Did the Drought Affect Aquifer Water Measurements?

Many people have been asking the District how the water fared after the record breaking drought through last year. The answer is that it depends on where you are standing. One thing to consider when looking at the maps in this newsletter is the use of the five year rolling average (explained in the “Explanation of 5 Year Average” article) will mitigate the effects of a single year’s low measurement. For example, if a well declined six feet this year, its five year average decline might only be 2.5 feet. Many areas did not see any more average depletion than usual in the Ogallala Aquifer.

Armstrong, Donley and Gray counties saw average depletion very similar to last years. This year the average depletion in Wheeler County looked a bit better than last year. Roberts County had a larger area of average depletion than last year. However, much of the production in that county is for municipal use, and a second well field has been added to the first in that area. The average depletion in Carson County is also worse than last year. In most years the majority of Carson County is between zero and one foot down, but this year the majority of the county was between one and two feet down. This is likely caused by the drought’s affect on the combined irrigation and municipal production in this county.

While the average decline maps depicted in this newsletter do not show much more decline than in previous years, there are some wells with significantly more annual decline than usual as a result of the drought. One benefit of the drought is the awareness of our water supply and the importance of conservation. It would be a shame to waste that!

2012 Depletion Maps

Click below to view the latest maps:

2012 Depletion Level Maps

Regeneration 2012

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) participated in Regeneration 2012 at Thompson Park in Amarillo on Saturday, April 21, 2012. The event was sponsored by Xcel Energy and Amarillo National Bank, and was one event among many held throughout the city to celebrate Earth Day.   

PGCD helped people take the Water Warrior Pledge which is to commit to five tasks of water conservation such as adjusting your sprinklers so they do not water the sidewalks and streets which can save up to 500 gallons of water per month or repairing leaky faucets which can save up to 150 gallons of water per month. PGCD Public Relations Coordinator Joy Shadid was also there in her Alice and Waterland costume showing kids the life size model of the aquifer.

City of Amarillo's Assistant Manager for Finance Dean Frigo helped Mayor Paul Harpole take the Water Warrior Pledge at the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District booth at the Regeneration 2012 in Amarillo. Photo taken by Sonja Gross.

Volunteers singed up to help plant 250 new trees at Thompson Park, and the city had a tent to promote its water conservation program Every Drop Counts.

Public Education in Full Swing Across the District

The staff at Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) jumped into 2012 with more enthusiasm for public education and outreach than ever before!  With last year’s extreme drought still fresh on everyone’s mind, we’re working hard to drive home the dire importance of water conservation. Not only did our elementary education program kick into full-swing, but a lot of other opportunities have come along as well.

Each year, PGCD does countless programs for civic organizations throughout the year and this year has been no exception.  We visited the Retired Teachers Association of Panhandle to discuss xeriscape gardening and rainwater harvesting.  There was a great turnout and a lot of enthusiasm over the attractive new rain barrels that are available.  The Groom Girls Scouts learned all about xeriscaping and drought tolerant plants and presentations were also delivered at meetings for the Texas Farm Bureau, Ogallala Common’s Playa Education Day, High Plains Driller’s, City of Amarillo Utilities, and Shamrock Downtown Booster Club. 

On February 8, PGCD hosted the Inaugural Panhandle Water Conservation Symposium: the Dollars and $ense of Conservation.  It was an immense success and we are thrilled with the turnout.  (For the full story, see page: one.)  The City of Amarillo and PGCD partnered on booths at the Amarillo Home and Garden Show, Amarillo Utility School, and Regeneration 2012’s tree planting at Thompson Park.  The aquifer exhibit was on display at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens throughout the month of March with tours led by Alice in Waterland.  Staff also attended the Donley County Health Fair, Carson County Ag Fair and West Texas A&M University Earth Day.

Pauline Robertson with Alice (Joy Shadid) from Alice and Waterland at the Botanical Gardens. Picture taken by Robyn Turner.

We are looking forward to many exciting upcoming events and are eager to continue educating the public about the importance of water conservation.  If you would like a presentation for your civic group, please contact Joy Shadid at 806-883-2501.

Rules and Management Plan Changes Made

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (District) amended the district rules and management plan after a hearing on April 4, 2012. Many of the rule changes were required by statute because of legislation enacted in 2011.  Among those required changes is the addition of Groundwater Management Area (GMA) hearings to the hearing procedures in Rule 10, clarification of the District’s role in the GMA planning in Rule 12, clarification in Rule 15 that the District’s existing 50/50 Management Standard is adopted as the Desired Future Condition (DFC) of the Ogallala in this area and the addition of DFC’s for the minor aquifers in the area including a 50/50 DFC for the Blaine Aquifer, and a decline of no more than 30 feet in 50 years for the Dockum Aquifer.

