An ambitious “Water Conservation Reserve Program” concept to make water districts funding hubs for retiring irrigated agriculture in Panhandle and South Plains counties was floated during a panel discussion at a Stewarding Our Aquifer Field Day September 17 in Lubbock sponsored by Ogallala Commons. 

Irrigation retirement would preserve the remnant groundwater of the Ogallala aquifer for domestic needs, similar to a project underway in eastern New Mexico. In both Texas and New Mexico agriculture irrigation is drawing Ogallala aquifer groundwater levels down to only a few years of supply remaining.

Dr. Chris Grotegut, an agriculture representative to the Region O (Llano Estacado) Regional Water Planning Group, a Deaf Smith County landowner, farmer and rancher, and long-time proponent of groundwater conservation, introduced the concept at the Lubbock meeting. 

Joining him on a discussion panel were Lacy Cotter Vardeman of Cotter Key Farms, Slaton, a fifth-generation farmer and rancher with a passion for conservation. Her efforts encompass conservation-oriented growing of Angus cattle, farming cotton, preserving ephemeral playas in Bailey and Lubbock counties, and bringing back springs in Bailey County.

Lincoln Devault of Farwell, a Parmer County farmer and another agriculture representative on the Llano Estacado Regional Water Planning Group, rounded out the panel members. He appreciates playas in recharging the Ogallala aquifer, and the importance of saving Ogallala aquifer water for communities including Farwell, adjacent to the New Mexico border.

 “I propose that water districts be repurposed to buy water rights or conservation easements of groundwater within their territory. Landowners would retain farming rights but would cease irrigating and be paid for their groundwater. This would make landowners whole in retiring debt, pay them for their remaining groundwater, and ease the transition to rain-fed agriculture and conversion to grassland. The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District already has good information on remaining groundwater under properties based on data from their annual depth to water measurements and their well monitoring. The High Plains Water District is a taxing entity and already has the mechanisms in place to function,” said Grotegut. 

The concept is not unique to the High Plains. Water districts elsewhere in Texas have transitioned to a water supply district role. 

Grotegut explained that a fair market appraisal of the value of remaining groundwater would be necessary before the water district could proceed. Landowners with a greater remaining quantity of groundwater beneath their property would be paid accordingly. 

Grotegut theorized that traditional bond funding and access to Texas Water Development Board and USDA opportunities would expedite a transition.

“Communities need education and leadership to address this issue. Currently, no one seems to want to pay for a water supply and resultant loss of a community is their choice.”

Grotegut’s notion is that with groundwater conservation district water rights purchase or conservation, the district could act as a clearing house for those in need of future water. The user would not necessarily have to be a municipality. Water policies would be data driven.

“This would take personal bias out of the transfer. Local/regional elected boards would keep control local. Bonds could be issued to fund purchases for future supplies,” he said. 

“This would change things to a market function and end competition between neighbors for remaining groundwater. The goal is to retire irrigation, make farm debt good and landowners whole. When paid for groundwater, they could take their land to grass and make money, something that hasn’t been happening with irrigated farming the last several years.” 

The HPWD would serve as administrator of the retired water and the local voice during a transition to a water supply district.

“The need is real to preserve the remaining groundwater from further drawdown by irrigation, and get feelings out of the way. This would change things to a market function and end competition between neighbors,” Grotegut said. 

The purchase of water rights would be funded through property taxes levied by the water district, which already has the mechanism in place to do so.

Grotegut estimates cost to acquire irrigation rights and preserve groundwater for the future would amount to about $240 a year or roughly $12 a month in additional taxes for water district members.   

USDA CRP involvement with aquifers could expand acres to whole farm conservation models that are compensated in a cost-competitive model for irrigation. The program would be based on best data of water available and inflation adjusted and available water adjusted, with payments reset every decade. 

More actual high-quality water available would result in more payment to the landowner.

The water CRP would be targeted to areas to conserve the maximum gallons of groundwater with least loss from other user groups.

“This would result in optimum return of land to native permaculture grasslands. Restoration of playas for recharge and land for ecosystem function, especially for wildlife, would be important features, and the program would allow rest/recovery grazing for plant health, and income without penalty,” Grotegut stated. 

At the core of water policy stacking funding would be municipalities or major water users. The first ring would be the water district, which could sell to water users at appropriate times, before there is excessive loss of water to neighboring users.

“This program would need to pay for the water that’s really there. It would be dangerous to say that it’s all apples and apples. Payment would need to be for the quantity and quality of water,” he surmised.

Water CRP lands could be surrounded with land held in CRP contracts continually until funds are available to purchase by the district or major water users. Under the proposed program there would be no penalty for CRP contract termination if going to a water district or municipality. Groundwater conservation district water rights purchases or conservation easements would make them clearing houses. 

Grotegut maintains that a water CRP would provide positive impacts to the ecosystem. 

“Ultimately ecosystem services, the value of land and wetlands matter to us all. Landowner compensation or property transfer is a legitimate way to obtain water for current and future residents of the region. A program would need to follow the data, and we need to realize there are real costs to society if the water crisis continues to be ignored.

“Optimized ecology is essential if we are to optimize positive outcomes. Mimicking the natural ecosystem cycles with animal grazing and hoof action are vital to prevent further desertification.  To get things right on the land we need livestock on it,” he said. 

Lacy Vardeman responded positively to the notion, saying “I love approaching this from a producer perspective like they are doing with the Ogallala Land and Water Conservancy of Clovis scheme to retire as much irrigation in Curry County as possible for Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis. It’s something we need to do, and we need to know what we use.”

For his part, Lincoln Devault observed, “The older generation is getting out of irrigated agriculture and telling the younger generation that is coming in to stop pumping won’t service their debt. I appreciate the idea of a water CRP to make the landowner whole. In Parmer County we are seeing tens of thousands of acres going to dryland. Well yields of 30 to 50 gallons a minute make it no longer feasible to irrigate. The cots of keeping wells running and low crop production are not economically viable. Tying down the remaining water would be great to ensure no more decline from irrigation.”

IN PHOTO ABOVE: Dr. Chris Grotegut of Hereford, left, Lacy Vardeman of Slaton, and Lincoln Devault of Farwell were featured panelists at the Stewarding Our Aquifer Field Day September 17 in Lubbock, sponsored by Ogallala Commons. Grotegut brought up the concept of a Water Conservation Reserve Program which was supported by his fellow panelists. Concepts to halt the heavy drawdown of the small remnant of the Ogallala aquifer are garnering new attention. (Photo by Jim Steiert)