Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 1 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER January 1994

Southern counties to elect District Directors, County Committee members Registered voters in eight counties within the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 will elect District Directors and County Committee members on Saturday, January 15, 1994. Directors Precinct One Residents of District Director's Precinct One, consisting of the portion of Crosby County above the escarpment and all of Lubbock and Lynn Counties, are currently represented on the Board of Directors by James P. Mitchell of Wolfforth, who is running unopposed. Mitchell was first elected to the Water District Board of Directors in January 1976 and has served as President of the Board since 1979. Crosby County Committee can­ didates are Dale Laminack, County Commissioners' Precinct One; Jimmy JAMES P. MITCHELL STANLEY MILLER GILBERT FAWVER R. Wheeless, Precinct Two; Mark Incumbent District Director Incumbent District Director Incumbent District Director Schoepf, Precinct Three; Matthew Precinct One Precinct Two Precinct Five Wilmeth, Precinct Four; and Donald Edwards, Precinct Four; and Steve didates are Richard Williams, Com­ Lamb County Committee can­ Kirksey, member-at-large. Miller, member-at-large. missioners' Precinct One; Dennis didates are Royce Collins, Precinct Lubbock County Committee can­ Brown, Precinct Two; Dennis Lemons, One; Henrian Enloe, Precinct Two; didates are Jackie L. Brown, County Directors Precinct Two Brad Heffington, Precinct Three; Paul Commissioners' Precinct One; Larry Incumbent Stanley Miller of Precinct Three; Jimmy Mullinax, Precinct Four; and John D. Srygley, Yarborough, Precinct Four; and Jerry Gamble, Precinct Two; Rynn Truett, Amherst is running unopposed for Goheen, member-at-large. Precinct Three; Roy Lee " Rocky" Director of District Directors' Precinct member-at-large. Blair II, Precinct Four; and Herman Two, consisting of Cochran and most Hockley County Committee can­ Directors Precinct Five Lorenz, member-at-large. of Hockley and Lamb Counties. didates are Larry Smith, Commis­ Gilbert Fawver, current Director of Lynn County Committee candi­ Miller was appointed by the Board to sioners' Precinct One; Mike McKee, Director's Precinct Five, was first dates are John Earl Fields, Com­ serve the unexpired term of Mack Precinct Two; Scott Fred, Precinct elected to the Board of Directors in missioner s' Precinct One; W. A. Hicks of Levelland, who died in Three; Jim Copeland, Precinct Four; 1982 and is currently serving as Vice­ "Billy" Russ, Precinct Two; Glen March 1990. and Rodney McMillan, member-at­ President. He faces David Appling of "Burley" Brewer, Precinct Three; John Cochran County Committee can- large. Floydada and Bruce Rigler of Plain­ view in this race to represent the residents of the part of Floyd County Celebrating 40 years of water conservation news above the escarpment and all of Hale County. " ... We shall endeavor to present to After reading these articles, we center pivot sprinklers with Low Floyd County Committee candi­ you a cross section of the present day hope you experience a little nostalgia, Energy Precision Application (LEP A) dates are Edwin Nutt, Precinct One; activities in the field of Underground as well as a great feeling of pride at systems. Since water losses associat­ Charles W. Huffman, Precinct Two; Water as an instrument for keeping in the water conservation accomplish­ ed with wind drift, evaporation and Nathan Johnson, Precinct Three; AC. THE touch with the plans ments achieved by District residents. deep percolation are virtually elimi­ Pratt, Precinct Four; and F. L. a~d f~nctions of your For example, many agricultural nated, irrigation application efficien­ Montandon III, member-at-large. CROSS District." producers have begun to use surge cies as high as 95 percent may be Hale County Committee candi­ SECTION With these _words, valves to improve their furrow irriga­ achieved. dates are Mike Ferguson, Precinct The Cross Sectzon was tion application efficiencies. Water We are proud to have had the One; Carroll Leon, Precinct Two; introduced to readers savings of 10 to 40 percent are possi­ opportunity to share these success Tommie H. Wages, Precinct Three; by High Plains Water ble by reducing and/ or eliminating stories with you during the past 40 Birt Lane, Precinct Four; and Kevin District general man­ deep percolation and tailwater losses. years of conservation reporting in The Igo, member-at-large. ager Tom McFarland Most open, unlined ditches have Cross Section. We now turn to the Polling Places and Editor F. B. Jeu given way to underground pipelines. future in anticipation of the many Polling places will be open from 7 Devine in June 1954. These pipelines help eliminate water innovations it holds with regard to a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, January 15, To commemorate our 40th year of losses ranging from 10 to 30 percent ground water conservation. 1994. The voting places and publication, some articles and pho­ per 1,000 feet of open ditch. presiding judges are as follows: tographs from 1954 will be reprinted Other area producers have Carmon McCain in The Cross Section throughout 1994. replaced high pressure, above-line Editor See POLLING Page Three Page2 THE CROSS SECTION January 1994 Technical Division staff now making annual depth-to-water measurements Technical Division staff members monitoring program." was measured is affixed to are now making annual depth-to­ In future years, some of these wells equipment at the well site. water measurements to determine the will be dropped and new wells added The observation wells are mea­ effect of 1993 pumpage on ground as efforts are made to build the best sured each year, and the data col­ water levels of the Ogallala Aquifer program possible to reflect represen­ lected is com pared with that of within the 15-county Water District tative changes in water levels for each previous years to determine any service area. area of Hale County. changes in the ground water levels of The data collection started January Technical Division staff members the Ogallala Aquifer within the Water 3rd and will continue through take the measurement by lowering a District service area. This data is February. steel tape to the depth of the current used to construct maps showing Measurements are taken in the static water level inside the changes in water levels and the District's network of about 1,160 observation well. The lower ten to saturated thickness of the aquifer privately-owned observation wells. fifteen feet of the tape is coated with within the District. These wells are spaced at a density of blue carpenters' chalk. When the Maps showing the location and about one well per nine square miles chalk comes in contact with the throughout the District. ground water, it turns a darker shade well number of observation wells in "We have established observation of blue. This section of wetted tape is each county or portion of a county well sites for the newly-annexed subtracted from the total amount of served by the District are portions of Cochran and Lynn tape lowered into the well to traditionally published in the April Counties," says Don McReynolds, determine the depth-to-water from issue of The Cross Section. Along with Depth-to-Water Technical Division Director. "In land surface. the maps, tables listing the Engineer Technician Terry Bridges the portion of Hale County added After the depth-to-water-level observation wells in each county and makes a depth-to-water measure­ to the Water District in August, we measurement is taken, the data is the depth-to-water measurements for ment in one of the 1, 160 observation plan to measure depths-to-water recorded and a vinyl sticker showing one year (1993 to 1994), five year wells within the District's 15-county in wells currently included in the the well number, the depth-to-water (1989 to 1994) and ten year intervals service area. State of Texas ground water measurement, and the date the well (1984 to 1994) will also be printed. District cost-in-water income tax depletion allowance: Past and present

EDITOR'S NOTE-The following story allowance for the depletion of from the June 1954 Cross Section d etails underground water. First, it will be the first steps that the High Plains Water necessary to establish that the District took to obtain a cost-in-water landowner has a cost in his income tax depletion allowance for area underground water as distin­ landown ers. The Wa ter Distr ict h as guished from the cost of the soil; provided this service since 1965.-CEM. second, it will be necessary to establish that the underground * ** water is depleted through its use; The High Plains Underground and third, it will be necessary to Water Conservation District has re­ establish the annual rate at which ceived a number of inquiries in such depletion occurs. Obviously recent months relative to the in areas where pumping does not possibility of obtaining the deplete the underground water approval of the Internal Revenue supply, the landowner would not Service for an expense deduction be entitled to an allowance for for income tax purposes of the cost water depletion. However in places value of under­ where underground water is being THE ground water depleted by continuous use, it It's Tax Time which is de­ would appear that a deduction Internal Revenue Service engineers recently reviewed cost-in-water guidelines CROSS pleted by use should be allowed the landowner and approved decline data developed by the Water District for use by landown­ SECTION for municipal, as a compensation for the asset ers in claiming a cost-in-water income tax depletion allowance on their 1993 ind us trial and (water) consumed in the production federal income tax returns. Participants in the meeting were , from left, IRS agricultural of income. A depletion deduction Engineers Jack Page and Lorinda Busby of Dallas, Water District Manager A. purposes. of this nature would be comparable Wayne Wyatt, Farm and Ranch Appraiser B.L. Jones Ill (standing), and Water @ill At present to the present cost depletion District Technical Division Director Don McReynolds. no allowance is allowance now made in the case of Y E A R S made for tax oil and gas, minerals, and timber, purposes for and would be similar to the present the depletion of underground allowance for depreciation on water. For example, if a person equipment used in a trade or pays $400 an acre for 200 acres of business. land; if he pumps water from his The High Plains Underground land for twenty-five years and ex­ Water Conservation District, in hausts his supply of water; and if at carrying out another phase of its the end of that time his land is only conservation program and in order TH E CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920) worth $100 an acre due to the fact to render additional service to the THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... M anager Ken Ca rver ...... Asst. Manager that his water supply has become people within the District, has th e Hi gh Pl a in s Undergro und W ater Don McReynolds ...... Geologist exhausted, the only way that he is instructed Hearn and Lawrence, Co nse rvation Di st ri ct No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Williams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Glenn Bl ackmon ...... En gineer Tec hn ician permitted a deduction for the loss Certified Public Accountants, Lu bbock, TX 79405-1499 Terry Bridges ...... Engi neer Tec hn ician he has sustained, under existing tax Lubbock, to make a study of the Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary Tamara Daniel ...... In formation/Education Ass istant regulations, is through the sale of possibilities of securing the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agri cultura l En gineer THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Bri an Houston ...... En gineer Tec hnician the land. approval of the Internal Revenue Arn old Husky ...... En gineer Technician Several problems present them­ Service for such an allowance and Lu bbock, TX 79405-1499 1-8 06-762-0181 . Pat Ku nkel ...... Bookkeeper CARMON McCAIN, Edi tor Rosie Risinger ...... Secretary/Receptionist selves in any study of the of the means by which such Dan Sea le ...... Engineer Technician possibility of establishing an approval might be obtained. INFORMATION/EDUCATION DIRE CTOR Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman January 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 Justice Department objection puts Edwards Aquifer Authority in limbo At press time, the Edwards Board were not sworn into office on bodies responsible for making the reverted back to Judge Bunton' s Aquifer Authority remains in limbo September 1-when SB 1477 was to appointments have a Hispanic court." following a U.S. Justice Department take effect-because of the U.S. majority among the selecting officials, Bunton told the San Antonio objection that the change to an ap­ Justice Department's request for and only the appointing bodies Express-News that he may have to pointed authority board violates the additional information regarding the within Bexar County have any take control of the Edwards Aquifer Federal Voting Rights Act. possible violation. substantial Hispanic representation. if peak water demands during the During the closing hours of the The San Antonio Express-News "Thus, it appears that Hispanic spring and summer of 1994 reduce 73rd Texas Legislative Session in reported that Justice Department voters will have considerably less spring flow to a point that threatens May, Senate Bill 1477 was passed to attorneys were concerned that influence over the selection of the endangered fish and salamanders create the Edwards Aquifer creation of the authority with an members of the governing body of the in Comal Springs. Authority and abolish the Edwards appointed board "will have a discrim­ Edwards Aquifer through the choices He added that he believes ground Underground Water District. inatory effect upon the voting rights of the appointing authorities than water management of the Edwards The legislation was partly in of minority voters" and that the bill they currently have under the direct­ Aquifer should be handled by the response to an order by Senior U.S. abolishing the old elected district election system for the water district." state. District Judge Lucius D. Bunton III to board is "unenforceable unless ... pre­ "Senate Bill 1477 did not contain a "That was my choice to begin limit pumping from the Edwards clearance (under the Voting Rights severability clause, which probably with-to give the state a chance to Aquifer or face federal regulation to Act) has been obtained." means that if one portion of the bill is handle the matter-and I'm still protect endangered species in Comal A letter from Acting Assistant U.S. ruled invalid, then the entire legisla­ inclined that way. I think it is a state Springs at New Braunfels and San Attorney General James P. Turner to tion is void," says High Plains Water matter and should be handled by the Marcos Springs at San Marcos. Texas Secretary of State John Hannah District Manager A. Wayne Wyatt. state," Bunton told the San Antonio Appointees to the new Aquifer stated " ... At this time, none of the "My opinion is that the issue has newspaper. Polling places announced for January 15 Water D istrict elections Continued From Page One Presiding Judge: Ophelia Stone DIRECTORS' PRECINCT ONE Central Bailey County faces annexation question Polling Place No. 5 Residents of the recently annexed portion of Bailey County are reminded Spade Co-op Gin, Spade, TX. CROSBY COUNTY that they will vote on the ratification of the annexation of their property into Presiding Judge: Jack Stubblefield Polling Place No. 1 the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District and the assess­ Lorenzo Community Center, ment of an ad valorem tax for the maintenance and operation of th~ District Lorenzo, TX. DIRECTORS' PRECINCT FIVE Presiding Judge: Mary Landin during a January 15, 1994, special election. The annexed territory consists of that part of Bailey County not already FLOYD COUNTY Polling Place No. 2 within the District and includes the Baileyboro, Bula, Goodland, and Stegall Polling Place No. 1 Pioneer Memorial Building, Communities and the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. County Courthouse, Floydada, TX. Crosbyton, TX. Voters may cast ballots on January 15 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the follow­ Presiding Judge: Lorene Newberry Presiding Judge: Connye Allen ing locations: Polling Place No. 2 Polling Place No. 3 Voting Place No. 1: Barker Insurance Company, Main & Ralls Chamber of Commerce, Bula School, Bula, Texas. Wanda Layton is the Presiding Judge. Locust Streets, Lockney, TX. 808 A venue I, Ralls, TX. Voting Place No. 2: Presiding Judge: Barry Barker Presiding Judge: Robby Lyle Buffalo Farms Elevator, Stegall, Texas. Jack Lane is the Presiding Judge. Following the election, returns shall be submitted to the Secretary of the HALE COUNTY LUBBOCK COUNTY Polling Place No. 1 Polling Place No. 1 Board of Directors of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 for canvassing in accordance with the election code of the State Community Center, Petersburg, TX. East entrance to hallway, Lubbock Presiding Judge: Blake Lyde County Courthouse, Lubbock, TX. of Texas. The resolution to annex the territory will be void if voters do not Presiding Judge: Geneva Goolsby ratify it. Polling Place No. 2 Polling Place No. 2 Plainview Chamber of Commerce, Fire Station No. 6, 35th and Indiana, Presiding Judge: Helen Saldana Presiding Judge: Suzanne Leggitt 710 W 5th St., Plainview, TX. Presiding Judge: Margaret True Lubbock, TX. Polling Place No. 4 Polling Place No. 2 Presiding Judge: Betty J. Fitchett Woolam Gin Office, 900 6th St., Ropes Farmers Co-op Gin, Polling Place No. 3 Polling Place No. 3 O'Donnell, TX. Ropesville, TX. Edmonson Community Building, City Hall, Wolfforth, TX. Presiding Judge: C.R. Burleson Presiding Judge: Marian Drake Edmonson, TX. Presiding Judge: Mary Qualls Polling Place No. 3 Presiding Judge: Ruth Kimball DIRECTORS' PRECINCT TWO Polling Place No. 4 Community Building, Sundown, TX. Presiding Judge: Ruby Brown Polling Place No. 4 County Clubhouse, Slaton, TX. COCHRAN COUNTY American Legion Hall, Presiding Judge: Wayne Liles Polling Place No. 1 Polling Place No. 4 Hale Center, TX. Polling Place No. 5 County Activities Building, Whitharral Lions Club Building, Presiding Judge: Ronald Groves City Hall, Idalou, TX. Morton, TX. Whitharral, TX. Polling Place No. 5 Presiding Judge: Virgil Isom Presiding Judge: Dolley Crockett Presiding Judge: Eva Chavez School Administration Office, Polling Place No. 6 Polling Place No. 2 Polling Place No. 5 Cotton Center, TX. Community Clubhouse, G & C Gin, Morton, TX. City Hall, Anton, TX. Presiding Judge: Kenneth Burnett Shallowater, TX. Presiding Judge: Pat Clark Presiding Judge: Christene Buchanan Presiding Judge: Glenn Blackmon Polling Place No. 3 Polling Place No. 6 Precinct 4 County Barn, Morton, TX. LAMB COUNTY Meeting Room, City Hall, LYNN COUNTY Presiding Judge: Marjorie Key Polling Place No. 1 Abernathy, TX. Polling Place No. 1 Lions Club Building, Olton, TX. Presiding Judge: Y.F. Snodgrass Polling Place No. 4 Wilson Co-op Gin, Wilson, TX. Presiding Judge: Elsida Perez Sunmark Grain, Bledsoe, TX. Presiding Judge: Connie Donald Polling Place No. 2 Presiding Judge: Ernest Trull The election will be conducted and Polling Place No. 2 Community Building, Earth, TX. Polling Place No. 5 the returns submitted on January 21, New Home Co-op Gin, Presiding Judge: Perry Martin Beseda Grain, Whiteface, TX. 1994, to the Secretary of the Board of New Home, TX. Presiding Judge: Chad Beseda Polling Place No. 3 Directors of the High Plains Presiding Judge: Diana Nettles Community Center, Sudan,TX. Underground Water Conservation Polling Place No. 3 HOCKLEY COUNTY Presiding Judge: Nolan Parrish District No. 1 for canvassing in Lynn County Courthouse, Polling Place No. 1 Polling Place No. 4 accordance with the Election Code of Tahoka, TX. County Courthouse, Levelland, TX. County Courthouse, Littlefield, TX. the State of Texas. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION January 1994 Irrigation system upgrade opens "new world of farming" for producer

By Tamara Daniel

Converting from furrow irrigation to a center pivot sprinkler system can make a big difference in a farming operation. Ask Russell Buckman of Lubbock, and he'll tell you that center pivot irrigation has brought him into a new world of farming. Three years ago, Buckman decided to install center pivot systems on his farms east of Lubbock. He says his decision was based upon the success his father, Bill Buckman, has had with the center pivots he installed and his brother-in-law's experience with eight pivots on the land he farms. Buckman's farms were previously furrow irrigated. He says the places were "pretty cut up" and that he could not afford to continue to pay two hired hands, plus wear and tear on trucks and equipment and contin­ ue with this type of irrigation. Producer Praises Pivots Buckman has been amazed at what the center pivot systems have done Russell Buckman of Lubbock stands next to a cotton module on his father's farm near Acuff. His father's success with for him. center pivot sprinkler systems prompted Buckman to install simi lar systems on his farms east of Lubbock and north of "With the center pivot system, I Acuff. By converting from furrow irrigation to center pivot systems, Buckman has increased his crop yield, reduced his doubled my crop yield, and I can do labor costs, and conserved ground water. all the irrigation work myself," he says. The farm east of Lubbock has a went in late, and Buckman did not Wheat stubble is left in the field izer through the pivot nearly every program yield of 622 pounds of cot­ have time to fill the soil profile before when Buckman plants his cotton. His trip around the field. ton lint per acre. Only a portion of planting. He hopes his crop yield land is very sandy, and the wheat Buckman still has one long, nar­ the 1993 crop from this farm has been will be even better next year because stubble reduces blowing dust and row strip of land that he furrow irri­ ginned to date, and it averaged 1,300 he can start the season with a full soil helps protect the cotton seedlings. gates with a surge valve. He says he to 1,400 pounds of cotton lint per acre. profile. The residue also acts as a mulch to plans to put a pivot there if he can Buckman also has a farm north of Due to cool, wet conditions at the help hold moisture in the soil. purchase additional land around the Acuff. He says 50 bales of cotton per beginning of the 1992 growing sea­ Furrow dikes are another part of tract to square it up. The purchase of acre was a good yield for this farm son, Buckman (like most producers in his farm production plan. Both farms a center pivot sprinkler has made it under the previous furrow irrigation. the area) planted grain sorghum as a slope, and the furrow dikes prevent economically feasible for him to farm This year, 200 bales were harvested. replacement crop. He was hoping for irrigation water from running out the another piece of land. "All I did was change from row a yield of 3,000 pounds per acre and end of the furrow. "We are not wast­ Because of the increased crop yield watering to the center pivot and ended up with a yield of 6,000 to ing any of the water we put on with and water and labor savings, added one 100-gallon per minute 7,000 pounds per acre. the pivot. The water stays where we Buckman recommends center pivot well," says Buckman. "A center pivot allows you to do a put it because of the furrow dikes," use to other producers. He adds that he also planted soy­ lot of things," says Buckman. He has says Buckman. "If a guy is going to farm, I would beans on this farm, and he harvested 24 been able to diversify his farming oper­ The pivots on Buckman's farms say he needs to buy a center pivot bushels per acre with only one irrigation. ation by p lanting cotton, wheat, pull double duty by applying both before he buys a new tractor," he The center pivot on the Acuff farm peanuts and soybeans under the pivots. water and fertilizer. He applies fertil- says.