The other major changes are regarding wells that are classified as exempt use because of their oil and gas exploration status. Those wells will now be required to meet spacing rules because many of them, once abandoned by the oil and gas companies, are returned to the landowners for other uses. Also, those wells will now be required to install a meter and report water use annually. Since the GMA and Regional Planning processes require the District to have good estimates of water use, this new reporting of oil and gas water use is critical to make these estimates more accurate within the District.

As the oil and gas exploration continues to expand and use more water in the District, and the GMA and Regional Planning processes require the District to have better estimates of water use, this reporting is more critical for the District.

The management plan was updated in order to capture the DFC’s and update the water use and supplies information required by the Texas Water Development Board. This plan outlines 13 goals that guide the District’s actions over the next five years. The guiding principle of the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District is still the 50/50 Management Standard, and the amendments to the rules and management plan serve only to strengthen that goal.

Success for Texas Panhandle Water Symposium

The first Inaugural Texas Panhandle Water Conservation Symposium was an unmitigated success, with over 300 attendees and 19 speakers from across the United States. This symposium was the vision of C.E. Williams, general manager of Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD). He wanted to focus on water conservation for all users including municipal, agricultural producers and the general public by inviting speakers from across the State of Texas, as well as throughout the United States. There were presentations on conservation principles, programs that had been implemented and their effects. With the guidance of Carole Baker from the Texas Water Foundation and Alliance for Water Efficiency, and many sponsors from across the Texas Panhandle the symposium was made possible, and Williams stated, “It may very well be the highlight of my career.”

The morning session focused on the current drought and statewide issues including conservation myths, drought forecasts and how the drought affected the state. After lunch, the attendees split up into three breakout sessions that focused on municipal, agricultural and private water use.  Municipal users heard presentations regarding municipal conservation as it relates to water rates, and how to track water use.  Attendees in the agricultural breakout session learned about irrigation timing, crop rotation, drought tolerant corn hybrids and irrigation demonstrations showing how to grow 200 bushels of corn on 12 inches of applied irrigation. Private users were treated to presentations detailing rainwater harvesting, xeriscape gardening and conservation education.

Farmer Matt Moore from Wheeler County listens during the Texas Panhandle Water Symposium. Picture taken by High Plains Water Conservation District.

One highlight of the symposium was the presentation of the first Robert Duncan Crown of Texas Water Conservation Award to Senator Robert Duncan for his tireless dedication to water conservation on behalf of future generations of Texans. PGCD anticipates that the symposium will be held every other year and this award can continue to be granted to other distinguished advocates of water conservation.

PGCD would again like to thank all of the sponsors for making this symposium a success, and participating in bringing water conservation awareness to all aspects of the Texas Panhandle.

Drip Irrigation Implementation South of White Deer

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) has awarded its first agricultural loan for drip irrigation. 

                 

Patrick Warminski with Drip Irrigation Filtration

Photo courtesy of Allison Purviance

Stephen Warminski and son Patrick have put drip irrigation into action as an alternative to row and center pivot irrigation methods.  This system is currently supplied by 1 irrigation well and services 86 acres.  The well pumps the water supply to the east where a filtration system is located.  Once the water has passed through the filtration system, it is then routed through a flow meter, passes through drip tapes and is buried 12 to 14 inches deep, running laterally east to west, 60 inches apart.  This configuration includes 4 zones for these 86 acres.  

Patrick Warminski informed PGCD Field Technician Allison Purviance that they intend to plant cotton for the 2012 growing season.  In addition, the Warminskis plan for further expansion of this drip irrigation project which will entail 11 zones and encompass 211 acres.

Drip irrigation saves water by eliminating surface water evaporation and is especially suited for arid, semi-arid, hot and windy areas with limited water supply.  Both water and fertilizer can be applied directly to the roots of the crop allowing for maximum uptake.  Drip irrigation systems typically cost $500 to $1,200 more per acre; however, they operate at 90% high water use efficiency as opposed to 45% for overhead sprinklers and use roughly a third less fuel.

PGCD is very excited to follow the Warminskis’ progress with their new system and will keep you updated on their successes.  For more information on drip irrigation or to apply for an agricultural loan, please contact our office at 806-883-2501.

