Press, Covelo, California USA. p. 283-315.
Rast, W. and J.A. Thornton. 2004. The phosphorus loading concept and OECD Eutrophication Programme: Origin, application and capabilities. In: O'Sullivan, P. and C. Reynolds (eds.), Lakes Handbook, Vol. 2, Chpt. 14, Blackwell Science Publications. pp. 354-385.
Jorgensen, S.E., H. Loffler, W. Rast and M. Straskraba. 2004. Lake and Reservoir Management. Developments in Water Science No. 54, Elsevier Publishers, Amsterdam. pp. 502.

Current Professional Activities/Service

Member, Bureau and Scientific Committee, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), Shiga, Japan, 2001-present.
Editor-in-Chief, Lake and Reservoirs. Research and Management, Blackwell Publishing, Victoria, Australia, 2002-present.
Roster of Experts (International Waters), Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, Global Environment Facility, United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, 2002-present.
Member, Steering Committee, ILEC/World Bank Lake Basin Management Initiative, Washington, D.C. and Otsu, Shiga, Japan, 2003-present.
Member, Organizing Committee, 11^th World Lake Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, May, 2004-Nov. 2005.
Review Panel Member, "Exploratory Research: Understanding Ecological Thresholds Through Retrospective Analysis," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., Sept.-Nov. 2004.
Chair, World Lake Vision Action Program, ILEC, 2005-present.
Lead Author, Global Environment Outlook-4 (GEO-4), UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 2005-present.

Curriculum Vitae

Link to Curriculum Vitae [MS Word .doc]

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