66N-SOP6L S'1X3.l ')1 0088nl 0 3nN3A'1 OC6C: ~ "ON .1011::1.lSla NOl.l'1Al::l3SNOO 1::13.l'1M aNnOl::l~l::l3aNn SNl'11d H~IH .lll/lll::l3d SS'110 aN003S (OC:6-P9S SdSn) NOl.l03S SSOl::IO 3H.l Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservati on Distri ct No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 2 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER February 1994 1994 pre-plant soil moisture survey indicates dry soil conditions Most area farmers and ranchers ration for the 1994 growing season. gust-December precipitation for Lub­ amounts of available soil moisture, were fairly certain that the below "Six to eight inches of moisture will bock was 8.38 inches during the 10- depending upon the crop produced. average precipitation received in 1993 be needed to bring the five-foot root year period (1983 to 1993). In 1993, The graphic on page four depicts would result in extremely dry soil zone soil profile to field capacity. In preci pi ta tion for the same months the average plant-available moisture conditions this winter. some areas of the Water District, soil was 3.11 inches (5 .27 inches below per foot of soil for the four main crops The 1994 pre-plant soil moisture moisture deficits are as high as eight average). The regional precipitation (corn, cotton, sorghum and w heat) survey conducted by the High Plains to ten inches," says Wilfred E. "Willie" map below illustrates two small iso­ grown within the Water District. Underground Water Conservation Crenwelge, USDA-SCS Soil Scientist. lated areas where total rainfall was In cotton growing areas, the cotton District No. 1 and the USDA-Soil Where Were The Rains? near normal for the year in the sites monitored averaged about 0.2 Conservation Service (USDA-SCS) Below-average precipitation during Amarillo area. inches of moisture at the one foot soil verified their assumption. late summer and the fall for most of Top Root Zone Is Dry level; 0.2 inches at the two foot level; 0.2 The data collected from the survey the Water District service area is a Most of the soil moisture deficit is inches at the three foot level; 0.6 inches indicates that pre-plant irrigation will major cause of the pre-plant soil located in the top three feet of the five at the four foot level; and 0.8 inches at be needed throughout the 15-county moisture deficit. foot root zone soil profile. The deeper the five foot level of the soil profile. Water District service area in prepa- As an example, the average Au- four and five foot layers have varying Corn growing areas averaged 0.9 inches of moisture at the one foot level; 0.8 inches at the two foot level; 0.6 at the three foot level; 1.1 inches at District received below average precipitation last year the four foot level; and one inch at the five foot level. Just how dry was it in 1993? See AREA Page Two The graphic at left illustrates pre­ cipitation totals as measured in the High Plains Underground Water Election results Conservation District's rain gauge ! network. The data points for the graphic at announced left represent five-inch precipitation During a special January 15th elec­ intervals. tion, voters in Water District Direc­ The blue screened areas of the tor's Precincts One, Two and Five map represent the portions of elected three Directors and 40 County Cochran, Hale and Lynn Counties Committee members to serve four­ annexed into the Water District ser­ year terms as their representatives in vice area within the past year and a Water District matters and concerns. half. Rain gauges have not yet been Precinct One established at soil moisture sites in James P. Mitchell of Wolfforth was these areas. re-elected to serve an eighth term as Precinct One District Director. In addition, rainfall data is not Precinct One County Committees available for the central portion of Newly-elected Crosby County Bailey County annexed into the Committee members are Jimmy R. Water District service area last Wheeless of Crosbyton, Mark month. District personnel will estab­ Schoepf of Lorenzo, Matthew lish soil moisture monitoring sites Wilmeth of Ralls, and Don ald and rain gauges within the new ter­ Kirksey of Lorenzo. Incumbent Dale ritory as soon as possible. Laminack of Ralls was re-elected to a Historical average annual precipi­ second term. tation as recorded by the National Newly-elected Lubbock County Weather Service is about 20 inches Committee members are Jackie L. for the Amarillo area and about 18 Brown of Lubbock, Larry Gamble of inches for the Lubbock area. Slaton, and Roy Lee "Rocky" Blair II Generally, most of the Water of Shallowater. Incumbents Herman District service area received from Lorenz of New Deal and Rynn Truett of Idalou were re-elected to a second HIGH PLAINS 10 to 15 inches of moisture during UNDERGROUND WATER term. CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO . 1 1993. Exceptions were in the Hart TOTAL RAINFALL FOR 1993 Newly-elected Lynn County Com­ TEXAS and Olton area where 5 to 10 inches " mittee members are W.A. "Billy" of moisture fell and in southwestern Russ of Tahoka, G len "Burley" DI STRICT BOUNDARY Deaf Smith County and northwest­ Brewer of O'Donnell, John Edwards ern Randall County where above­ of ew Home, and Steve Miller of ...... ------======~===--' normal precipitation was recorded. See ELECTION Page Three Page2 THE CROSS SECTION February 1994 Area producers encouraged to check individual soil moisture conditions Continued From Page One ture trends within the Water District. charge to District residents. This pub­ planting," says Crenwelge. Available moisture for wheat and Although producers can use the lication provides step-by step proce­ "Historical preci pi ta tion records grain sorghum growing areas fell maps as a general guide, they are en­ dures to determine soil moisture con­ show that the area averages one-half between that of cotton and corn. Wheat growing areas averaged 0.7 couraged to check their own soil ditions in different soil types. to three-quarters of an inch of precipi­ inches of moisture at the one foot moisture conditions to determine Below-Average Rainfall tation each month in January, Feb­ level; 0.5 at the two foot level; 0.4 their own pre-plant irrigation needs. Concerns Farmers ruary and March, more than one inch inches at the three foot level; 0.6 inch­ Individuals can monitor soil mois­ Many area producers are concerned in April and more than 2.5 inches in es at the four foot level; and 0.7 inch­ ture conditions through the feel and about the lack of soil moisture and its May. If we receive the long-term aver­ es at the five foot level. appearance method of soil moisture effects on potential crop yields. age of about five inches of precipita­ Grain sorghum areas averaged 0.4 monitoring. A Water Management "Above-average crop yields are tion before planting, the current deficit inches at the one foot level; 0.4 at the Note, Estimating Soil Moisture By Feel more likely to be produced when the will certainly be reduced," he says. two foot level; 0.3 at the three foot and Appearance, is available free of soil is at or near field capacity prior to See FU RROW Page Three level; 0.7 inches at the four foot level; and 0.8 inches at the five foot level. Maps Depict Soil Moisture Availability/Deficit Soil moisture conditions were mea­ sured at approximately 300 neutron tube sites across the District's 15- county service area. Selection of soil P O TTER moisture monitoring sites is based upon the soil type, the variations in the saturated thickness of the Ogallala Aquifer which indicates possible well yields, and the type of crop produced. The map on page two illustrates soil moisture deficits which existed at the time of the pre-plant soil moisture survey in November and December 1993. The deficit is an indication of the amount of moisture that needs to be added to bring the five-foot root zone profile to field capacity prior to planting. The map on page three shows the amount of plant-available water stored in the top five feet of the soil profile within the District at the time of the survey. Individual Monitoring Recommended The soil moisture availability and deficit maps depict general soil mois- Playa basin symposium set

Final preparations are being made for a playa basin symposium to be held May 18, 19 and 20 at Lubbock. Principal sponsors for the three­ day meeting will be the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 and the Texas Tech University Water Resources Center. Tentative topics for discussion in­ clude the origin of playa basins; fed­ eral regulation of playas as wet­ lands; recharge of water through playa basins to the Ogallala Aquifer; artificial recharge of rainfall runoff through playas; playa basin storage of confined animal waste; and the results of the recent nonpoint source survey of playas within the Water District for pesticide runoff. HIGH PLAINS "It has been nearly 20 years since UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRI CT NO . 1 the first playa basin symposium was INCHES OF WATER NEEDED TEXAS held. This symposium will allow a TO WET THE TOP FIVE FEET number of speakers to share their 0 7 14 21 recent research about playa basins," OF SOIL TO FIELD CAPACITY SCALE • MILES SURVEY CONDUCTED NOV. 15, 1993 - DEC. 21, 1993 says A. Wayne Wyatt, High Plains DISTRICT BOUNDARY Water District manager. Additional details about the up­ coming playa basin symposium will be announced in a future issue of The Cross Section . February 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 Furrow dikes, minimum tillage will help maximize precipitation benefits Continued From Page Two row dikes hold water in place until it diked versus undiked acres over a showed an average yield increase of Maximize Precipitation can soak into the soil. This maximizes five-year period, the diked area had about 25 percent with the use of fur­ Crenwelge says producers need to the benefits of precipitation by not an increased average annual yield of row dikes. give special attention to land cultiva­ allowing it to run off the field. 420 pounds of grain sorghum per Minimum tillage is also important tion practices with the current dry Crenwelge adds that producers acre. The average annual runoff from to retain moisture after it soaks into soil conditions. He suggests furrow who use furrow irrigation can install the undiked areas was 1.7 inches per the soil. diking and minimum tillage as a the dikes in the non-irrigated alter­ acre, compared to no runoff from the "Once a rain is received, producers means to optimize precipitation. nate rows to collect precipitation. diked areas. should avoid deep cultivation prac­ Furrow dikes are mounds of soil In 1975, research using furrow Research conducted at the Texas tices. Soil rapidly dries to the plowed mechanically installed in the furrows dikes on dryland grain sorghum was Agricultural Experiment Station at depth, and any soil moisture gained to create small basins. When rainfall conducted at the Bushland Experi­ Lubbock on dryland cotton yields on from precipitation will evaporate," exceeds the soil's infiltration rate, fur- ment Station. Comparing yields on diked acres versus undiked acres says Crenwelge. Election Results Continued From Page One Tahoka. Incumbent John Earl Fields

POTTER of Wilson was re-elected to a second term. Precinct Two Stanley Miller of Amherst was elected to his first full term as Precinct Two District Director. Miller was appointed by the Water District Board to fill the unexpired term of the late Mack Hicks in 1990. Precinct Two County Committees New 1y-elected Cochran County Committee members are Richard Wil­ liams, Dennis Brown, Dennis Lemons, and Jimmy Mullinax, all of Morton. Incumbent John D. Srygley, also of Morton, was re-elected to serve a second term. Newly-elected Hockley Cou nty Committee members are Larry Smith of Ropesville, Mike McKee of Sun­ down, and Rodney McMillan of Levelland. Incumbents Scott Fred of Levelland and Jim Copeland of Anton were re-elected to serve a sec­ ond term. Newly-elected Lamb County Com­ mittee members are Henrian Enloe of Amherst, Brad Heffington of Little­ field, Paul Yarborough of Littlefield, and Jerry Goheen of Amherst. Incum­ bent Royce Collins of Olton was re­ elected to serve a second term. Precinct Five Bruce Rigler of Plainview was elected to serve his first term as Precinct Five District Director. Rigler defeated incumbent Gilbert Fawver and challenger David Appling, both of Floydada. Precinct Five County Committees Newly-elected Floyd County Com­ mittee members are Edwin Nutt of Floydada, athan Johnson of Floy­ dada, and F.L. Montandon III of Aiken. Incumbents Charles W. Huffman of Lockney, and A.C. Pratt of Floydada were re-elected to serve a second term. Newly-elected Hale County Com­ HIGH PLAINS mittee members are Mike Ferguson of UNDERGROUND WATER Plain view, Tommie H. Wages of SOIL MOISTURE AVAILABLE CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO. 1 Abernathy, Birt Lane of Plainview, FOR PLANT USE IN THE TOP TEXAS and Kevin Igo of Plainview. Incum­ 0 14 21 FIVE FEET OF THE SOIL PROFILE bent Carroll Leon of Petersburg was SCALE • MILES SURVEY CONDUCTED NOV. 15, 1993 - DEC . 21 . 1993 re-elected to serve a second term. DISTRICT BOUNDARY Bailey County Annexation By a 16 to 7 vote, residents of cen­ tral Bailey County ratified a resolu­ tion annexing the remainder of their county into the High Plains Water District. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION February 1994 Soil moisture varies by crop Historical precipitation totals Available soil moisture varies across the 15-county High Plains Water AMARILLO PRECIPITATION- National Weather Service District service area, according to the crop grown in 1993. (1983-1993) Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov Dec. Annual The graphic below depicts the average plant-available moisture per foot 1983 1.78 1.19 .98 .83 2.85 1.76 .74 .28 .37 3.23 .33 .64 14.98 of soil during the pre-plant soil moisture survey conducted in November 1984 .56 .37 .98 1.18 .04 6.76 .83 2.28 .95 3.1 9 1.09 .89 19.12 and December 1993, for the four main crops (corn, cotton, sorghum and 1985 .99 .77 1.49 2.79 .86 3.08 2.07 1.67 4.96 3.07 .39 .26 22.40 wheat) grown within the District. 1986 .00 1.02 .60 .30 3.28 3.70 3.52 7.04 1.45 1.94 1.82 .66 25.33 This graphic gives an indication of the amount and location of soil mois­ 1987 1.26 .84 .92 .57 4.28 3.29 .83 3.28 3.40 1.17 .43 1.75 22.02 ture within the five-foot root zone soil profile, based upon the crop pro­ 1988 .33 .04 1.19 2.22 6.02 3.68 3.30 3.59 3.15 .71 .29 .17 24.69 duced last year. 1989 .16 .55 .52 .75 2.51 6.07 2.74 3.22 1.80 .74 .00 .49 19.55 The top line of the graph represents the average quantity of water that 1990 1.22 1.61 2.56 1.10 .90 .14 3.28 2.79 2.72 .46 .50 .23 17.51 the soils within the Water District will hold at field capacity at each depth. 1991 .86 * .41 .04 3.08 2.47 2.20 1.28 2.04 .64 .66 2.24 15.92 The estimated moisture deficit can be determined for each soil depth by 1992 .50 .30 1.11 1.60 3.10 7.57 2.36 2.27 .16 .31 .80 .55 20.63 1993 .77 .35 1.29 .35 1.92 2.76 3.36 4.50 1.00 .53 .51 .95 18.29 subtracting the amount of available soil moisture from field capacity. AVG. 0.77 0.64 1.10 1.07 2.62 3.75 2.29 2.93 2.00 1.45 0.62 0.80 20.04

LUBBOCK PRECIPITATION- National Weather Service 1994 SOIL MOISTURE SURVEY (1983-1993) Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual 2.0.------.-..-.- ..-.• ~.~ •.:'ft'I .... ~.------... 1983 2.75 .32 .55 .77 1.23 1.79 .41 .32 .39 10.80 .54 .36 20.23 ········· ·.. 1984 .03 .17 .23 .23 .45 4.32 .53 3.72 .1 5 1.74 1.87 1.18 14.62 •• •••••• J(\~ •• '<.(':: •• •• 1985 .38 .24 1.19 .48 2.97 4.51 3.94 .63 4.73 3.60 .27 .18 23.12 1.8-t--~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~ 1986 .00 .94 .39 .72 1.82 4.92 1.41 3.60 6.90 2.89 1.73 1.29 26.61 o:;; .. 1987 .54 1.47 .41 .09 3.30 2.40 4.29 1.68 2.67 .77 .11 1.09 18.82 ',() ·· .. 1988 .22 .45 .79 1.08 2.64 1.03 2.93 .92 2.29 .02 .19 .56 13.12 1.61-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--'----_._._..P..~.-.•- ..-.- ..-.-.~--t 1989 .50 1.04 .70 .04 .39 4.98 .26 3.05 3.74 .31 15.01 -z 1990 .37 2.14 .87 1.44 1.15 3.1 3 1.87 1.24 1.91 1.29 .42 15.83 1991 1.15 .54 .08 .07 1.87 5.1 5 2.14 2.39 6.77 .57 1.07 2.24 24.04 ...... , 1 . 41--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1992 1.32 2.01 1.36 1.26 5.25 4.40 1.71 1.56 0.69 * 1.47 1.36 22.39 w 1993 1.03 .39 .37 1.16 2.06 3.78 .82 1.78 .24 .49 .30 .30 12.75 oc AVG. 0.75 0.88 0.64 0.67 2.10 3.39 1.96 1.96 2.71 2.07 0.80 0.84 18.77 ~ 1.2-,-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--t *= Trace Precipitation (f) ~ 1.0...------1 w ~ 0.8 <( ....J <( 0.6-t----Z-l~ c-----=-.;..._---.,.~ -----1 > <( 0.4+------__:::-...~-----~-----...... 1 THE CROSS SECTIO (USPS 564-920) THE CROSS SECTIO N is published monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... Manager Ken Carver ...... Asst. Manager th e Hi g h Pl a in s Und ergr o und Water Don Mc Reynold s...... Geologist Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Williams...... Dir. Admin ./Perm its Glenn Blackmon ...... Engineer Techn ician Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Tamara Daniel ...... Information/Education Assistant POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agricultural Engineer 0------~-' Brian Houston ...... Agriculturist Technician 1 2 3 4 5 THE CROSS SECTI ON, 2930 Avenue Q, Arnold Husky ...... Chief En gineer Technician Scott Libby ...... Irrigation Tec hnician DEPTH BELOW LAND SURFACE(FEET) Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-806-762-0181. Pat Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper CARMO McCAIN , Editor Rosie Ri singer ...... Secretary/Receptionist Dan Sea le ...... Engineer Technician I FORMATIO / EDUCATION D IRECTOR Keith Wh itworth ...... Draftsman