PGCD Presents Inaugural Water Conservation Symposium

The Texas Water Foundation and Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District are proud to present the  first Texas Panhandle Water Conservation Symposium: The Dollars and $ense of Water Conservation to be held at the Amarillo Civic Center on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

                 

The symposium has been made possible by a multitude of sponsors and will  feature a distinguished list of speakers, including Kel Seliger, Texas State Senator; Four Price, Texas State Representative; Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist; Dr. Robert Mace, Deputy Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board; Carole Baker; Chair of the Alliance for Water Efficiency; and L’Oreal Stepney, Deputy Director Office of Water with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  As the Keynote Speaker, Jim Parks, Executive Director of the North Texas Municipal Water District, will cover the challenges of implementing a conservation program in an urban environment.

Breakout sessions in the afternoon will focus on residential, agricultural, and municipal conservation.  Topics will include rainwater harvesting and xeriscape gardening, limited irrigation farming practices, and planning cost-effective efficiency programs.

Tickets are $35 each and lunch will be included.  Register online at the Texas Water Foundation: http://www.texaswater.org.  For more information, please call the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District at 806-883-2501.

The Dog Days Are Over

Cecilia Stewart and Katherine Gray educate at the Center City Block Party

While the Texas Panhandle was breaking drought and heat records this summer, the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District was busy increasing public relations and education efforts. 

Classes taught in conjunction with the Carson County Square House Museum jumpstarted the outreach program.  Sandy Poteet worked water conservation and the Ogallala Aquifer into her curriculum and she and Joy Shadid spent three weeks covering Groom, Panhandle and White Deer.  The classes worked on mixed media art collages, sand painting, weaving, clay models and creating water conservation commercials.

The White Deer Kickback Days provided another opportunity to reach our District constituents.  Drew Hodges spearheaded the effort to create and operate a booth with interactive games where a water conservation tip won the chance to play and win prizes.  Additionally, Drew coordinated and hosted the wildly successful watermelon eating contest.

In August, PGCD partnered with the City of Amarillo and hosted a booth at Kidsfest 2011 where several thousand kids went through the stages of the water cycle from precipitation to the infiltration of a life-sized aquifer to indoor and outdoor water use.  At the end of the cycle, volunteers handed out coloring books and applied Water Warrior temporary tattoos.  An estimated 15,000 people attended Kidsfest.

Rounding out the summer, PGCD distributed information at the Pampa Boomtown Block Party and Center City Block Party and delivered over 4,000 lawn gauges with low-water plant guides to local greenhouses and hardware stores.  With the heat behind us, PGCD is gearing up for the 8^th year of our elementary education program.  This year we expect to reach over 2,500 5^th grade students with our new presentation, The Adventures of Alice in Waterland and the Water Warrior.

A huge thank you goes to Katherine Gray, Cecilia Stewart and Erik Wilkinson along with numerous volunteers from the City of Amarillo who put in countless hours in sweltering heat to help us educate the public.

Playa Festival Comes to Panhandle

At a playa lake about one mile west of Panhandle, Texas, Jim Steiert shows children from Panhandle different plant life located in the playa lakes.

On October 3^rd, the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District partnered with Ogallala Commons to bring a Playa Festival to Panhandle.  Over eighty students from Claude, Groom and Panhandle met at the Carson County War Memorial Building and the Carson County Square House Museum’s Hazelwood Building to learn more about playa lakes and water conservation. 

Viola Moore, Director of the Square House Museum, kicked off the day with a presentation on the historical connection between people and water in the Texas Panhandle.  Ogallala Commons Director Darryl Birkenfeld followed up with an overview on playas in the High Plains while Jim Steiert, author of Playas:  Jewels of the Plains, taught students how to keep a nature journal.  Classes then rotated between presentations on Playa Lake Buffers and Waterfowl; Playa Plants and Soils; and Water Conservation.

The weather cooperated beautifully and the afternoon was spent exploring an incredible playa located one mile outside of Panhandle.  Jim and Darryl navigated groups of explorers over the playa which was covered with an abundance of barnyard grass, pink smartweed and annual aster.  Digging into the deep crevices in the topsoil left by the summer’s drought, Jim exposed a layer of damp Randall clay beneath and students were encouraged to get hands-on and document the bounty of their discoveries in their nature journals.  In addition to being a lot of fun, the Festival covers content that will appear on the STAAR test.

 The Playa Festival was made possible by co-sponsors Xcel Energy Foundation and the Dixon Water Foundation.  A special thanks goes to Judge Lewis Powers, Julie Smith, Billy Bob Brown and the staff of the Carson County Square House Museum.