The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) is proud to announce the winners of the 2013 Scholarship Essay Contest. This years winners were selected from 18 applicants that wrote an essay on the topic, “Water is an important part of our daily lives in many ways, and it is becoming a limited resource in many places including the Texas Panhandle.  What water conservation strategies should county governments, municipalities and water districts initiate that would inspire you and your community to conserve water?”   
        Winner of the $4,000 scholarship is Zachary Berry of Panhandle High School in Panhandle, Texas. Zachary graduated with a 3.77 grade point average (GPA) and he plans to major in Agriculture at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He is the son of Gerald and Karen Berry.
The recipient of the $3,000 scholarship is Tess J. Rusk  also of Panhandle High School. Tess is the daughter of Rebecca and Scott Rusk, and graduated with a 3.80 GPA. She plans to major in Nursing at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Winner of the $2,000 scholarship is Kyler Barkley of Groom High School in Groom, Texas. Kyler graduated with a 3.71 GPA and plans to attend Texas Tech University to study agriculture. Barkley is the son of  Keith and Kathleen Barkley.
To be eligible for the PGCD scholarship, applicants are required to be a high school senior and live within the District boundary of PGCD, and must write a 500 to 1,000 word essay on a topic chosen by the District. A committee of three board members, general manager and a staff member select the winners. The scholarships are paid out over four years. Recipients must enroll as a full-time student and attend the fall semester immediately following graduation.The winning essays can be found below.

1st Place, Zachary Berry

        Water is vital to all of life. Without water there would be no life. The vast Ogallala aquifer is our lifeline in the Texas Panhandle. It is our duty to not only take advantage of its abundant resources but to conserve and respect it. In our region we put much strain on our water sources. From trying to have the best looking lawn on the block or the best com in the county, we as a whole constantly keep stress on our water. Finely manicured fescue and bumper com crops are just a few of the numerous luxuries that are attainable with the help of the mighty Ogallala.

We are truly blessed to have its aid, but if we are not responsible our future generations will watch these so called "luxuries" dry up. In theory, being responsible individuals about our water should be the only strategy that needs implemented, but of course it is not. Conserving water always has and always will be a constant struggle. That's why an effective government strategy could possibly hold the key to proficient water conservation. Getting people to actually listen and follow instructions is never easy no matter what the age. That is why an effective government strategy could quite possibly hold the key to water conservation in the Texas Panhandle. Money talks and the basis of my strategy revolves around just that. If people do not want to be responsible on their own, maybe their pocketbook could talk some sense into them.

To put water conservation strategies in place, the county government, municipalities and water districts need to work together and target three groups: the youth of our communities, the city residents and the farmers.

The best place to start with water conservation strategies is the youth. If they are educated and constantly reminded from early on, they will be more likely to understand the importance of conserving our precious resource. We have all been taught since kindergarten to turn off the water while brushing our teeth and to take quick showers. The counties, cities and water districts need to work hand-in-hand with the school districts in presenting programs to the students at all grade levels on an on-going basis. I think our school has a good start. As a member of the Carson County Youth Leadership Advisory Board, we joined forces with the Groundwater District in staging a Water-Wise Program. Kids were shown the importance of conserving water and how it can be achieved through fun activities. Another idea for the youth would be an ad campaign competition similar to the "Every Drop Counts" instituted by the City of Amarillo through TV ads.

Getting participation from the second group of users, the city residents, will be harder than educating the youth. Most residents have never known anything other than having an abundance of water to use at any given time. The three entities could once again join forces and provide seminars about xeriscape landscaping explaining how water usage could drastically be reduced as well as saving time on yard maintenance and upkeep. Having labored in the PGCD's own xeriscape garden, I realized green grass is not the only way to have an appealing yard. I have two strategies for cutting down on water usage by city residents. Each of these will hit homeowners where it hurts most - in their pocketbooks. The current water rate for city residents in Panhandle is $23.05 for the first 2,000 gallons used and then 25 cents per 100 gallons thereafter. I suggest the rate remain the same for the first 2,000 gallons. For each subsequent 1,000 gallons, the rate would increase by 10 cents/100 gallons. For example, the first 1,000 gallons over the initial 2,000 gallons would be $0.35/100 gallons, 2,000 gallons would be $0.45/100 gallons, and so on. Another water saving strategy would be to implement restricted watering days and times to be enforced year-round, not just during summertime droughts. There will always be people who abide by the government enforced regulations and then there are those who deem to be "above the law." If residents do not comply with these restrictions, they would receive a hefty fine from the very first offense - no warning. If the drought lingers for many more years, a last resort would be water allotments. Once a resident has used their "quota" of water for the month, their water would be cut off. I can personally say I would much rather have a daily shower and clean clothes than a lush, green yard.

Water restrictions will hit the last group, the farmer, the hardest. Their livelihood depends on the Ogallala. With well-below rain averages over the past few years, farmers have had to irrigate practically non-stop from planting time to harvest just to keep their crops alive and produce average yields. Farmers, as a whole, are well aware of the severity of depleting the Ogallala and are taking necessary steps to preserve it for not only their future, but their children's future. Changes in crop production are already being made as farmers are planting more drought tolerant varieties and less water intensive crops. With the economics of farming the way they have been the last five years, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to pump water owned by the farmer. However, if the severe drought continues, the county government along with the groundwater district may have to step in and impose water allocation strategies such as acre/inch.

All strategies may look great on paper or from behind an office desk, but the real variable is how it reaches the individual. Mr. John Doe is the real key to success in conserving our most valuable natural resource - water. It is going to take each and every one of us working together and doing our part to "conserve water for future generations.”

Other essays Coming soon