66t,~·SOt,6L S'1X3.l '>1 ::>088nl 0 3nN3 A'1 0£6C: ~ 'ON .L::>11::1.LSIO NOl.l'1Al::l3SNO::> 1::13.l'lfM aNnOl::l~l::l30Nn SNl'lfld H~IH .Lll/lll::l3d SS'lfl:) ON0::>3S (oc:s-i,gg Sdsn) NOI.L::>3S SSOl::I::> 3H.L Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405- Ph . 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 3 THERE IS NO SUBSTI TUTE FOR WATER March 1994 Recent inventory Reduced ag loan interest rate available for limited time

For a limited time, qualified pro­ shows increased ducers living within the 15-county High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 service center pivot use area may take advantage of a reduced interest rate in the District's agricul­ within District tural water conservation equipment loan program. Approximately 6,433 center pivot "The 4.8 percent interest rate is the sprinkler systems are now in opera­ result of a buy down of the interest tion within the 15-county High rate on a $7 million block of commer­ Plains Water District service area, cial bonds sold by the Texas Water according to a recent center pivot Development Board on February 2nd. inventory update conducted by the The TWDB used $2 million in U.S. District. Department of Energy Oil Overcharge This total represents an additional Funds obtained through a grant from 1,507 center pivot systems installed the state's General Services within the District since the previous Commission for the buy down," says 1990 inventory. Becca Williams, High Plains Water Pivot Installation The largest increase in center District Director of Administration. The High Plains Water District office in Lubbock has received an average of pivot use from 1990 to 1993 was Loans may be made for up to 75 found in Castro County where 230 percent of the cost of the equipment, one loan application per day from producers wanting to take advantage of a new pivots were installed. This is plus installation, excluding any por­ temporarily reduced ag loan interest rate. Center pivot sprinkler syste ms followed by Hale County with 216; tion of the cost of the equipment cost­ (above) are among the equipment eligi ble tor funding under the loan program. shared under a Federal program. Parmer County, 197; Lamb County, Loans are secured by a first lien on 185; Lubbock County, 135; Deaf Contractor services or use of hired has been used to eliminate water the equipment. Additional security farm labor and purchase of imple­ losses associated with open ditch and Smith County, 109; Cochran County, equal to the loan amount must also ments (excluding tractors and other tailwater losses, as well as evapora­ 104; and Lynn County, 60. be provided by a Deed of Trust giv­ "Given an average price of power units) for land leveling or shap­ tion and deep percolation losses dur­ ing the District a lien on land, an ing of land slope or topography to im­ $30,000 per sprinkler system, the irrevocable Letter of Credit from a ing irrigation. The equipment funded additional 1,507 center pivots repre­ prove irrigation application efficien­ through the program is estimated to bank, or assignment of a Certificate of cies are also included in the program. sent a 45 million dollar water conser­ Deposit or other liquid assets. have saved 43,880.3 acre-feet of water Applicants must submit a non­ from the start of the loan program vation investment by irrigators with­ "Our general loan guidelines have refundable loan initiation fee of $250 through September 1990. That is in the High Plains Water District ser­ basically remained the same as our at the time the loan application is vice area during the past three earlier loan program. The major dif­ filed at the District's Lubbock office. enough water to supply a city of years," says A. Wayne Wyatt, High ferences are the lower interest rate The Water District's involvement 200,000 for about one year," says Plains Water District manager. and a broader range of equipment eli­ with the agricultural water conserva­ Williams. Many producers have upgraded gible for purchase with the loan tion equipment loan program began She adds that many of the systems their irrigation systems to Low funds," says Williams. in 1985 when Senator John T. Mont­ financed were the first of their kind Energy Precision Application Irrigation water delivery equip­ ford of Lubbock and Representative installed in a community. (LEPA) center pivot systems, which ment eligible for loans under the pro­ Tom Craddick of Midland sponsored "After watching their neighbors' can achieve an irrigation application gram include underground pipeline, legislation creating the program. success with a center pivot, many efficiency of up to 95 percent. Since above-ground transport pipeline, In November 1985, Texas voters more farmers installed their own sys­ the water is applied at low pressure gated pipe, and in-line flow meters or approved a Constitutional Amend­ tem without financing through our directly into the furrow, water losses other devices to measure well output. ment authorizing the state to sell up program. There is no way to evaluate associated with wind drift and evap­ The irrigation application systems to $200 million in bonds to fund the the spinoff benefits of the loan pro­ oration are virtually eliminated. approved for loans under the pro­ program. Many legislators worried gram, but the large number of sys­ gram are Low Energy Precision In addition, use of a LEP A system that the program could not be admin­ tems installed since the program Application (LEPA) center pivot can reduce labor costs, reduce fuel istered without significant losses to began leads one to believe that it has sprinklers, low pressure sprinklers costs from 35 to 50 percent, and save the taxpayers. As a safeguard, the had its effects on producers in our ser­ with drop lines no more than 4 feet loan program was originally given a from 20 to 40 percent of the water vice area," says Williams. from the ground, low pressure drip cut-off date of August 1989. After previously pumped for irrigation­ irrigation systems, surge valves, soil assessment of the pilot program, a Copies of the agricultural water when compared to conventional fur­ moisture monitoring devices to ana­ Constitutional Amendment removing conservation equipment loan pro­ row irrigation. lyze soil moisture and schedule irri­ the time restrictions was approved by gram guidelines are available by con­ High Plains Water District Engi­ gation applications, computer soft­ Texas voters in November 1989. tacting Becca Williams, High Plains neer Technicians Glenn Blackmon ware to better schedule irrigation "The agricultural water conserva­ Underground Water Conservation and Arnold Husky used county aeri­ applications, and equipment to create tion equipment loan program has District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, al photographs to locate the center furrow dikes in the furrows which been extremely successful. Equip­ Lubbock, Texas 79405-1499, or calling pivots for the 1993 update. hold precipitation or irrigation water. ment purchased through the program (806) 762-0181. Page2 THE CROSS SECTION March 1994 Bruce Rigler of Plainview elected new Precinct Five District Director PLEASE CLOSE THOSE Bruce Rigler of Plainview was elected in January to serve as Precinct Five District Director. Rigler defeat­ ABANDONED WELLS ed incumbent Gilbert Fawver and challenger David Appling, both of Floydada, to represent residents in Hale County and the portion of Floyd County above the escarpment. Rigler has a wide range of agricul­ tural interests. For many years, he operated Rigler Brothers Jersey Farms Dairy and was active in several dairy-related organi­ zations-including the American THE CROSS SECTION (U SPS 564-920) Jersey Club and Associated Milk THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... Manager Ken Carver...... Assistant Manager Producers Incorporated (AMPI). the Hi gh Plains Underground W ater Don Mc Reynolds ...... Geologist Bruce and his brother, Robert, cur­ Conse rva ti on District o . 1, 2930 Avenu e Q Becca Williams ...... Dir. Admin./Perm its Glenn Bl ackmon ...... Engineer Technician rently have a partnership in a farm Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Terry Bridges ...... Engineer Technician near Plainview. Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secreta ry POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tamara Daniel ...... Information/Education Assis tant He has been a m e mber of the Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Ag ri cultural Engineer THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Brian Houston ...... Agriculturist Texas Farm Bureau for the past 42 Arnold Husky.. . .. Chief Engineer Technician Lubbock, TX 79 405-1499 1-806-762-0181. Scott Libby ...... Irrigation Technician years and has served as its Hale Pat Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper County President and Secretary. He CARMON McCAIN, Editor Ros ie Risinger ...... • . .... Sec retary/ Receptioni st Dan Sea le ...... Engineer Tech ni cian is a member of several Farm Bureau RIGLER INFORMATION/EDUCATION DIRECTOR Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman dairy-related committees. He has completed a six-year term the Region 17 Education Service BOARD OF DIRECTORS on the Texas Animal Health Center in Lubbock. Precinct 1 Commission. In addition, h e is a Rigler has sons living in Dallas and (C ROSBY, LUBBOCK and LYNN COU TI ES) Precinct 4 James P. Mitchell, President ...... Wolfforth (A RMSTRO G, DEAF SMITH, POTIER and board member and past president of Seattle and five grandchildren. Precinct 2 RANDALL COUNTIE S) (COCHRAN, HOCKLEY and LAMB COU TIES) Robert Meyer, Secretary-Treasurer ...... Hereford Sta nl ey Miller, Vice-President ..... Amherst Precinct 5 Precinct 3 (FLOYD and HALE COUNTIES) Water District Board relocates (BA IL EY, CASTRO and PARME R COUNTIES) Bruce Ri gler ...... Pl ai nview A.W. Gober ...... Farwell well permit offices in two counties COUNTY COMMITTEES Armstrong County Hockley County In order to better serve the resi­ Secretary and can be reached at (806) C.D. "Ked " Rogers, Secretary Jim Montgomery, Secretary Wayside, Texas 1012 Austin Street, Levelland dents of Bailey and Hale Counties, 272-3010. He succeeds Peggy Ray and Wade Bell, 1996 ...... Box 129, Wayside Rodney McMillan, 1998 ...... 513 E. Jackson, Leve lland the High Plains Water District Board Mary Hanna of Muleshoe, who Joe Bible, 1996 ...... Box 120, Wayside Larry Smith, 1998 ...... Box 6, Ropesville Buddy Heis ler, 1996 ...... HCR 1, Box 26, Wayside Mike McKee, 1998 ...... Box 934, Sundown of Directors have moved the permit­ recently sold their business. M.L. McGehee, 1996 ...... Box 151 , Wayside G. Scott Fred, 1998 ...... 3698 India Rd, Levelland ting offices in the two counties to new The new Hale County permitting Foster Parker, 1996 ...... Route 1, Box 55, Happy Jim Copeland, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 123A, Anton Bailey County Lamb County locations. office is located in the Hale County Bill Lil es, Secretary Bi ll Wischkaemper, Secretary "Whether it is the business of tak­ Soil and Water Conservation District Federal Land Bank, 316 Main, Muleshoe Federal Land Ba nk, 504 Phelps, Littlefield James L. Wedel, 1996 ...... RR2 , Box 1235, Muleshoe Jerry Goheen, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 137, Amherst ing out a well permit, looking at a office, 304 South Garland, in Ja y Herington, 1996 ...... Rt. 3, Box 375, Muleshoe Royce Collins, 1998 ...... Box 451 , Olton drillers' log or obtaining a copy of a Plainview. Sharon Perkins is the new Ll oyd Throckmorton, 1996 ..... Rt. 1, Box 744, Muleshoe Henrian Enloe, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 92, Amherst Eugene Shaw, 1996 ...... Rt. 2, Box 1285, Muleshoe Brad Heffington, 1998 ...... 220 E. 27th, Littlefield hydrologic atlas, we want to make Hale County Secretary and can be Clif P. Heinrich, 1996 ...... Box 129, Maple Paul Yarbrough, 1998 ...... Box 672, Littlefield sure that our county offices are reached at (806) 293-1349. She suc­ Castro County Lubbock County accessable and provide the best ser­ Dolores Ba ldridge, Secretary Becca Williams, Secretary ceeds J. B. Mayo of Petersburg. City Hall, 200 E. Jones St. , Dimmitt 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock vice possible to our area residents. "Until August 1993, County W.A. Ba ldridge, 1996 ...... 608 W. Grant, Dimmitt Herman Lorenz, 1998 ...... Rt. 2, Box 136, Lubbock Mack Steffey, 1996 ...... HCR 2, Box 22, Hart Jackie Brown, 1998 ...... 4206 88th, Lubbock That's why we made the changes to Commissioners Precinct Two was the Gerald Summers, 1996 ...... Route I, Box 33, Dimmitt Larry Gamble, 1998 ...... 1525 Terry, Slaton our Bailey and Hale County offices," only portion of Hale County within Darrell K. Buckley, 1996 ...... Box 977, Dimmitt Rynn Truett, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 44 , Idalou says A. Wayne Wyatt, High Plains Hubert G. Backus, 1996 ...... P.O. Box 165, Nazareth Roy Lee Blair 11 , 1998 ...... 718 14th, Shallowater the Water Dis trict service area. Cochran County Lynn County Water District manager. Naturally, the Water District's per­ W.M. Butler, Jr., Secretary Becca Williams, Secretary The new Bailey County permitting Western Abstract Co., 108 N. Main Ave., Morton 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock mitting office was located in that John D. Srygley, 1998 ...... Rt. 2, Box 67, Morton Steve Miller, 1998 ...... Box 623, Tahoka office is located in the Federal Land precinct. Since the remainder of the Ri chard Williams, 1998 ...... Rt., 2, Box 150, Morton John Earl Fields, 1998 ...... Box 282, W ilson Bank office, 316 Main, in Muleshoe. Denn is Brown, 1998 ...... Box 842, M orton W.A. " Billy" Ru ss, 1998 ...... Rt. 5, Box 272, Tahoka county was recently annexed into the Dennis Lemons, 1998 ...... 502 E. Ga rfi eld, M orton Glen Brewer, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 177, O ' Donnell Bill Liles is the new Bailey County Water District, the decision was made Ji mmy Mullinax, 1998 ...... HCR 2, Bo x 158, Morton John Ed ward s, 1998 ...... Box 215, New Home Crosby County Parmer County to move the Hale County office to a Becca Williams, Secretary Pat Kunselman, Secretary USED OIL FILTERS more centrally located area," says 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock City Hall, 323 North Street, Bovina Donald Kirksey, 1998 ...... Box 396, Lorenzo Carroll R. Cook, 1996 ...... 90 1 Arrah, Friona DON'T GO IN THE TRASH Wyatt. Dale Lam inack, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 37, Ralls Alan Monroe, 1996 ...... HCR 1, Box 213, Friona Residents in Bailey and Hale Ji mm ie Wheeless, 1998 ...... Rt. 2, Box 86, Crosbyton Dale E. Gober, 1996 ...... Box 192, Bovina Mark Schoepf, 1998 ...... HCR 2, Box 7, Lorenzo Vick Christian, 1996 ...... Route 1, Box 60A, Farwell Counties are invited to stop by their Matthew Wilmeth, 1998 ...... Box 599, Ralls Robert Gallman, 1996 ...... HCR 1, Box 93A, Friona On April 1, 1994, it shall become respective county office and become Deaf Sm ith County Potter County illegal for persons to dispose of used B.F. Ca in, Secretary Bruce Blake, Secretary acquainted with their new County 110 East Third, Hereford Bushland Grain, Bushland oil filters in the trash. Secretary. Sid Shaw, 1996 ...... 123 N. Tex as, Hereford G. Michael Menke, 1996 ...... Rt. 1, Box 476, Amarillo Artu ro Gonza les, 1996 ...... Box 175, Hereford Bob Lolley, 1996...... Box 7756, Amarillo Individuals w ho change their In an unrelated matter, the Don Waters, 1996 ...... 224 Ave. E, Hereford O liver A. Wann, 1996 ...... Box 92, Bushland Hockley County permitting office has Charlie Bell, 1996 ...... 132 N. Texas, Hereford Randall B. Fl etcher, 1996 ...... Box 25, Bushland own oil must now take their used L.J. Clark, 1996 ...... 316 Ave. J, Hereford Will iam K. Irwin, 1996 ...... Box 120, Bushland moved back to its former location at motor oil and used filters to service Fl oyd County Randall County 609 Austin Street in Levelland. In Verna Lynne Stewart , Secretary Loui se Tompkins, Secretary stations, automotive centers and oil 108 W. Missouri, Floydada Farm Burea u, 1714 Fifth Ave., Ca nyon 1989, the office moved to 1012 Austin F.L. Montandon 111 , 1998 ...... Box 3, Aiken Pat Wilhelm, 1996 ...... HCR 2, Box 25 , Happy change sh ops that collect oil for Street. Edwin Nutt, 1998 ...... Rt. 3, Box 89, Floydada Michael Paul Wieck, 1996 ...... Rt. 1, Box 316, Ca nyon Cha rl es Huffman, 1998 ...... Rt. 1, Box 145, Lockney Gary Ray Wagner, 1996 ...... Box 188, Bushland recycling, or to any registered col­ According to Hockley County athan Johnson, 1998 ...... HCR 5, Box 34A, Fl oydada Charles Kihnert, 1996 ...... Box 82, Umbarger lection center for proper disposal. Secretary Jim Montgomery, the A.C. Pratt, 1998...... Rt. 4, Box 161, Floydada Lyndon Wagner, 1996 ...... Rt. 1, Box 494, Amarillo Source: The WHPDate - a pub­ office's mailing address will continue Hale County NOTICE: Information rega rding times and places of th e Sharon Perkins, Secretary monthly County Committee meetings can be lication of the Texas Natural to be P.O . Box 968, Levelland, TX Hale Co. SWCD, 304 5. Garland, Plainview secured from th e res pective County Kev in Igo, 1998 ...... 111 6 Jefferson, Plainview Secretaries. Resource Conservation Com­ 79336-0968. The office telephone Mike Ferguson, 1998 ...... 1403 S. Date, Plainview number, (806) 894-6127, also remains Carroll Leon, 1998 ...... Box 637, Plainview Applications for well permits ca n be secu red mission. Tommie Wages ...... 903 Vel Ray Dr., Abernathy at the add ress shown below the county the same. Birt Lane ...... HCR 1, Box 235, Pl ain view Secretary's name. March 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 Researchers will discuss latest playa basin research during symposium Playa basins and their relationship to ground water recharge, agricultural crop production, and the storage of confined animal waste will be among the topics discussed at the 1994 Playa Basin Symposium to be held May 18-20, on the Texas Tech University campus. A $45 registration fee, which includes admittance to the general sessions, two luncheons, and a bus tour of area playa basins will be charged to cover the cost of the conference. Copies of the proceedings will be available for $25. All meetings will begin at 9 a.m. in the Texas Tech University Center. The symposium is set to open May 18th with a discussion of the current estimates of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer through the playa basins. A historical overview of early playa basin modification will follow. Senator Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo), Chairman of the Senate Agricultural An Under-utilized Resource? Subcommittee, will deliver the keynote address to begin the Approximately 20,000 playa basins dot the landscape of the Texas High Plains. The importance of these shallow symposium. Senator John T. Mont­ basins and their relationship to ground water recharge of the Ogallala Aquifer, agricultural crop production, and con­ ford (D-Lubbock), "The Dean of fined storage of animal waste will be discussed during the upcoming Playa Basin Symposium. Water in the Senate" will address the playa basins, as well as potential basin enhancement and the current Those who plan to attend the noon luncheon. agricultural chemical runoff, which status and projection of ground water symposium need to make their own After the luncheon, recent artificial room reservations with the hotel of recharge experiments, as well as the can be collected in playa basins. Also, reserves in the High Plains Ogallala their choice. Blocks of rooms have Bureau of Economic Geology's study the use of playas to collect urban Aquifer will be discussed. of playa basins near the Pantex Plant storm runoff will be discussed. A May 20th bus tour will visit been reserved at the following hotels: at Amarillo, will be discussed. Representative David Counts (D­ playas utilized for wildlife, urban • Holiday Inn Civic Center, 801 The May 19th sessions will focus Knox City), Chairman of the House water runoff storage, confined animal Avenue Q, $68, 1-806-763-1200, on the many uses of playa basins. Natural Resources Committee, will waste storage, agricultural crop pro­ ext. 1173. Researchers will discuss the effects speak during the noon luncheon. duction, and as a holding reservoir • Lubbock Inn, 3901 19th Street, of confined animal waste storage in Following the luncheon, playa for rainfall to be used in irrigation. $52, 1-800-545-8226. • Paragon Inn, 4115 Brownfield Highway, $49, 1-800-333-1146. Board conducts Randall County annexation hearings Shuttle service from these hotels to r- In February, the High Plains the Texas Tech University Center will Underground Water Conservation be available. District No. 1 Board of Directors re­ The 1994 Playa Basin Symposium ceived a petition from Randall is sponsored by the Brazos River FM 2 !95 County landowners asking that the Authority; the Bureau of Economic remaining portion of their county be Geology at the University of Texas at EXISTING DISTRICT considered for annexation into the Austin; the High Plains Underground Water District. Water Conservation District No. 1; FM 2219 The proposed annexation territo­ Texas A&M University (Agricultural ry includes the northeastern and Engineering Department and the southwestern corners of the county, Texas Agricultural Extension as well as the City of Canyon and Service); the Texas Cattle Feeders Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Association; the Texas Department of Randall County residents were Agriculture; the Texas Senate Natural given the opportunity to present Resources Committee/ Agriculture their views about the proposed Subcommittee; and Texas Tech annexation during a public hearing University (College of Agricultural held March 3rd at the Farm Bureau Sciences and Natural Resources, the office in Canyon. International Center for Arid and A second hearing to allow resi­ Semiarid Land Studies, the dents of the existing District to com­ Geosciences Department, and the ment on the proposed annexation Water Resources Center). was held March 8th at the High Additional information about the Plains Water District office in symposium is available by calling Dr. Lubbock. Lloyd Urban at the Texas Tech Since both public hearings took University Water Resources Center, I place after the March Cross Section (806) 742-3597, or A. Wayne Wyatt, 0 High Plains Underground Water !::~il!;:, n:~n~~~~~s: ---_J :t~ :eu :~ Conservation District No. 1, (806) future issue. PROPOSED ANNEXATION TERRITORY IN RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS 762-0181. Page4 THE CRO SS SECTION March 1994 Weather modification may increase rain by lengthening cloud life By George W. Bomar seeded budding thunderstorms two and one-half hours after the process by which the seeding agent Watershed Management Division Texas Natural Resources from April through October in an seeding was initiated. (silver iodide) enables the cloud to Conservation Commission effort to help them become more One key finding from the recent­ make more rainwater. To put it efficient in processing moisture in ly-finished research was that seed­ another way, thus far the research The results are in regarding on­ the atmosphere. Studies based on ing did not appreciably cause has gone a long way in helping to going efforts in the Texas High Plains rain-gauge data collected over the clouds to grow taller. This is a wel­ answer the question, "How much to learn how much additional rain­ watersheds of Lakes Thomas and come development, since the evi­ more rain does seeding produce?" water can be produced by seeding Spence have indicated seasonal dence does not exist to suggest that Work that is planned in the next clouds in summertime. The findings rainfall has increased substantially seeding causes thunderstorms to several summers will help address are by no means proof that the seed­ within the region where seeding grow to violent dimensions. the question, "How does the seed­ ing works wonders on clouds that has been concentrated. An assess­ To the contrary, seeding seems to ing bring about the perceived too often are stingy with their rain­ ment of a five-year weather mod­ enable rain clouds to spread lateral­ increase in rain?" water. But the evidence collected to ification program conducted by the ly, rather than upwards, thereby To that end, aircraft for seeding date points rather persuasively to the City of San Angelo in the latter half increasing their capability to gener­ young thunderstorms and for mon­ effectiveness of seeding in enabling of the 1980s revealed a similar out­ ate slower, longer-lasting rains. itoring their behavior, during and rain clouds to live longer and pro­ come. None of the scientific data after seeding, will be deployed this duce a substantial For the past six years, the Texas obtained by the experiments sug­ summer at Big Spring. One aircraft amount of water Natural Resource Conservation gests that some folks get additional will drop flares of silver iodide in ways that are Commission (TNRCC) has per­ rain at the expense of their neigh­ (AgI) into the budding clouds from not harmful. formed research work on the bors. Though this issue has not above. Another aircraft, especially The quest for CRMWD's operational cloud-seed­ been thoroughly examined, the equipped with an assortment of answers to the ing program. The data collected rainfall data point to increases in sensors, will repeatedly fly through cloud-seeding have now been thoroughly ana­ rainfall both within the area where the cloud to measure various cloud issue will contin­ lyzed, and the results recently seeding is concentrated as well as in properties that will enable investi­ ue this summer appeared in the Journal of Applied the area "downwind" (to the north­ gators to begin mapping out the BOMAR when further Meteorology. The findings about east and southeast) for as much as highly complex process by which research is to be cloud-seeding' s usefulness are 75-100 miles. the clouds make rain. conducted at Big Spring. Texas nothing short of intriguing and The research done so far has All the while, weather radar and recently gained admission to the promising. focused upon single-cell thunder­ a wide array of recording rain weather modification research pro­ The impact of seeding appears, storms in their development. The gauges will be u sed to assess g ram of the National Oceanic & from the data sets analyzed, to be bulk of rainfall in West Texas comes changes in the cloud's behavior Atmospheric Ad ministration rather substantial. Convective from the "convective complex," the from an outside vantage point. (NOAA), the parent agency of the clouds that were seeded were large cluster of thunderstorms, Available resources will allow National Weather Service. Since the observed to merge with surround­ some of which rain more than oth­ investigators to remain in the field number of experiments conducted ing clouds twice as often as unseed­ ers, but what is being learned about for only about one rrlontl1, so the to date are still too few to allow ed clouds. More importantly, the the isolated thunderstorm cell kind of weather presented by some definitive answers to be seeded clouds lived much longer should be applicable in dealing Mother Nature will be critical to the drawn, more experiments are than the unseeded variety, which with the larger systems. The success of the experiments. Even if planned for the month of August enabled them to process consider­ approach being taken in the the late summer proves to be wet, 1994 over a 12-county area centered ably more mois ture and, thus, research is equivalent to an infant several more seasons of experimen­ at Big Spring. deliver more rainfall. In fact, the learning to pull itself up before tak­ tation will undoubtedly be required For nearly a quarter of a century, volume of rain produced by seeded ing its first tentative step. before enough evidence about seed­ the Colorado River Municipal clouds, in more than a few With rainfall and radar data pro­ ing has accumulated to demon­ Water District (CRMWD) has main­ instances, was nearly one and one­ viding solid clues that seeding is strate the value of the technology. tained a cloud-seeding program to half times the volume delivered by effective, the next critical step in the Still, progress is being made, even generate additional runoff into its unseeded clouds. Sizeable increases research is to penetrate the clouds as our climate evolves, and drought reservoir system. The district has in rainfall were observed as long as being seeded and map out the remains a perpetual threat.

