steve walthour, conserving groundwater on the texas high plains: a collaborative approach
TRANSCRIPT
Steve Walthour, General Manager North Plains Groundwater Conservation District Nov. 29, 2011
200-12 Demonstrations
Demonstration Results
10.86 11.76 11.2 $10.47
$42.08
($109.31) -120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
Field 1 Field 2 Plot 3
2010 North Plains Conservation Demonstration
Inches of Water Used
Profit Increase/Decrease Per Acre
Demonstration Results
18.78 21.32
31.21
($10.00) ($9.00)
0
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
Field 1 Field 2 Plot 3
2011 North Plains Conservation Demonstration
Inches of Water Used
Compared to other fields
Future Demonstrations
Meters or Alternative Metering Devices on all non-exempt wells
Production Reporting
2 acre-feet per acre production limit.
1.75 acre-feet per acre production limit – 2011
1.5 acre-feet per acre production limit – 2012
Water Conservation Reserve
Lessons Learned • Irrigation can be cut as
much as 1/2 and maintain producer profitability
• Water conservation requires risk taking
• Ag water conservation helps GCDs to locally manage groundwater
More Lessons Learned
• Cutting annual irrigation
by 3” on 1 million acres saves 250,000 A/F of water
• GCD collaboration works