66N-SOv6L SVX3.L ')l:)088nl l'.) 3nN3.l\'110£6Z ~ 'ON .L::>11:::t.LSIO NOI.LV.l\l:t3SNO::> 1:::13.LVM aNnOl:t~l:t30Nn SNl'llld H~IH .LIWl:t3d SSVl::> ON0::>3S (OZ6-t,9S Sdsn) NOI.L::>3S SSOl:t:) 3H.L Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 5 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER May 1994 Drip irrigation demonstration project results encouraging after two years Drip irrigation continues to show producers' questions." promise as a method of irrigating Producer Interest Prompts cotton on the Texas High Plains, District Action according to data collected during the It was producer interest in drip second year of a five-year drip irrigation that prompted the Water irrigation demonstration project con­ District to apply for a grant from the ducted by the High Plains Under­ Texas Water Development Board in ground Water Conservation District Austin for funding for the demon­ No. 1. stration plots. In drip irrigation, buried lines and Applications were solicited in emitters are used to supply slow, October 1991 from producers in frequent applications of small Lubbock County and those portions amounts of water to the soil area of Cochran, Crosby, Hockley, and directly surrounding the plant roots. Lynn Counties within the Water Water losses caused by evaporation, District service area at that time. deep percolation, and runoff are Producers who submitted applica­ virtually eliminated. Drip irrigation tions to participate in the demon­ can save as much as 30 to 40 percent stration project were required to of the water required by other types attend an informational meeting of irrigation to provide the plants an about drip irrigation. equal amount of water. Each application was reviewed by Making Connections "There has been considerable members of the Water District's Randy Hensley of O'Donnell and his assistant install the main lines and drip interest in drip irrigation in the area County Committee in the county tape at the Lynn County drip irrigation demonstration plot on the Leland White during the last few years. However, where the proposed site was located. farm near New Home. most producers are waiting to see if In November 1991, a special panel drip irrigation will work on cotton consisting of representatives of each Lubbock County, and the Leland installed on 25 rows on 40-inch before investing the time, money, of the five County Committees White farm in Lynn County. Each site centers and 52 rows on 80-inch and labor needed to convert from reviewed the final applications and is representative of farming condi­ centers. their existing irrigation system to a recommended that the Water District tions and soil types in its respective An electr.ic pump is used to supply drip system," says Ken Carver, High Board of Directors approve three community. the ground water to irrigate the crop. The total electrical cost in 1993 was Plains Water District Assistant demonstration sites. 1992 Weather Forces Crop $472.50, based on 7.5 cents per Manager. "The Water District's hope The 10-acre demonstration sites Replanting At Two Sites kilowatt hour for 6,300 kilowatt hours is that the data collected during the were installed in 1992 at the Jeff and Adverse weather during the first of operation. five-year drip irrigation demonstra­ Robert Kauffman farm in Hockley year of operation (1992) destroyed tion project will answer many of the County, the Ute Becton farm in Land preparation must be mini­ the cotton crop at the Lubbock and mized to avoid damage to the drip Lynn County sites. Both Becton and tape installed 14 inches below the soil White selected soybeans as a surface. During two separate disking replacement crop and irrigated them operations, the Kauffmans applied with the drip irrigation system. The one pint of Treflan per acre and an Hockley County site was the only one application of 20-40-10-10 fertilizer to of the three to produce a cotton crop the soil. in 1992. On February 3, 1993, a pre-plant During the second year of opera­ soil moisture analysis of the Amarillo tion (1993), cotton was produced at Fine Sandy Loam soil at the site all three sites. Each producer was en­ showed 2.18 inches of available couraged to make all the moisture on the 40-inch drip tape management decisions concerning spacing, w hile the 80-inch tape the crop. Potential evapotranspiration spacing had 2.47 inches of available (PET) and soil moisture data for the moisture. sites was supplied by the District for Pre-plant irrigation began on April the producer to use at his own 17th and continued through May 1st. discretion. The amount of water added to the Hockley County: site was 3.92 inches during this two­ Jeff and Robert Kauffman Farm week period. The drip irrigation system on the The Kauffmans planted Atlas All­ Rolling Out The Tape 10-acre site at the Jeff and Robert Tex cotton seed at a rate of 22 pounds Kauffman Farm is designed to main­ per acre on May 3rd. It emerged on A Submatic irrigation employee guides the drip tape as Robert Kauffman tain 45 gallons of water per minute May 10th. plows it into the soil at the Hockley County drip irrigation demonstration plot on with 25 pounds of pressure at the his farm near Levelland. well discharge. The drip tape was See PARTICIPATING Page Three Page2 THE C R OSS SECTION May 1994 Daily PET Network climatic data helps producers schedule irrigation Keeping track of highly variable daily or weekly crop water use is an important aspect of irrigation water management. This task is being made easier due to the collection and distribution of local climatic crop data to producers through the Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) ~ Network. HIGH 0 The PET Network is a cooperative 0 program between the Texas Agri­ ..Jco cultural Experiment Station, the w !::: Texas Agricultural Extension Service, w (J) and the High Plains Underground ::, Water Conservation District No. 1. a: w DEFOLIATION This is the network's second season ..... < PERIOD of operation. 3: Weather stations are located at LL (3£? Halfway in Hale County, Lubbock in 0 w Lubbock County, and Lamesa in ..... Dawson County. Each site is South Plains at the sixth-grader Cody Brunson of Slaton and then analyzed them for Ph, iron, and consumer problems," says International Science Fair to be held received a plaque for his project, and copper. Evidence from his project Martha McCabe of Lubbock Cooper May 8-14 in Birmingham, Alabama. "Melting the Environment: Is Our supported his hypothesis. Water Safe?" In the High School division, ninth­ Cody was seeking out the fastest grader Neill Trull of Crosbyton High ice melting substances and how use School received an award for his of these substances affected the project, "To Have and To Hold: environment. Among the materials Conserving Soil Moisture." Cody examined were ice melting Neill's hypothesis was that the crystals, calcium chloride, sodium incorporation of moisture-absorbing chloride, rock salt, rubbing alcohol, materials into the soil could retain cat box litter, and sand. Through his moisture received from irrigation or THE CROSS SECTION (US PS 564-920) research, Cody found that the ice rainfall. THE CRO SS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne W yatt ...... Manager melting crystals work the fastest, but In his research, Neill buried diaper Ken Carver ...... Ass istant Manager they can affect the environment. Sand material, shredded newspaper, and the Hi gh Pl ain s U nderground W ater Don M c Reynolds...... Geologist takes the most time to melt ice, but cotton burrs in rows in a test plot at Conservation Dist ri ct No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Williams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Glenn Blackmon ...... Engineer Technician has less environmental impact. his home. Hose-end sprinkler irriga­ Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician Second-c la ss postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary Seventh-grader Phillip McDaniel of tion was used to wet the soil, and Tamara Daniel...... Jnformat1on/Educat1on Ass istant POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E...... Agricultural Engi neer Cooper Junior High School received regular soil moisture readings were THE CRO SS SECTI ON, 2930 Ave nu e Q, Brian Houston...... Agricu lturist the junior high school division award taken with gypsum blocks and a Arnold Husky ...... Chief En gineer Technician Lu bbock, TX 79 405-1499 1-806-762-01 81. Scott Libby ...... Irrigation Technician for his project, "Water Works." resistance meter. Pat Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper CARMON McCAIN, Editor Rosi e Ri singer...... Secretary/Receptionist Phillip's hypothesis was that if the Neill says the results were not as Dan Sea le...... Eng ineer Technician altitude of the Ogallala Formation dramatic as he thought they would INFORMATION/EDUCATION DIRECTOR Ke ith Whitworth ...... Draftsman May 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 Participating producers pleased after second year of drip irrigation project

Continued From Page One Irrigation of the cotton crop began May 31st and continued periodically until August 30th. The total amount of irrigation added to the cotton crop during the growing season was 8.97 inches. Rainfall recorded during the crop's growing season was approx­ imately 8.1 inches. With the soil type and tillage practices on this farm, approximately 50 percent of the rainfall was available for crop water needs. Fertilizer applications as needed were made through the drip irrigation system. The first cotton bloom was noted on July 8th, and first bolls were HIGH PLAINS ,. 11 UNDERGROUND WATER observed on July 25th. The crop fully IC.U[• IIIIILll CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO. 1 matured and was harvested on - OIITfUCT IOUNOAfllY November 23rd. A total of 783.9 pounds of cotton lint per acre was harvested from the Hockley County drip irrigation demonstration plot. This is an increase of about 284 pounds of cotton lint per acre compared to the Drip Irrigation Demonstration Sites estimated 500 pound per acre cotton A 10-acre drip irrigation demonstration site was installed in 1992 at the Jeff and Robert Kauffman farm in Hockley lint yield under furrow irrigation at County, the Ute Becton farm in Lubbock County, and the Leland White farm in Lynn County. Each site represents typi­ the same site. cal farming conditions and soil types in its respective community. "I'm impressed with drip irrigation, and I think it's the way to a minimum to protect the drip tape Lubbock County drip irrigation putting on enough water, yet the irrigate-especially for someone who installed 14 inches below the soil demonstration plot. This is an cotton didn't show signs of moisture has wells that produce limited surface. An application of one pint of increase of about 410 pounds of stress. Later in September, I had to quantities of water," says Robert Treflan per acre was sprayed on the cotton lint per acre compared to the make the decision to add additional Kauffman. land and incorporated into the soil by estimated 475 pound per acre cotton water through the drip system since He says one advantage of the drip a disk bedder. A rod weeder was lint yield under furrow irrigation at soil moisture levels were declining. It system is that it will allow him to get used to conform the beds for the same site. was an interesting learning experi­ his crop planted earlier, if so desired. planting. 'Tm excited about drip irrigation. I ence," he says. "You can go out to the site today On February 1, 1993, pre-plant plan to look at the data for the next Lynn County: (April 14), rake up the soil, and it will analysis of the Olton Clay Loam soil year or two. Then I am seriously Leland White Farm be moist from one to three inches at the site showed 2.23 inches of considering installing additional drip The drip irrigation system on the below the surface because of the available moisture on the 120-inch irrigation sites on my farm," says 10-acre site on the Leland White farm uniform water application associated tape spacing, 2.90 inches of moisture Becton. was designed to maintain 45 gallons with drip irrigation. Because of this, on the 80-inch tape spacing, and 4.01 He is very pleased with the drip of water per minute with 25 pounds the soil is ready for planting any time inches of available moisture on the irrigation system because of the of pressure at the well discharge. The now." 40-inch tape spacing. uniform water application and the drip tape was installed on 25 rows on As he becomes more familiar with Pre-plant irrigation began on April ease of applying fertilizer to the crop. 40-inch centers, 52 rows on 80-inch management of the drip irrigation 30th and continued through May 3rd. "Without the drip irrigation centers, and 66 rows on 120-inch system, Kauffman says he expects the A total of one inch (.25 per day) of system, there was no way I could centers. end results to be better and better. water was added to the soil profile. take what my well was producing An electric pump is used to supply "We planted our cotton a little too Becton planted Paymaster HS 26 and do a decent job of irrigating my the ground water to irrigate the crop. early last year, and that was followed and Delta Pine 5414 cotton seed at a crop. With the drip system, there is The total electrical cost in 1993 was by hail and cold rains. As a result, we rate of 20 pounds per acre and 14 an uniform application of water with $463.50, based on 7.5 cents per didn't make our target yield. I feel as pounds per acre, respectively. The zero waste. Water and fertilizer are kilowatt hour for 6,180 kilowatt hours we get to know (the management of) Delta Pine 5414 cotton was planted put exactly where they are needed," of operation. this system, then our yield will on May 3rd and emerged on May he says. Land preparation must be kept to improve as well." 16th. The Paymaster HS 26 was Becton says the change from a minimum since the drip tape is Lubbock County: planted on May 12th and emerged on furrow irrigation to drip irrigation installed 14 inches below the soil Ute Becton Farm May 20th. has been a learning experience. surface. White ran a tandem sweep Two wells are tied together to Irrigation of the cotton crop began "I didn' t know the necessary over the land and followed it with a supply water to the 10-acre drip June 19th and continued through inputs to grow a top-yielding springtooth harrow. During this system at the Ute Becton farm. One August 25th. The total amount of soybean crop the first year. Looking operation, Treflan was applied at a well is used alone until its yield irrigation added to the cotton crop back, I realized that I should have rate of one pint per acre. Next, the drops during the irrigation season. during the growing season was 7.0 applied more fertilizer and cut back site was rod weeded and listed in The second well is then added to inches. Rainfall recorded during the on some of the irrigation. Also, the preparation for planting. supply the additional water needed crop's growing season was approxi­ soybeans were ready to harvest so On March 11, 1993, pre-plant to keep the system operating at 45 mately 4.8 inches. early that I didn' t have to make a late analysis of the Amarillo Fine Sandy gallons of water per minute at 25 PSI Fertilizer applications as needed season irrigation decision." Loam soil at the site showed 3.81 at the well discharge. were made through the drip Becton adds that soil moisture inches of available moisture on the An electric pump is used to supply irrigation system. The first cotton monitoring is important to the crop 120-inch tape spacing, 3.53 inches of the ground water to irrigate the crop. bloom was noted on July 12th, and and that the drip system gave him available moisture on the 80-inch The total electrical cost in 1993 was first bolls were observed on July 20th. additional flexibility to add small tape spacing, and 3.44 inches of $588.00, based on 7.5 cents per The crop fully matured and was amounts of water to the crop as available moisture on the 40-inch kilowatt hour for 7,840 kilowatt hours harvested on November 1st. needed. tape spacing. of operation. A total of 885 pounds of cotton lint "With last year's cotton crop, there Pre-plant furrow irrigation of the Land preparation must be kept to per acre was h arvested from the was a time when I really wasn't See DRIP Page Four Page4 THE CROSS SECTION May 1994 Drip irrigation benefits include water savings and improved crop yields

Continued From Page One few inches of the soil. It does a good drip site began May 10th, and every job of keeping the subsoil wet, but row was watered to wet the seed you'll have to get a rain or irrigate to beds. The drip irrigation started on wet the top inch or two of the soil," May 16th and ran for two days to he says. apply .5 inches of water. Conclusions Due to sand problems with the Carver says there are several con­ flowmeter, water application data is clusions which can be derived after estimated according to energy reviewing the 1993 drip irrigation consumption. demonstration plot data: White planted Certified HS 26 • It should be noted that the drip cotton seed on May 27th at a rate of irrigation system applied a small 22 pounds per acre. amount of water to the crop to Irrigation of the crop began May achieve a yield of almost two bales 29th and ended August 30th. The per acre cotton production. total amount of water applied to the •Soil moisture must be monitored crop during the growing season is closely. It is easy to either overirrigate estimated to be seven to eight inches. or underirrigate since the buried drip Rainfall recorded during the crop's lines prevent the producer from growing season was approximately seeing the amount of water being 9.5 inches. Drip Irrigation Field Demonstration applied to the field. Fertilizer applications as needed Ute Becton of Idalou (front left) shares his thoughts about drip irrigation with • Adding fertilizer and water to the were made through the drip KAMC-TV Farm Director Lee Barron during the July 1993 field demonstration crop at the right time is essential in irrigation system. day at the Lubbock County site. The 10-acre site was installed by independent achieving the highest possible yield. The first cotton bloom was noted contractor Blaz Gutierrez using Watermaster supplies. In the background, • Managing drip irrigation is more on July 23rd, and first bolls were USDA-SCS Soil Scientist Willie Crenwelge (far left with glasses) discusses the complex than conventional furrow observed on August 6th. The crop importance of soil moisture monitoring as it pertains to drip irrigation. Dates for irrigation and consequently requires fully matured and was harvested on the 1994 drip irrigation field demonstration days will be announced in a future more skills. November 9th. • Proper maintenance is essential issue of The Cross Section. The drip demonstration plots were to the operation and life of the drip harvested separately at the Lynn irrigation system. Proper cleaning County site. The 40-inch tape spacing sloping land, as well as the corners pipe (for furrow irrigation). Also, I and care helps prolong the life of the yielded 1,091 pounds of cotton lint (of a tract of land) that a center pivot can do what little plowing that needs drip tape. If not maintained properly, and the 80-inch tape spacing yielded can't reach." to be done while the drip irrigation the emitters can clog, resulting in an 1,056 pounds of cotton lint. Water savings, improved crop system is in operation. You can' t do uneven crop irrigation. The 120-inch tape spacing yielded yield, and less labor-intensive work that with conventional row water­ Carver reminds interested pro­ 1,368 pounds of lint. This was planted are just a few of the advantages of the ing," he says. ducers that field demonstrations will two rows in cotton and one blank row. drip irrigation system noted by White White says he has not encountered be held again this summer at each of The drip tape was located between the during its two-year operation. any special problems with the the three drip irrigation demon­ two rows of cotton. The yield was "Compared to furrow irrigation, system's operation to date. stration sites. based on the actual cotton acreage. the drip system lets me conserve "It has been fairly easy to use. "These field demonstration days The estimated yield on furrow water by eliminating evaporation Maintenance is very important to the are designed to give farmers the irrigation at this site was approxi­ losses. As a result, I'm able to get proper operation of the system. I opportunity to stop by these sites at mately 500 pounds of cotton lint per more moisture into the soil profile for check the filters and flush them twice their convenience and visit with the acre. plant use," he says. a day-morning and evening. There operators as well as Water District, "Drip irrigation has its place," says The labor savings associated with have been some leaks, but they take Soil Conservation Service, and Texas White. "It may not be the answer to drip irrigation have also been very little time to fix. Agricultural Ex tension Service all irrigation problems, but it has beneficial to White. "The only negative thing I have personnel about the installation, definite applications. I can see it "It has made my farming easier. I heard producers say about drip operation and maintenance of a drip being used to irrigate severely don' t have to move all that aluminum irrigation is that it doesn' t wet the top irrigation system."

66t,~-SOl>6L S'IX31 ')10088n1 C 3nN3A'I 0£6l ~ 'ON 1011::!lSIO NOll'IAl::l3SNOO 1::131\fM aNnOl::IDl::l3aNn SNl'lld HDIH 11Wl::l3d SS'll::> ON003S (Ol6-t>95 SdSn) NOl103S SSOl::IO 3Hl Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 6 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER June 1994 Surge valves help furrow irrigators improve application efficiencies Even thou g h m or e tha n 6,400 "Surge irrigation allows fa rmers to center pivot sprinkler systems are in make better use of their ground water o p eration w ithin the H igh Plains a n d en ables them to get (wa te r) Wa ter Dis trict ser vice ar ea, it is­ across their field faster to avoid crop important to rem ember tha t surge water stress," says Carver. irrigation also provides water conser­ Once the furrow surface is wet, the va tio n opportunities fo r furrow irrigation flow time can be cut back to irriga tors. match the infi ltration rate of the soil. Surge irrigation consists of a time­ To prevent tail water, the surge valve controlled valve placed between two controller is programmed to switch sets of gated pipe. The system watering cycles to the alternate side alterna tely waters the two sets of before water reaches the furrow end. furrows in a series of timed "surges." Surge irrigation also allows greater "Those p roducers w ho a re still flexibility in the amount of water that furrow irrigating can improve their can be applied to crops. As little as application efficiencies through the two to three inches of water can be use of surge valves," says High Plains applied uniformly to the crop. Water District Assistant Manager Ken "Because of the high efficiency of Carver. "Area producers have surge valves, many of our producers achieved water savings of 10 to 40 have done a good job of meeting their percent with surge irrigation as com­ pre-plant water needs," says Carver. pared to conventional furrow irriga­ "However, it w ill be important for tion, while maintaining or increasing Surge Irrigation them to monitor their soil moisture their crop yields." When added to a conventional furrow irrigation system, a time-controlled conditions with gypsum blocks and Careful management of surge irri­ surge valve can eliminate irrigation tailwater losses, minimize deep percolation resistance meters through out the gation improves irrigation distribu­ losses, and reduce the length of time that water in the furrow is exposed to growing season. They can then apply tion patterns and eliminates tailwa­ evaporation. Water savings from 10 to 40 percent have been measured after water with the surge valve as needed ter. the addition of surge valves to conventional fu rrow irrigation systems. to meet the crop's water needs." According to USDA-Soil Conser­ Surge valves range in price from vation Service testing, conventional $800 to $1,600. Producers can quite furrow irrigation often wets the soil w hile the soil in the m iddle of the more uniform water applica tion and often recover the cost of the valve profile below the depth of the plant field is not wet adequately. Surge irri­ helps elim inate over-irriga ti on and within two years through savings in roots at the head and end of the field, gation allows producers to achieve a under-irrigation. energy and pumping costs.

Soil Moisture Monitoring Important Surge Stops Tai/water Variable soil moisture conditions currently exist across the 15-county High Tailwater abatement is one of the many benefits offered by surge irrigation. Plains Water District service area. It will be very important for producers to The surge valve controller is programmed to switch watering cycles to the monitor their individual soil moisture conditions with gypsum blocks and resis­ alternate side just before the water reaches the furrow end to prevent tailwater tance meters (above). If dry conditions are noted, water can be applied as waste. In the above photo, tailwater waste associated with conventional fur­ needed. row irrigation escapes from a field. Page2 THE CROSS SECTION June 1994 Texas city residents bear cost of complying ivith unfunded Federal mandates A Price Waterhouse survey of 314 Americans With Disabilities Act; 9) Approximately 27 Texas ci ties took Phil Gramm states that federal cities, commissioned by the U.S. the Fair Labor Standards Act; and 10) part in the Price Waterhouse survey. mandates are to state and local Conference of Mayors, has gathered the petroleum storage tank statute The average cost of compliance is government budgets what high taxes hard number data on the costs cities and regulations. $11,756,470 per city. The average cost are to family incomes. incurred to implement the 10 most The survey estimates that the total of compliance per person for the 27 "I oppose unfunded mandates on costly unfunded federal mandates cost of unfunded federal mandates to cities (based on 1990 population data) philosophical grounds and believe during Fiscal Year 1993. all U.S. cities is $6.5 billion for Fiscal is $48.50. that Congress has an obligation to The list of federal mandates con­ Year 1993. Estimated costs for the Lubbock residents paid $59.58 per scrutinize proposed new mandates or tains: 1) the Clean Water Act; 2) the five-year period from 1994 through person in 1993, while Amarillo regulations before they are enacted Clean Air Act; 3) the Resource 1998 total $54.0 billion. residents paid a significantly higher into law. This would instill some Conservation and Recovery Act, The three most costly unfunded price of $171.89 per person to comply common sense into the mandates which is the basis for the "Subtitle D" federal mandates in 1993 were the with the mandates. (The Amarillo debate. If lawmakers have cost­ landfill regulations; 4) the Safe Clean Water Act ($3.6 billion), solid total is based upon 1990 population benefit data on proposed mandates Drinking Water Act; 5) asbestos waste disposal ($900 million), and the data.) before they vote, the incidence of abatement; 6) lead paint abatement; Safe Drinking Water Act ($600 In an article in the April 1994 Texas unfunded mandates will drop 7) the Endangered Species Act; 8) the million). Town and City magazine, U.S. Senator substantially," says Gramm. What does it cost you to run ground water in an open, unlined ditch? EDITOR'S NOTE- Shortly after the High sand gallons. plus the extra wear and tear on the quarter-mile of open ditch may exceed Pl ains Wa ter District's creation in 1951 , tests Well No. 2 produced 185 gallons a equipment, plus the costs of maintaining $2,000 per year. were conducted to determine actual water loss­ es associated with the transport of water to the minute. The motor used 2.18 gallons of the ditch, plus the inconvenience of not Wouldn't it mean extra dollars in fi eld through open, unlined ditches. The fol ­ butane per hour. At 8 cents a gallon, the being able to cultivate the field while the your pockets and at the same time con­ lowing a rticle fr o m the Aug u s t 1954 Cross cost for butane was 17 1h cents per hour ditch is full of water, plus the additional serve water for future use if you would Sect ion discusses one such test conducted on or $4.20 per day. This unit also used one time required to irrigate the fi eld, the substitute a closed distribution system in the Joe Unfred farm near New Home. Since loss of 69 gallons a minute from the place of the open ditch? then, more than 10,000 miles of underground quart of motor oil at 35 cents per quart pipeline have been insta ll ed within the 15- and one pint of drip oil at 5 cents per county High Plains Water District service area pint. Total cost for butane and oil was to conserve water that otherwise would have $4.60 per day. 185 gallons per minute for been lost to deep percolation and evaporation 1,440 minutes in a day equals 266,400 during open ditch irrigation-CEM. gallons a day at a cost of $4.60 equals 17 1h cents per thousand gallons. By W.L. Broadhurst The combined discharge of the two On July 8 and 9, 1954, a test was made wells (250 and 185) was 435 gallons a THE on the Joe 0. minute. 435 gallons a minute times 1,440 Unfred farm near minutes in a day is 626,400 gallons a day New Home in C ROSS divided by 325,851 gallons in an acre­ northwestern Lynn foot equals 1.92 acre-feet per day County to deter­ SECTION pumped. In other words, the pumpage mine the loss result- from the two wells was sufficient to ing from running cover 1.92 acres to a depth of one foot. water in an open The total flow from the 1,250 foot ditch from his irri- ditch at a point about midway between C4ru gation wells to his the wells was 366 gallons per minute. Y E A A S field. Two wells were used in the This indicated that evaporation and study: well No. 1 is in the southwest cor­ seepage loss from the ditch was 69 gal­ ner of the quarter section and well No. 2 lons a minute (51h gallons a minute for is 1,250 feet east of well No. 1. Water every 100 feet of ditch). 366 gallons a from the two wells was discharged into minute times 1,440 minutes in a day is the ditch connecting the wells and was 526,040 gallons a day divided by 325,851 diverted from the ditch to a field at a gallons in an acre-foot equals 1.61 acre­ point approximately midway between feet per day delivered to the field. The Long-time County Secretary Retires the wells. Sparling flow meters were difference between the amount pumped The High Plains Water District had only been in existence six years when Louise used to measure the discharge from the (1.92 acre-feet per day) and the amount wells. A Parshall flume, which was fur­ delivered to the field (1.61 acre-feet per Tompkins of Canyon was appointed to serve as Randall County Secretary in nished by the Soil Conservation Service, day) was 0.31 acre-foot. The loss from late 1959. Now, 34 years later, Louise has retired from both the Randall County and a two-foot rectangular weir were this 1,250 foot ditch was 0.31 acre-foot or Farm Bureau office and her duties as County Secretary. In appreciation for her used to measure the discharge from the 3'.!4 inches over one acre every 24 many years of service, Water District Manager A. Wayne Wyatt presented ditch to the field. The wells had been hours. Louise with a plaque of appreciation at a recent dinner in her honor. pumped 7 days and nights continuously The cost of butane and oil was $9.80 into this same ditch before the test was per day to pump 1.92 acre-feet of water. started. The cost of pumping the 0.31 acre-foot Well No. 1 is equipped with a 6-inch that was lost was only $1.58 per day, but deep-well turbine pump and well No. 2 in 120 days it would amount to $189.60. is equipped with a 4-inch deep-well tur­ This, however, is only an insignificant bine pump. The pumps are driven by part of the loss. small Allis Chalmers engines using Mr. Unfred reported that the two butane for fuel. wells were pumped an average of 120 Well No. 1 produced 250 gallons a days a year. If each day he loses from THE CROSS SECT ION (US PS 564-920) minute. The motor used 2.5 gallons of this 1,250 foot ditch enough water to put THE CROSS SECTION is publ ished monthl y by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... •...... M anager Ke n Ca rver ...... Ass istant M anager butane per hour. At 8 cents a gallon, cost 3'.!4 inches on one acre of land, in 120 th e Hi g h Pl a in s Und e rg ro und W a te r Don Mc Reynolds ...... Geologist for butane was 20 cents per hour or $4.80 days he will lose enough water to put 12 Conserva ti o n Distri ct No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca W illiams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Lu bbock, TX 79405-1499 Glenn Bl ackmon ...... •...... Engineer Tec hnician for 24 hours. This unit used 1 quart of inches on 37.5 acres. If the 37.5 acres Terry Bridges...... Engineer Tec hnician motor oil at 35 cents per quart and one would produce '.!4 a bale of cotton per Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Exec utive Sec retary POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tamara Daniel ...... In formation/Ed uca ti on Ass istant pint of drip oil at 5 cents per pint. Total acre, that means a loss of 28 bales of cot­ Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agri cultural Engineer THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Bri an Houston ...... Agri culturist cost for butane and oil was $5.20 per day. ton. If the cotton would net $50.00 a bale, Arn old Husky ...... Chi ef En gineer Tec hnician Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-806-7 62-0181. Scott Libby ...... Irr igati on Tec hnician 250 gallons per minute for 1,440 minutes it means a loss of $1,400 a year. Pat Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper in a day is 360,000 gallons a day at a cost If we add the $189.60 for butane and CARMON McCA IN, Editor Rosie Risinger ...... Secretary/Receptionist Dan Sea le ...... En gineer Technician of $5.20 equals 1 44 / 100 cents per thou- oil plus the $1,400 we did not produce, INFORMATION/EDUCAT ION DIRECTOR Keith W hitworth ...... Draftsman June 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 Student survey gauges water awareness of Plainview residents As the result of a recent class using either a pie graph, bar graph, project, eighth-grade earth science Sample survey questions shown pictograph, chart, written conclusion, students at Plainview's Estacado or line graph. Junior High School now feel they Here are some of the questions included in the water survey con­ After discussion with McCain, know more about public perception ducted by Ms. Lori Nelson's earth science classes at Estacado Nelson told her students that some of of water quality, water supplies, and Junior High School in Plainview: the graphs might be considered for feelings toward water conservation. publication in The Cross Section. (Below) In August 1993, Hale County 1. What percentage of the earth's water is fresh water that can be Nelson says she felt it was residents voted to annex the used for drinking, transportation, heating and cooling, industry, important for the students to work remaining portion of their county and other purposes? together on the final phase of the into the High Plains Underground survey. Water Conservation District No. l. 5. Which type of water do you use most for drinking? "The students would be working Since that time, staff members have A) City Water B) Well Water C) Bottled Water together to arrive at a final design in been working to extend the District's a manner similar to that in the programs and activities into the 7. Nam e one water conservati on practice you use inside or outside workplace where companies or newly-annexed territory. your home. individuals 'contract out' for work. If On March 22nd, Information/ they can't sell their work or services, Education Director Carmon McCain 10. Do you feel that more community awareness concerning water and then they can't make a living. In this made a presentation to Lori Nelson's water conservation is needed in Plainview? Yes or No? type of situation, though it seems earth science classes about ground tough sometimes, there's only one water conservation. If yes, how should this be accomplished? winner and only one who gets paid. Nelson decided that an informal Success in a job or in life requires water survey would help reinforce Ifno, why? cooperation and competition," she some of the key points made during says. the presentation. She asked the 95 Did the students learn from the students in her classes to develop water survey? Nelson says she questions for the survey, gather the order to note whether the student father admitted that his son was believes that they did. data, and then construct the best answers were different. In most cases, right." "This helped the students learn a means of displaying their results. there was no more than a five percent She adds that the classes very lot about the water resources of their The students produced a 10- difference," says Nelson. quickly learned about the own region-rather than some place question survey which combined She adds that some of the ques­ complexities of analyzing data. "We far away. It made them feel good to multiple choices and fill-in-the-blank tions provided a learning experience had about 300 responses to our sur­ learn the answers to the survey answers. Questions addressed water for both students and respondents. vey. So, as a result, we had to work questions and share them with others. supplies, water quality, and the need "One student's father said he with percentages like crazy. The "For a recent English class assign­ for water conservation. thought 15 percent of the earth's fresh students soon learned that there is ment, students were given the choice "I had each student interview water can be used for drinking, more to a survey than just asking the to write about what they were study­ three people for the survey: a parent transportation, heating and cooling, questions. The data must be inter­ ing in earth science (water) or history living in the home, an adult living and other purposes. He didn't believe preted," says Nelson. (manifest destiny). Most students outside the home, and a student (8th it when his son told him that only one With the data in a usable form, chose to write about water and water grade and above). We figured the percent of the earth's water was Nelson then assigned each survey conservation, because they felt com­ adult responses together, then we fig­ available for human use. After question to a group of students and fortable with their knowledge of the ured student responses separately in consulting the encyclopedia, the asked them to display the results subject."

Do 1oll W"-..\ (.t' ; "' ~O\J..t' ~O\J.S e holcL k?

KEY i =- L,5?,( '1~ /)-;. 3 ':) %(~)

Do you feel that more community awareness concerning water and water conservation is needed in Plainview? YES/NO?

Of the 65% that answered YES, 48% of them thought water con­ servation could be done through publicity. From the 35% that answered NO, only 9% didn't want interference in using their water.

Water Survey Results Yvette Rodriquez of Plainview's Estacada Junior High School used buckets to depict the percentage of people surveyed who practice water conservation in their homes (left). The water droplets show those who do not practice water conservation. Ross Janezich used a bar graph to illustrate the ways that water is used in the household. (Due to space constraints, only the bars depicting the major water uses are shown here.) Page 4 THE C ROSS SECTION June 1994 New Doppler radar gives forecasters better look at severe weather Meteorologists at the National Lubbock's new WSR-88D will allow For the first time, NWS part of the WSR-88D that will send Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office meteorologists to "see" weather meteorologists will be able to look into and receive radar signals. in Lubbock now have a new tool to features (rain, snow, sleet, thunder­ thunderstorms and check for strong The operator workstation was provide South Plains residents with storms) more accurately and with wind rotation (mesacyclone). These delivered to the NWS Forecast office more accurate and timely warnings of more detail than ever before. mesacyclones can be good indicators on South Loop 289 recently. This is the severe weather. It is capable of operating in a number of severe weather. In time, this will part of the radar installation that will The new Weather Surveillance of ways. In one mode, the radar can result in an increase in the ability of be in constant use by NWS Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) has measure the motion of targets away NWS forecasters to detect severe meteorologists in an effort to provide been delivered and should be fully from or towards the radar beam. This weather and provide increased more timely, site-specific weather operational in time for the severe capability is based on the "Doppler warning lead time to the public. _statements and warnings-especially weather season. Effect" which, in relation to radar, is an Also, the radar can operate in a for severe thunderstorms and "The National Weather Service in alteration of a transmitted frequency at "clear air" mode, enabling forecasters tornadoes. Lubbock is happy to have this new tech­ the moment it reflects from a moving to track cold fronts and drylines more The WSR-88D represents the latest nology. Excitement had been growing target. Computers rapidly process the precisely than currently possible. in technology for operational meteo­ as the delivery date approached, and information and allow the WSR-88D to A 35-foot radome was put in place rology. The process has already been now forecasters can finally 'get their detect and measure the wind on top of a steel tower at Lubbock used at other NWS offices, including hands on it,"' says Walter R. "Andy" circulation within storms. The older, International Airport recently. This Amarillo, Houston, Norman/ Okla­ Anderson, NWS Meteorologist-In­ conventional radar does not allow the radome, which resembles a huge golf homa City, Washington D .C. and Charge and Area Manager. user to "see" air motions. ball, houses a 28-foot antenna. This is Melbourne, Florida. Tractors: Improper jump starting can result in serious injury or death

EDITOR'S NOTE-Newer tractors have Equipment companies and Texas Farm work can become routine an eye. These are accidents of which safety interlocks which prevent the engine Agricultural Extension Service and monotonous. The same job I have personal knowledge. I don't from starting while the tractor is in gear. However, many older tractors used primar­ officials warn "if the tractor is in gear sometimes has to be done for hours even take into account the countless ily by "weekend farmers" do not have these when a bypass start is attempted, the and days on end. others out there who can each name safety switches. There is a high potential for tractor may start and anyone in the Or it could be mixing chemicals, five more. serious, if not fatal, accidents every time path could be injured or killed." changing tires, fueling up, moving pipe, And the statistics list grows. these older tractors are jump started from That's not just an idle warning to cleaning grain bins, any of the A month after my father was in­ the ground. Now is a timely opportunity to remind full-time and "weekend" producers me. It's a sermon preached too late. hw1dreds of jobs a farmer is required to jured, he died. It's too late to per­ to use care when operating farm machin­ Or maybe, to the wrong person. do in order to plant and harvest a crop. sonally ask him. But, I'm asking you, ery. The following 1989 column was written Last year, a long-time farmer did Often, a missing part of the all of you who earn your living by by Amarillo Daily N ews Farm a nd Ranch that very thing, shorting across the routine is safety. A few extra minutes tilling the land, please be careful. Editor Kay Ledbetter and is reprinted here starter terminals. It wasn't unusual to make sure everything is in its right Let's get concerned about agricul­ with permission- CEM. for that tractor. Only this time, the place. A few extra minutes to shut ture's reputation. Not that it's a tractor had been left in ger1r. down if something goes wrong dying profession, but its Jump starting a tractor from the He became one of the statistics - before trying to repair it. professionals are dying. A Wall Street ground isn't the normal way of the statistics that combine to label My father is not the only statistic Journal story said farmers were too getting one running, but it' s one agriculture as the nation' s most to touch my life. When I was in first proud, too independent to protect practiced often enough to make dangerous profession. He was grade, a boy I knew was hung up in themselves. equipment companies issue knocked off balance by the tractor a combine auger and got his knee The farmers fear government in­ warnings against the procedure. lunging forward and was caught up torn up. Another tractor incident volvement, the article said. Opera tors bypass the normal in the plow before he could roll clear. claimed the life of a hometown man. It's not government that needs to starting methods by shorting across The farmer was more than a sta­ Covering agriculture news, I've be feared, but apathy among the pro­ the starter terminals or using the tistic. He was my dad. Every person in­ met a man who became severely ill fession for safety. No government in­ starter button to start the tractor jured or killed on the farm is more than because of chemical exposure, volvement is needed if each day we from the ground when the neutral a statistic. They're all someone's son, another who lost his leg from the make it a personal goal to be extra switch is broken. father, husband, brother, or cousin. knee down and yet another who lost careful.

66t,~-S0t,6L S'lfX31 '>10088n1 0 3nN3A'lf 0£6C: ~ "ON lOll:llSIO NOil'if Al:13SNOO l:13l'lfM aNnOl:l~l:130Nn SNl'lf1d H~IH 11Wl:13d SS'lf10 ON003S (OC:6-t,9S SdSn) NOl103S SSOl:10 3Hl Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 7 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER July 1994 Voluntary plans key to ag nonpoint source pollution prevention program By Clyde J. Gottschalk throug h traditional voluntary ing programs and practices for abat­ state water quality standards Director of Information and Education incentive-based programs," said ing agricultural and silvicultural non­ established by the Texas Natural Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Robert Buckley, executive director, point source pollution. Resource Conservation Commission Texas State Soil and Water In an area that the TSSWCB iden­ (TNRCC). TEMPLE-During the last regular Conservation Board (TSSWCB). tifies as having or having the To help manage and administer session of the Texas Legisla ture, The bill allows agricultural and potential to develop agricultural or the program, regional offices are Texas soil and water conservation sil vicultural timber producers to silvicultural nonpoint source water being located in areas where heavy districts asked for a program which develop site-specific water quality quality problems, the TSSWCB shall work loads are anticipated. The would allow farmers, ranchers, and management plans that w ill m eet establish a water quality management regional offices will assist local timber producers to participate in a state water quality standards. plan certification program. Local SWCDs and their cooperators who voluntary program to minimize or "If a farmer voluntarily develops SWCDs will develop and approve plan to develop site-specific water correct the impacts of nonpoint and maintains a site-specific water individual water quality manage­ quality management plans. source wa ter quality problems quality management plan through his ment plans for farms and ranches The first regional office opened in attributed to agricultural or silvicul­ or h er local SWCD, has the plan within the SWCD's authority. December in Dublin, Texas. A second tural (forestry) activities. certified by the TSSWCB and main­ According to the new law, each was opened recently in Hale Center Their request was heard. Through tains that plan, the individual is water quality m anagement plan to serve the Southern High Plains Senate Bill 503, they got a program compliant with state water quality law developed, maintained, and imple­ and Panhandle. A third regional which they felt they could live with. regarding nonpoint source discharge mented by a landowner or operator office is planned to serve north­ " It creates a progr a m tha t will of pollutants," said Buckley. through a SWCD must meet rules east Texas. Two more are planned to provide agricultural and silvicultural Buckley added that the TSSWCB, and criteria adopted by the TSSWCB. be opened in the subsequent fiscal producers w ith an opportunity to by law, is the lead agency in Texas for The TSSWCB is resp onsible for year. comply with state water quality laws planning, implementing, and manag- assuring that the plan complies with See COST SHARE Page Four

Hockley County drip irrigation field demonstration day set for July 21st Want to know more about drip directly surrounding plant roots. The drip tape at this site is installed lint per acre was harvested from this irrigation and its u se in cotton Therefore, water losses caused by below the soil surface on 25 rows on site in 1993. This is an increase of production? If so, be sure to attend evaporation, deep percolation, and 40-inch centers and 52 rows on 80-inch about 284 pounds of cotton lint per the first of three 1994 drip irrigation runoff are virtually eliminated . Using centers. The system is designed to acre compared to the estimated 500 field demonstration days sponsored drip irrigation can save as much as 30 m aintain 45 gallons of water per pounds per acre cotton lint yield by the High Plains Water District. to 40 percent of the water required by minute with 25 pounds of pressure at under furrow irrigation at the same The field demonstration day will most other irrigation systems," says the well discharge. site," says Carver. be held Thursday, July 21st, at the Carver. "A total of 783.9 pounds of cotton This is the third year of drip Jeff and Robert Kauffman farm, two irrigation operation in a five-year miles east of Levelland on Highway demonstration project partially 114. Drop by at your convenience funded by a grant from the Texas between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to see the Water Development Board in numerous water conservation Austin and the High Plains Water techniques demonstrated. District. Personnel from the USDA-Soil Several additional information Conserva ti on Service, the Texas stops will be set up at the Hockley Agricultural Extension Service, and County field day to give producers the High Plains Water District will an opportunity to visit one-on-one be on hand to answer producers' with representatives from questions. sponsoring agencies. "A new feature of the 1994 drip Demonstrations will include soil irrigation field demonstration day is moisture monitoring techniques, a dealer display area. H ere, pro­ u se of the Texas Agricultural ducers can visit with company Extension Service's Potential Evaoo­ representatives to learn more about transpiration (PET) Network, the the products available for drip mobile water conservation field irrigation use," says Ken Carver, laboratory, and irrigation pump Water District Assistant Manager. plant efficiency testing, as well as a A highlight of the fi eld day will be general overview of the drip tape, discussion of the 10-acre drip irriga­ Drip Irrigation Field Day emitters, and other drip irrigation tion system installed on the Kauffman Water District Assistant Manager Ken Carver (left) visits with Lubbock County hardware installed on this farm. farm. Extension Agent Mark Brown and Deaf Smith County Committee member Art Dates for the field demonstration "Ori p irrigation is the slow, Gonzales (right) during the 1993 drip irrigation field demonstration day at the Ute days at the Lubbock and Lynn frequent a pplication of small Becton farm near Idalou. Producers are encouraged to make plans to attend the 1994 County drip sites will be announced amounts of water to the soil area drip irrigation field demonstration days in Hockley, Lubbock, and Lynn Counties. in future issues of The Cross Section. Page2 THE CROSS SECTION July 1994 Open abandoned water wells are a silent menace to High Plains residents EDITOR'S NOTE-The dangers associat­ excuse, "Aw! o one will ever fall ed with open, abandoned water wells are into THAT well. They all know it is discussed in this article, which originally there." appeared in the July 1954 Cross Section. Proper capping and closure of these "open The little child who lost her life a holes" to prevent accidents and preserve few years ago (1949) in California did ground water quality remains a high prior­ not know an old well was hidden in ity with District staff-CEM. the grass and weeds where she was playing. As surely as day follows THE Have you ever night, that will be the price that thought of the someday will have to be paid here in CROSS terror that would the High Plains of Texas before the SECTION grip the heart of a average citizen will take the time to little child who is fill an old well. Maybe that life will be trapped at the your child or someone in the bottom of an old community who is dear to you. What well? Have you a terrible price to pay to press the [!QJ ever thought how necessity of doing a job that common small a spot of Y E A R S decency had made us all feel should daylight would be have been done long ago-the job of if you were looking up one hundred filling an old well. feet through sixteen-inch casing? How It is the opinion of this District that small the possibilities of recovery? every man who is responsible for an We are finding many holes with as open well should be fined the much as forty inches of open space at maximum amount of the law which Hazardous Hole the top. is $500.00 and be made to fill that old We have been told many well before the day ends. In this early District photo, former Water District Chi ef Hydrologist W.L. times .... "Yes, I closed my old well. I For we believe that: Broadhurst (left), an unidentified man, and former District Field Representative have laid two 1X4's over it with a A LITTLE LIFE IS WORTH MORE Y.F. Snodgrass (right) inspect an open abandoned irrigation well. It's clear how brick laid on top" or this is a common THAN A LITTLE TIME! easily a grown man could slide into this gaping hole. Drive-out inventory locates 590 open w ells in southern portion of District

Since March 1992, High Plains periodic drive-out inventory of well If the well is to be capped tem­ and the entire well filled with cement to Water District personnel have located sites in each of its 15 counties. porarily, the District recommends the land surface. An alternative method approximately 590 open, abandoned When he finds an open hole, that the cap either be welded or of plugging a well is to fill it w ith irrigation wells during a "drive-out" Blackmon photographs the well site bolted to the casing or that the cap bentonite mud, followed by a cement inventory of five counties in the and notes its location and legal have a permanently attached plug extending from the land surface to southern portion of its service area. description on the topographic map. weighted pipe that extends no less a depth of no less than 10 feet. A report In most cases, the well has been Blackmon then sends a letter asking than three feet into the well casing. must be filed with the Texas Natural abandoned because of poor water yield, that the well(s) be properly closed The weighted pipe should be no Resources Conservation Commission and the pump has been removed. and/ or capped. more than two inches smaller than (TNRCC) within 30 days of plugging a "Most of these wells either have no "Our area landowners have been the diame ter of the well casing to well. covering at all, or they are only partially extremely cooperative. After the assure that no opening appears when Well sites can be destroyed by covered by something like sheet iron, initial letter is received, the majority the cap is shifted from side to side. removing the pump base and casing. plywood or concrete blocks," says of landowners have the well properly If they desire, landowners may The hole is then filled with heavy Engineer Technician Glenn Blackmon. closed or capped before the 30-day purchase temporary caps through the mud and capped with a layer of "It's important for landowners and deadline given to them. Only a very District for $50.00. District staff will cement from 10 feet below land operators to get these abandoned wells small percentage require a second deliver and install a cap for a one­ surface to within two feet of the land properly closed to preserve ground letter," says Blackmon. way cost of 30rt a mile. surface. The site is then topped and water quality and prevent accidents." State law and High Plains Water A well that will not be used again mounded with soil. Two children have fallen into open, District rules state that owners or should be either permanently "If you have an open hole on your uncovered wells since the Water operators of land are required to plugged or destroyed. property, please take time now to get District was created in 1951. Luckily, permanently cap or close abandoned The Texas Administrative Code sets it properly closed. Don't wait until an both children were rescued unharmed. wells with a covering capable of standards for the permanent plugging accident occurs or the ground water It is to prevent such traumatic sustaining at least 400 pounds of of a well. As much of the casing as beneath your tract of land becomes incidents that the District conducts a weight or more. possible is to be removed from the well contaminated," says Blackmon.

THE CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920) THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. W ayne W ya tt...... Manager Ken Ca rver...... Assistant Manager th e Hi gh Plains U nderground W ater Don Mc Reynolds ...... Geologist Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Williams...... Dir. Admin./Permits Glenn Bl ackmon ...... Engineer Technician Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Terry Bridges ...... Engineer Technician Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary Tamara Dani el .. Information/ Educa ti on Ass istant POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E...... Agricultural Engineer THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Ave nu e Q, Brian Houston ...... Agricu lturist Cap Those Wells! Arnold Husky ...... Chief Engineer Technician Lubbock, TX 79405- 1499 1-806-762-0181. Scott Libby ...... Irrigation Technician Havin g an open abandoned water wel l on your property jeopardizes ground Pat Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper CARMON M cCAIN, Editor Rosie Risinger ...... •...... Secretary/ Receptionist water quality and threatens human and animal life. With this in mind, please take Dan Sea le ...... ••...... Engineer Technician the time to properly close any open holes you have on your property. INFORMATION/EDUCATION DIRECTOR Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman July 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page 3 Computer software assists producers with irrigation management decisions

By Dr. Rose Mary Seymour For example, cotton will only use a units, and rainfall. The spreadsheet is spreadsheet to determine when to Agricultural Engineer small amount of the PET (10 to 20 useful for any type of irrigation system irrigate in 1993 using his LEP A Texas Agricultural Extension Service percent) during May. The percent of management from furrow to Low system averaged 1,374 pounds per A new software package based PET used by the cotton crop increases Energy Precision Application (LEP A) acre. upon Potential Evapotranspiration as it grows and develops, so that center pivots. It is especially designed PET is based on an energy balance (PET) is ready to assist High Plains through June, the cotton water use is to help a producer plan high frequency equation and is calculated from irrigators in deciding when and how 20 to 45 percent of the PET. When the deficit irrigation scheduling, although weather data collected at local much irrigation water to apply. cotton reaches peak bloom in late July it can be used for any type of weather stations. Weather stations The software is called SPIMS or early August, the crop will be irrigation. are presently located at three (South Plains Irrigation Management using 100 percent of the PET. This is The spreadsheet requires a date, locations in the Southern High Plains Software) and is designed primarily where SPIMS software comes in daily PET, daily heat units or a crop and three locations in the Panhandle. for use with the PET Network to handy. SPIMS calculates the amount coefficient, and rainfall that might It is recommended, although not calculate irrigation requirements. of PET that a crop is using from daily occur in the field. The spreadsheet necessary, that a producer planning The PET Network provides daily heat units for cotton and corn. For then uses these numbers to estimate to use SPIMS subscribe to the PET potential evapotranspiration, or a other crops, the crop coefficient is an the daily crop water use. Crop water Network FAX Service. However, a measure of the maximum water that input to SPIMS and must be use is subtracted from rainfall and producer can get the PET information a well-watered full cover crop will calculated by the users. irrigations recently applied to from newspapers, radio, and TV. use during a day. Crop coefficients SPIMS is a compiled spreadsheet determine if and when more irriga­ For more information on this new must be used with the PET to that was written using LOTUS 1-2-3 by tion is needed. spreadsheet to help manage irrigation determine the crop water use for a Dr. Jackie Smith, Dr. Bill Lyle, and Dr. Cooperators that tried the software water, contact your local county particular crop. The crop coefficient Rose Mary Seymour. It is designed for during the 1993 growing season were extension agent or call Dr. Rose Mary takes into account the morphology, IBM compatible personal computers pleased with the spreadsheet Seymour at the Texas A&M change in leaf area and plant size and and needs about 540 K to run easily. It software. One grower in northern Agricultural Research and Extension development of a crop. requires the inputs of daily PET, heat Lubbock County who used the Center at Lubbock, (806) 746-6101. Irrigation system upgrades spark increased activity in District programs By Tamara Daniel well will be located. It should be noted pleted and returned to the District 1994 loans have been made for center The 1993 growing season proved to that the District headquarters serves office. pivot sprinkler systems, but three of be profitable for most High Plains pro­ Crosby, Lubbock, and Lynn Counties. Producers are not only drilling new the loans were for computer-assisted ducers; and as a result, the High During the first six months of 1994, wells to restore or increase their water management system control panels for Plains Water District's well permitting 348 permits for wells h ave been supply, but once the water is brought existing systems. and agricultural water conservation issued. An average of 1,170 water well to the surface, they are looking for Money can be borrowed for the equipment loan programs have been permits have been issued per year more efficient ways to apply the purchase of water delivery equipment very busy in recent months. since the permitting program began 41 water. and irrigation application systems. Since January 1994, the Water years ago. During the past 10 years, In 1986, the Water District started a Some examples of equipment ap­ District has issued 348 well permits the average has dropped to about 200 low interest agricultural water conser­ proved for loans are underground and loaned almost $2 million to High water well permits issued per year. vation equipment loan program to pipeline, above-ground transport Plains producers for the purchase of To obtain a permit, a $50 refund­ help producers with their water con­ pipeline, gated pipe, flow measuring irrigation water delivery equipment able deposit must be paid, and the servation efforts. Producers across the devices, Low Energy Precision and irrigation application systems. applicant must have the legal descrip­ service area are taking advantage of Application (LEPA) sprinkler systems, "Last year was a profitable year for tion of the well site, measurements to the program. Since 1986, the District center pivot systems with drop lines many producers. Most farmers invest a the three closest wells within a quarter has loaned $7,728,521.78 to 221 pro­ no more than four feet above the large portion of their profits back into mile, and measurements from the pro­ ducers to upgrade their irrigation ground, surge valves, and furrow their farms," says Becca Williams, Water posed well site to two non-parallel systems. dikers. District Director of Administration. lines, such as county roads. The well Under the 1994 loan, the District Producer participation in the 1994 Some of the investments made by must be drilled before the permit has loaned approximately $1.65 mil­ loan program has increased compared producers are drilling new water expires in four months, and then the lion at 4.8 percent interest to 37 bor­ to the last few years, and Williams wells, repairing pumps, and installing deposit is refunded when the well log rowers in 10 counties. attributes this to the profitable har­ more efficient water delivery systems. and pump installation report are com- According to Williams, most of the vest, the dry year, and the low ag loan A producer with less than an adequate interest rate. water supply for full irrigation gener­ A large majority of the· center piv­ ally can expect a good return on an ots installed in the 15-county Water improved system. District service area are not financed "Higher water use efficiency can in through the Agricultural Water Con­ essence make more water available to servation Equipment Loan Program. the crop, which usually results in From 1990 through 1993, 1,507 piv­ increased yields. The improved yields ots were installed in the Water increase profits and allow the systems District. Castro County led the way to pay for themselves in a short period with the installation of 230 new pivots, of time," says Williams. followed by Hale County with 216 This past year, the area also and Parmer County with 197. Many received below average amounts of more pivots have been installed to precipitation which Williams says is date in 1994. another reason for the increased well "Center pivots save producers drilling and loan applications. labor, money, and water. Our produc­ As a result of the dry conditions, ers are always thinking about water producers have had to pump their conservation, and they adopt the best wells "hard." Some producers are water conservation methods they can replacing old wells that are no longer afford," says Williams. productive, and others are putting in Additional information about the new wells. "I believe producers are agricultural water conservation equip­ spending money that they would not ment loan program and water well spend if we were in a wet weather permit applications is available by cycle," says Williams. contacting the High Plains To drill a new well within the 15- Pivot Use Increasing Underground Water Conservation county Water District service area, a Many area producers are improving their irrigation efficiency by upgrading District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, permit must be issued from the Water their delivery systems. A LEPA center pivot sprinkler system delivers up to 98 Lubbock TX 79405-1499 or by calling District office in the county where the percent of the water pumped directly to the crop. (806) 762-0181. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION July 1994 Cost-share program to help producers implement water quality plan Continued From Page One "Though we know there is interest Setting Water Quality Standards in some type of low-interest loan James Moore, TSSWCB assistant program and other incentives to help executive director for Conservation farmers and timber producers imple­ Programs and under whose authority ment a water quality management the program will operate, said, "Some program, the TSSWCB does not have of the things we will be doing from any authorized low-cost loan pro­ an agricultural and silvicultural pers­ gram available at this time," he pective is to assist TNRCC to develop added. and set appropriate water quality Resolution of Complaints standards and goals for nonpoint Dealing with complaints con­ source pollution. Our regional offices cerning the violation of a water qual­ will gather the information and ity management plan or a violation of determine the things we need to do to a law or rule relating to nonpoint help set and meet those standards source pollution is another charge and goals." S.B. 503 gives to the TSSWCB. "When nonpoint standards and The TSSWCB, in consultation with goals are developed, the TSSWCB the SWCD in which the complaint will continue to work with TNRCC to Hale Center Regional Office originated, will make a determination determine pollutant load limits rela­ Secretary Shelby Norfleet holds one of the water quality brochures available at relative to the need for action, tive to different activities in problem the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board regional office on East according to Moore. "To the extent practicable, the watersheds. Then we will identify 12th Street and Avenue E in Hale Center. The office was opened recently to complainant will be interviewed by best management practices (BMP) assist local soil and water conservation districts and cooperators to develop applicable to those activities and the TSSWCB and the SWCD prior to site-specific water quality management plans. determine what levels of implementa­ an investigation. Based on complain­ tion will be required to meet those ant interviews and investigations, load limits," he added. quality parameters acceptable in state agricultural and sil vicultural including a review of any water Once that goal is determined the individual stream segments are set by nonpoint source management quality management plans on file, the TSSWCB, in cooperation with local TNRCC. Criteria and standards program will be made as necessary TSSWCB and SWCD will determine SWCDs, will work with landowners relative to individual water quality through existing procedures. whether the need for corrective action and operators through various management plans and BMP's are set Practice standards will be de­ exists," Moore said. voluntary m e thods to obtain tha t by the TSSWCB," said Moore. veloped in consultation with local "If some type of corrective action is level of BMP implementation within Practice standards will be based on SWCDs, SCS, Texas Agricultural required, we will work with the ap­ the watershed. criteria in the USDA Soil Conser­ Extension Service, Texas Forest Ser­ propriate parties to develop a Setting Practice Standards vation Service Field Office Technical vice, T RCC, and others as deter­ corrective action plan. S.B. 503 re­ "Keep in mind that state water Guides. Modification of those practice mined by the TSSWCB. quires that a person upon whom a quality standards which reflect the standards to ensure consistency with Cost-Share Program complaint was fi led and who fails or acceptable level of certain water state vvater quality standards and the To help ngricultural and timber refuses to take warranted corrective producers implement site-specific action be referred to TNRCC for water quality management plans, the action,"he added. New tailwater brochure available TSSWCB will administer a cost-share "In the past we've had some "It Pays To Eliminate Tailwater tools such as surge irrigation and low program. Rates will vary according to misunderstanding about who should Waste" is the newest publication of energy precision application (LEPA) specific practices and will be estab­ be ultimately responsible for adminis­ the High Plains Underground Water are discussed. Ways to figure the cost lished by the TSSWCB. In addition, tering programs to abate agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source Conservation District No. 1. benefits of purchasing this equipment the TSSWCB will set priorities for the allocation of the cost share funds. pollution problems. I think S.B. 503 This six-page pamphlet gives the are also discussed. "Since it is water quality purposes has cleared that up. Where agricul­ rules governing tail water and Copies of the pamphlet are that these funds must be used for, we tural and silvicultural nonpoint provides an overview of ways to available at the District office, 2930 will be addressing the most critical source pollution is concerned in manage irrigation water to prevent Avenue Q, Lubbock, TX 79405-1499, needs determined by our Board," said Texas, people should look to the tailwater losses. Water management or by calling (806) 762-0181. Moore. TSSWCB," Moore concluded.

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Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 8 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER August 1994

Cost-effective farm management practices available to stop tailwater waste Below-average precipitation and extremely hot weather this summer have forced many producers within the High Plains Water District service area to irrigate their crops full time since early summer. With such a heavy demand for irrigation water, it is important for farmers to make sure they are not wasting this precious resource by allowing tailwater to escape from their fields. Violating The Tail water Law Can Cost Big Bucks The loss of irrigation tailwater from the land on which it is produced is a violation of state law and of the rules of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. l. The Water District rule regarding waste, taken directly from the state Can You Afford Tai/water Waste? statute, defines waste as it relates to Given the high cost of pumping ground water, how can you afford to allow this water to escape from your field and fill the barrow irrigation tailwater, as "wilfully or ditch where no crops are grown? Surge valves and LEPA center pivot systems provide cost-effective management practices for pro­ negligently causing, suffering, or ducers to eliminate tailwater waste. permitting underground water to escape into any river, creek, natural tailwater onto land other than that of acceptable to the District. Potential whatever time the provider chooses." watercourse, depression, lake, reser­ the owner of the well unless permis­ parties to such an agreement are If such an agreement is made, the voir, drain, sewer, street, highway, sion has been granted by the warned that it may obligate the water must move directly onto the road, or road ditch, or onto any land occupant of the land receiving the provider to provide a specified neighbor's property without crossing other than that of the owner of the discharge. This permission must be in supply of water into perpetuity property belonging to anyone else or well; or ground water pumped for the form of an agreement signed and/ or the recipient to accept runoff public property. irrigation that escapes as irrigation between the parties on a form in whatever quantities and at See SURGE Page Three

Lubbock County drip irrigation field demonstration day set for August 25th

Drip irrigation operation, soil tion Field Demonstration Day is will have the opportunity to visit moisture monitoring, and pump plant scheduled for Thursday, August 25th, one-on-one with personnel from the I------,*UTE energy use efficiency testing are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ute Becton Water District, the USDA-Soil BE CTON among the demonstrations awaiting farm on Farm Road 789 near Idalou. Conservation Service, and the Texas FARM producers at a water conservation To reach the demonstration site, Agricultural Extension Service. They field demonstration day to be held in travel five miles east of Idalou on will be pleased to answer any Lubbock County on August 25, 1994. Highway 62/82, then turn north on Discussion of the 10-acre drip FM 789 and travel for eight miles. A questions about the agricultural irrigation demonstration plot in­ sign on the east side of the road will water conservation techniques 400 stalled at the site will be the main designate the demonstration site. demonstrated at the field day," says focus of the field demonstration day. The drip irrigation tape at the Carver. "The value of drip irrigation as a Becton farm is installed 14 inches This is the third year of drip means of irrigating cotton will really beneath the land surface on row spac­ irrigation operation in a five-year be seen this year because of the lack of ings of 40-inches, 80-inches, and 120- demonstration project partially IDALOU moisture during the winter and inches. Two irrigation wells are tied funded by the Texas Water spring, as well as the record high together to supply water for the 10- Development Board in Austin and temperatures experienced in the acre demonstration site. the Water District. area," says Ken Carver, Water District In 1993, a total of 885 pounds of Lynn County Assistant Manager. cotton lint per acre was harvested HPUWCD GRAPHIC: Keith Whitworth The Lynn County Drip Irrigation "We'd like to invite all interested from this drip irrigation demonstra­ Field Demonstration Day set for Drip Site producers to stop by during the day at tion plot. This is an increase of about their convenience to watch the dem­ 410 pounds of cotton lint per acre September 8th, at the Leland White The 1994 Lubbock County Drip Irrigation onstration of the latest irrigation compared to the estimated 475 farm located four miles west of New Field Demonstration Day will be held water conservation techniques." pounds per acre yield under furrow Home on FM 211 has been cancelled August 25th at the Ute Becton farm on Lubbock County irrigation at the same site. due to severe hail damage to the FM 789, northeast of Idalou. The Lubbock County Drip Irriga- "Producers visiting the field day cotton. Page2 THE CROSS SECTION August 1994 The geologic and hydro logic aspects of the High Plains Water District EDITOR'S NOTE-Understanding the relatively simple compared to many hydrology of the Ogallala Aquifer in the underground reservoirs in other parts Texas High Plains has been a key factor in of the country. The Southern High the management of its precious ground Plains stand up like a great island water resources. This article, which ap­ surrounded by a sea of undulating peared in the August 1954 Cross Section, redbeds both on the west and on the gives readers an overview of the geology east. Throughout most of the region, and hydrology of land within the High the water table slopes southeastward, Plains Water District-CEM. but along the north edge it slopes toward the Canadian River, and all along the western edge it slopes By W.L. Broadhurst toward the Pecos River. Therefore, The Llano Estacada, or Southern the underground water does not High Plains, extends from the Cana­ come from the mountains of New dian River in the Texas Panhandle Mexico but is replenished entirely southward to the Edwards Plateau in from precipitation on the Plains the vicinity of Big Spring and from themselves, chiefly during excep­ the Ca pro ck in tionally wet periods. Since there is no THE Texas near the nearby source of water comparable to lOlst meridian. the supply now in storage, the CROSS The High primary problems are economical Plains Under­ and equitable development. The SECTION ground Water situation becomes more complicated Conservation as it narrows down to smaller District No. 1 individual areas. The conditions vary covers a large from place to place and even from @ill portion of the one farm to the next. One man may Llano Estacada be able to develop a well that will Y E A R S in Texas, which HPUWCD GRAPHIC: Keith Whitworth yield 1,000 gallons per minute includes all or Slice of Life whereas his neighbor may be able to parts of 21 The ground water stored in the Ogallala Formation of the Texas High Plains is develop a well that will yield less counties extending from Amarillo than half that quantity. essential to the growth of area towns and cities, as well as the prosperity of agri­ southward into Lynn County and The development and use of the from the New Mexico line eastward cultural producers in the region. The producers' understanding of the hydrology underground water in this region is to the Caprock. It embraces of the Ogallala Formation (above) has been a key factor in the management of being accompli shed by thousands of approximately 6,800,000 acres of this precious ground water resource. individuals, many of whom are not fertile land. versed in the laws of nature and do not Permian, Triassic, or Cretaceous with Ogallala sediments. During which are now actively engaged in understand the rudiments of the occur­ rocks underlie the entire District at more recent centuries, the Canadian water conservation programs. Al­ rence and movement of ground water. depths ranging from a feather edge to River has carved a deep gorge across though the precipitation averages Consequently, the major hydro­ several hundred feet. These rocks are the Plains, and erosion along the about 20 inches a year, the potential logic problems of underground water com posed chiefly of consolidated Pecos River has removed the Ogallala evapotranspiration during years of conservation districts are not neces­ sandstone, shale, limestone, gypsum, material between the foot hills of the normal plant growth is about 30 sarily the collecting or analyzing of and salt. In general, they are rela­ mountain and the western escarp­ inches a year. the physical facts. Surely the greatest tively impermeable and are of minor ment of the Plains. Consequently, the These records indicate that problems relate to the conveyance of importance as sources of fresh water. Ogallala Formation beneath the Llano supplemental water is desirable for those facts to the individual so that he The Ogallala Formation of Tertiary Estacada is isolated geologically from irrigation during most years of aver­ may better understand the present Age, which overlies these older rocks, the Plains to the north and the moun­ age or below average precipitation in and the future effects that his opera­ is the principal aquifer or ground tains to the west. order to produce large crop yields. tions will have on himself, his neigh­ water reservoir beneath the District. Since the Ogallala Formation However, as a matter of record, dur­ bor, and the area as a whole. The Ogallala consists chiefly of uncon­ beneath the Southern High Plains is ing some years of above average or Information that has been collected solidated clay, silt, sand and gravel. geologically separated from the sur­ even average preci pi ta tion, de­ during the first half of the 20th The land surface of the Plains is rounding territory, so is it hydrologi­ pending upon soil moisture condi­ century shows conclusively that the rel a ti vel y smooth and in general cally separated from any important tions and distribution of rain, larger supply of ground water in the High slopes southeastward at the rate of source of fresh water except precipi­ yields of cotton, wheat, and some Plains is definitely limited and is about ten feet per mile; but the bed­ tation on the surface. crops have been harvested from replenished from precipitation. The rock on which the Ogallala was de­ Records show that the average dryland farms on the Plains than from amount of annual replenishment is posited is much more irregular than annual precipitation over the District irrigated farms just across the fence. not definitely known, but beyond any the present land surface. Conse­ is about 20 inches. That, however, is a The overall geologic and hydro­ question of doubt, it is only a fraction quently, the Ogallala Formation ranges relatively large quantity of water. logic problems of the Plains are of the annual withdrawal. in thicknesses from only a few feet on Twenty inches over 6,800,000 acres is the tops of the old redbed or Cre­ equal to about 11 ,000,000 acre-feet, taceous hills and ridges to more than the actual quantity of water that falls 500 feet in the ancient stream valleys. within the bounds of the District The Ogallala Formation consists of during each year of average rainfall. sediments that were brought to the Records further show that the surface Plains area chiefly by streams that run-off within the District is less than h eaded in the mountains of New one inch, most of which drains into Mexico. These sediments were depos­ the thousands of depressions to form ited first in the ancient valleys, but as temporary ponds on the Plains. The the valleys became filled, the streams run-off that contributes to stream TH E CRO SS SECTIO N (USPS 564-920) flow below the Caprock is only a meandered back and forth from one THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne W ya tt ...... Manager valley to another. small percentage of the total runoff. Ken Ca rver...... Ass istant Manager th e Hi gh Pl ain s U nd ergro und W ater Don M cReynolds ...... Geologist Some material, of course, was The rapid increase in the number Conse rva ti on Distri ct o. 1, 2930 Ave nue Q Becca Williams...... Dir. Admin./Permits of large capacity wells that have been Glenn Blackmon ...... Engineer Tec hnician washed into the valleys from the Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Terry Bridges ...... Engineer Tec hn ician surrounding hills, which accounts for drilled and the corresponding in­ Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... E xecutive Secretary Tamara Daniel ...... In formati on/ Educa ti on Ass istant layers (or lenses) of red and yellow crease in withdrawal of ground water POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agricultural Engineer clay within the Ogallala and above in the High Plains of Texas have not THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Bria n Houston...... Agricu lturist Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-8 06-762-01 81. Arn old Husky ...... Chief Engineer Technician the true redbeds. After many cen­ only caused people to advocate con­ Scoll Li bbi ...... Irrigati on Technician turies the valleys were completely servation of water, but they have Pat Kunke ...... Bookkeeper CARMON McCAIN, Editor Ros ie Risinger ...... Secretary/Receptioni st filled but deposition continued until resulted in the formation of under­ Dan Sea le...... Engineer Technician all the hills and ridges were covered ground water conservation districts FO RM ATION/EDUCATION D IRECTO R Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman August 1994 T HE CROSS SECTION Page3 Surge valves, LEPA systems help farmers stop tailwater waste Continued From Page One Example# 1 The first approach estimates fuel Investigations, Court Action, savings alone as a result of reduced Fines, and Jail Time pumpage due to increased system The Water District carefully docu­ efficiency to store the same amount of ments incidents of irrigation tailwater water in the soil. Using as an example with photographs and written reports a 500 gpm well powered by and notifies the owner and operator electricity with 300 feet of pumping of the problem. lift and a 2,000 hour irrigation season If documentation indicates that with an electricity cost of $ 0.75 per wasting water is a habitual practice, a KWH, the pumping cost is $47.41 per lawsuit is filed seeking an injunction acre-foot or $8,723.44 for the season. against the owner of the land and the An efficiency increase of 35 percent operator. If the judge issues an in­ reduces the pumping cost by junction against the landowner and $3,053.20 for the season. Dividing the operator to cease and desist wasting water, the Water District is reduced pumping cost into the cost of the LEPA system, it would take 13.1 responsible to advise the court of any citizen com plaint that irrigation years to pay for the system with the tailwater continues to occur or if savings. Water District personnel observe Examp le# 2 further incidents. The court then The second cost approach is based orders the owner I operator to appear on savings on the cost of a new well, to answer a contempt of court charge, pump, and production cost. Our which carries a maximum fine of $500 Pivot Payback example well would now cost $72.14 per acre-foot to pump, or $13,273.16 for each occurrence and a maximum A Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) center pivot sprinkler system with per year. A 35 percent savings from sentence of six months in the county a 95 percent irrigation application efficiency is an excellent tool to eliminate jail. efficiency improvement is $4,645.82 tailwater waste. Cost savings resulting from elimination of tailwater waste will in pumping cost. Dividing $4,645.82 If major improvements are pay for the ce nter pivot in a reasonable amount of time. required to eliminate the problem, into the $40,000 pivot cost, it would Water District policy established by take 8.6 years to pay for the pivot the Board of Directors gives the In the following example, a 20 Assuming the volume of water lost as with the savings. landowner I operator the opportunity percent increase in water use effi­ tailwater to be 20 percent of the Example# 3 to submit a written plan to perma­ ciency would result when conven­ pumpage, 18.4 acre-feet of water is The third approach would use the nently eliminate the waste within one tional furrow irrigation of 80 acres is being lost as tailwater. This 18.4 acre­ same 500 gallon per minute well and year. Once a plan is agreed upon, no converted to surge irrigation. A surge feet of water used on the 80 acres a 2,000 hour pumping season. If this legal action will be taken during the valve has been purchased at a cost of would provide an additional 2.76 amount of water were pumped on one-year period, provided the opera­ $1,250 and 400 feet of gated pipe have inches of water on each acre for plant 123 acres of land and conventional tor is making a sincere effort to been purchased at a cost of $800, for a use. The additional water would furrow irrigation was used, only control the waste. total investment of $2,050 in new increase yields about 100 pounds per 10.78 inches per acre of the 17.86 acre­ Legal problems and fines can be equipment. The well produces 250 acre-inch, which should produce inches per acre pumped would be avoided if the owner I operator imple­ gpm from 200 feet depth. Powered by about 276 pounds more cotton lint stored in the ground, assuming a 40 ments a plan before a complaint is electricity over a 2,000 hour pumping per acre. This 276 pounds of lint at percent loss. Upgrading to a LEPA filed. season, pumping cost will be about 50rt per pound times 80 acres equals system with a five percent loss, 17.06 Better Management Practices $31.60 per acre-foot of water or $2,907 $11,040 in extra income. acre-inches per acre would be In the 1960s and 1970s, the District during an irrigation season. Low Energy Precision Application available for crop use now or in the promoted tailwater pits to capture The 20 percent increase in effi­ Center Pivot Sprinkler Systems future. runoff water and reuse it. Although ciency using surge means that the Another excellent method to pre­ More timely irrigation application, this is still an option, most data show same amount of water could be vent tailwater waste is the center plus potential yield increase from the that better methods are available in stored in the soil for later crop use pivot sprinkler system. A center previously-lost 6.28 acre-inches of the 1990s. with 20 percent less pumpage, which pivot system can eliminate tailwater water, could increase yields by 628 Surge Irrigation would reduce the energy cost by 20 waste on farms where farmers have pounds per acre. If valued at 50rt per Surge irrigation was introduced in percent. Twenty percent of $2,907 is a problems holding tailwa ter on the pound, this would return $314 per the High Plains in the early 1980s. In $581.40 saving in electricity cost. farm. A center pivot system designed acre or $38,622 for the circle per year. surge irrigation, a valve operating on The payback time on the equip­ to irrigate a quarter section of land Figured this way, the system would a timer alternates the flow of water ment based only on the possible usually costs around $40,000. pay for itself in just over a year. between two furrow irrigation sets energy savings from reduced pump­ Improvements in the past few Modification of the Land for pre-determined amounts of time. age due to increased system years, especially with low energy pre­ Most tailwater problems today are The uniform application of water efficiency would be 3.5 years. (Divide cision application (LEPA), allow due to situations that will require a throughout the field, elimination of the annual energy saved, $581.40, sprinklers to apply water as the crop change in farming practices to solve. irrigation tailwater (with proper into the total cost of the equipment, uses it. Today, more than ever, the These changes usually require an management), and reduced evapor­ $2,050.) operational cost of farming is grow­ investment in new irrigation equip­ ation losses bring about water use Calculating the payback period ing. For this reason, many farmers are ment or land modification such as efficiency improvements of 10 to 40 based on the cost of a new well, in­ using the center pivot, because it laser land leveling or terracing. Costs percent compared to conventional cluding constructing, developing, provides such great benefits. are determined by the shape, slope, furrow irrigation. equipping, and operating, increases A LEP A pivot has about a 95 per­ and various other factors on the farm. Most surge valves cost between the value of the saved water. Calcu­ cent system efficiency, while furrow Having terraces put on the farm may $1,000 and $1,500. Most operators use lating the variable and fixed costs, an irrigation has only about a 60 percent be the best solution, but they may one valve per 80 acres. Although a acre-foot of water would cost $61.79 system efficiency. The water pumped have to be combined with a surge valve can be operated with to produce, with an annual cost of is applied evenly across the field, and waterway to a playa. only the gated pipe the operator was $5,684.68. A 20 percent savings almost all the water gets to the plant With proper effort and/ or invest­ already using with furrow irrigation, would be $1,136.94. (Divide the surge roots. A LEP A system bought to elim­ ment in alternative practices, tail­ this means additional labor in valve and gated pipe cost, $2,050, by inate tailwater can reasonably be water waste can be stopped. Each moving pipe. Labor costs can be the total savings of $1,136.94). It expected to pay for itself. farm has to be evaluated individually reduced by purchasing additional would take 1.8 years to pay for the Examples of three different cost to determine the best plan. Technical pipe to allow more sets to be watered surge valve and gated pipe. approaches are given to illustrate assistance is available from the High before moving the valve and pipe. A Applying the water previously lost how to determine if a LEPA center Plains Underground Water Con­ purchase of an additional 400 feet of as tailwater to increase the pivot sprinkler system is a viable servation District No. 1, the USDA gated pipe per valve will be used in production of a crop will more than option for a particular farming Soil Conservation Service, and the the following cost-benefit analysis. pay for the change in one year. operation. Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION August 1994 New housing developments may uncover abandoned well dangers Open, abandoned water wells are often thought to be a problem asso­ ciated with rural areas. However, as residential development on the Texas High Plains makes its way onto land formerly used for agriculture, it is extremely important for landowners and developers to inspect their prop­ erty for these open wells. On July 8th, an abandoned irriga­ tion well was found on property located one block west of Frankford A venue in Lubbock. This well was abruptly discovered by a contractor blading the lot to pre­ pare it for construction. When a piece of rusty, crumbling sheet metal was scraped away, an open hole at least three feet in diameter and 158 feet deep was uncovered. The old well was located in the middle of the lot and about 40 feet away from houses on each side. Children live in both of these houses. Hidden Hazard An elementary school and a church An unidentified boy gazes with curiosity at an abandoned irrigation well found July 8th in a southwest Lubbock subdivi­ are nearby. sion. Hidden by a mound of soil and a sheet metal cover (right foreground) for several decades, the well was uncovered According to High Plains Under­ by a contractor preparing the vacant lot for construction. At right, the well is filled with concrete and properly destroyed. ground Water Conservation District records, the well was drilled in 1955 and completed with a 16-inch farmland still in production. As the is, and shall be, required to close or Well sites can be destroyed by diameter casing. After the well was city continues to grow into rural cap the same permanently with a removing the pump base and casing. developed, it produced less water areas, more abandoned wells are covering capable of sustaining weight State law requires that the hole be than the landowner wanted. It was likely to be found. of not less than four hundred (400) filled with heavy mud and capped considered to be a "dry hole," and District officials also urge occu­ pounds, except when said well is in with a layer of cement from 10 feet the well was abandoned. pants of newly-developed residential actual use by the owner or operator below land surface to within two feet The open well was improperly areas to watch for wells formerly thereof and no owner or operator of the land surface. The site is then to covered by a piece of sheet metal used with windmills. These shall permit or allow any open or be topped and mounded with soil. with dirt mounded over the too of it. "windmill holes," much smaller than uncovered well to exist in violation of A brochure discussing the proper Upon later inspection, Water District a 16-inch diameter irrigation well, are this requirement." closure of open, abandoned wells is personnel believed the well had been more likely to be found throughout If the well is to be capped tempo­ available free of charge to residents rarily, the District recommends that a destroyed because there was no the area since they were the primary within the 15-county Water District water supply for both rural and city cap either be welded or bolted to the longer any surface evidence sug­ service area. residents in earlier years. If not casing or that the cap have a per­ gesting the presence of a well site. If you discover an abandoned well, The old well has now been prop­ properly covered, these wells can also manently attached weighted pipe contact the High Plains Underground erly destroyed and no longer poses a jeopardize ground water quality. that extends no less than three feet threat to people, animals, or ground State law and Rule 16 of the High into the well casing. The weighted Water Conservation District No. 1, water quality. Plains Underground Water Conser­ pipe should be no more than two 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas Water District records indicate vation District state: inches smaller than the diameter of 79405 or call (806) 762-0181. District there are many other wells in this "Every owner or operator of land the well casing to assure that no personnel will make sure that the vicinity, both destroyed and in within the District upon which is opening appears when the cap is well is properly covered and the current use. This area is also close to located any open or uncovered well shifted from side to side. hazard eliminated.

66t,~-SOl76L SVX3l ')10088nl 0 3nN3AV 0£61: ~ 'ON 101!::l!Sla NOilVAl::l3SNOO 1::13lVM aNno1::1~1::13aNn SNIVld H~IH llVlll::l3d SSVlO ON003S (01:6-t,9S SdSn) NOll03S SS0!::10 3Hl Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40- No . 9 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER September 1994

Court monitor's plan latest in battle over Edwards ground water rights; Judge to consider options to preserve endangered species living at springs For the second time in recent years, San A n tonio voters h ave defeated a proposal to construct a surface water reservoir to reduce the city's depen dence upon ground water for municipal, commercial, and industrial use. Passage of the Applewhite project was one of the recommendations in­ cluded in a 90-page emergency with­ drawal reduction plan submitted to U.S. Federal Judge Lucius D. Bunton III of Midland on August 1st by court-appointed monitor Joe G. Moore Jr. of Dallas. Judge Bunton presided over the Sierra Club's lawsuit to protect en­ dangered species found in Comal Springs at New Braunfels and San Marcos Springs at San Marcos. He has the power to order whatever measures he considers necessary to achieve the goal of preserving and Comal Springs protecting the endangered and Ground water from the Edwards Aquifer is discharged from Comal Springs at New Braunfels (left). On August 1, 1994, the spring threatened species living in pools fed flow (right) was measured at 270 cubic feet per second (121 ,230 gallons per minute). Under the proposed emergency withdrawal by springflow from the Edwards reduction plan, a minimum springflow may be set to preserve the habitat of the Fountain Darter and other endangered species in Aquifer. He may make any part of Moore's the region . recommendations mandatory, or he may disregard them all. Ground water users in the region gered species. Senate Bill 1477 by Comal Springs is fixed at 200 cfs Moore is a former Executive Direc­ can be divided into three major Senator Ken Armbrister (D-Victoria) without snail control and 150 cfs with tor of the Texas Water Development groups: urban/military water users and Representative Ron Lewis (D­ snail control. "Take" is an event Board, and he served as Director of of the City of San Antonio in Bexar Mauriceville) created a new Edwards pertaining to as few as one individual the National Commission on Water County; agricultural water users in Aquifer Authority and abolished the of the species and means to "harass, Quality in the mid-1970s. Bexar, Kinney, Medina, and Uvalde Edwards Undergrou nd Water Dis­ harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, Counties; and recreational water trict. However, the U.S. Justice De­ kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to The Edwards Aquifer: users in Comal and Hays Counties. partment raised objections to the attempt to engage in any su ch Home Of Endangered Species appointment of board members conduct." The Edwards Aquifer is a water­ San Antonio Pumpage May Be under the federal Voting Rights Act, Springflow must be maintained bearing layer of cavernous, fractured, Reduced During Drought placing the newly-created authority above 100 cfs at San Marcos Springs and cracked limestone beneath Bexar, The City of San Antonio relies in limbo. to prevent "take" and "jeopardy." Comal, Hays, Kinney, Medina, and solely on ground water for its water In the meantime, Bunton ap­ The monitor's plan acknowledges Uvalde Counties. supply. pointed the monitor to prepare an that maintaining these springfl ows Ground water in the aquifer is un­ Under the proposed emergency emergency plan to limit pumpage may be difficult without rainfall over der artesian pressure and is dis­ plan, the city's ground water pump­ from the aquifer, if necessary. the Edwards Aquifer area and its re­ charged at several springs along the age could be reduced by as much as The monitor's plan is designed to charge zone. Balcones Fault Zone. 40 percent during dry weather in prevent the "jeopardy" (elimination Recommendations from the emer­ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service order to maintain springflow to of the species) even if drought gency withdrawal reduction p lan (USFWS) claims that the Fountain protect endangered species. As a conditions equal those of the 1950s. submitted to Judge Bunton are Darter is "endangered" and is found result, San Antonio residents would During that time, many area springs, reprinted below: only at Comal Springs and San Mar­ have to adopt stringent water including Comal, ceased to flow. cos Springs. They also claim that the conservation measures, as well as The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recommendation # 1 San Marcos salamander, the San Mar­ maximize the use of treated waste­ has fixed the minimum springflow to "The State of Texas, through an cos gambusia, and the Texas blind water, and possibly add surface prevent "jeopardy" of the Fountain appropriate agency, should begin salamander are endangered species water to their water delivery system. Darter at Comal Springs at 150 cubic immediately the preparation of an found only at San Marcos Springs. In January 1993, Bunton gave the feet per second (cfs) without control Incidental Take Permit Application in Texas Wild Rice plants are also found Texas Legislature a May 31 , 1993 of the giant rams horn snail and 60 consultation with the U.S. Fish and at San Marcos Springs. It is speculated deadline to produce a suitable plan to cfs with aggressive snail control. Wildlife Service." that reduced springflow would limit pumpage from the Edwards The minimum level to prevent the jeopardize the species' existence. Aquifer in order to protect the endan- "taking" of endangered species a t See MANAGEMENT Page Two Page2 THE CR O SS SECTION September 1994 Management Plan seeks minimum springflow rates to preserve species Continued from Page One The Edwards Aquifer Region Recommendation # 2 "Appropriate State and local agencies and other freshwater aquatic biology experts should intensify ef­ forts to determine how best to reduce the populations of the giant rams horn snail in the Comal Springs to regain use of the 50 cfs currently reserved because of the damage they do to fountain darter habitat."

Recommendation # 3 "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be required to undertake the necessary data collection to deter­ mine the effect of low flows on the named threatened and endangered species if the flows at Comal Springs drops below 200 cfs and that in San Marcos Springs drops below 100 cfs 0 during the remainder of this year or 1995. The purpose of such data collection is to verify the previously ',----+------published "take" and "jeopardy" \ MAVERICK ZA VA LA FRIO levels. The agency should also make its data and the process by which it arrived at these determinations for each calendar year on or before conservation and reuse, Edwards San Marcos Springs. Industrial water available for peer review." February 15 of the following year. As Aquifer recharge, Springs augmenta­ users with their own wells to with­ soon as practicable thereafter, but no tion, if feasible, and other means of draw water from the Edwards in Recommendation # 4 later than March 15, in a year follow­ utilizing Edwards Aquifer water such Bexar, Comal and Hays Counties "The City of San Antonio and ing a year in which estimated re­ as the lease of interruptible irrigation should file their Water Conservation irrigators, as well as other major charge was less than 500,000 acre-feet ground water rights in Bexar, and Reuse Plans either with the Edwards Aquifer water users should and Comal Springs flow is less than Medina, and Uvalde Counties can EUWD or with the Court. Industrial explore the purchase of interruptible 250 (cfs) on January 1, representatives supply. The Edwards Aquifer cannot users of Edwards Aquifer water out­ water supplies, using similar prac­ of the named groups shall determine meet even current demands while side these three counties should file tices as those in the gas, oil, lignite whether limitations are necessary sustaining minimum Comal and San their plans with the Medina or and electric industries as models. At­ and, if so, fix the maximum amount Marcos Spring flows during dry Uvalde County Underground Water tempts by San Antonio to negotiate of water in acre-feet to be allocated years. Any new surface water project Conservation Districts or with the such contracts with willing sellers of for irrigation that year and divide the requiring multiple permits and con­ Court." irrigation water supplies should quantity among Bexar, Comal, Hays, struction is at least 10, and perhaps as begin as early as possible to become Medina, and Uvalde Counties. much as 20, years away from com­ Recommen dation # 9 effective only if San Antonio is "If circumstances be such on April pletion if action were initiated now." "Appropriate representatives of protected by a regulatory system to 15, or any later date before it is too the U .S. and Texas Departments of control withdrawals of Edwards late to make a crop, that the limits Recommendation # 8 Agriculture should survey farm and Aquifer water. The limitation in fixed on March 15, were too "Industrial water customers of the ranch irrigation systems and prac­ Section l.34(c) of S.B. 1477 on leases restrictive, or conditions are not as San Antonio Water System, the Bexar tices. Irrigation farmers and ranchers of rights to irrigation water should be critical as anticipated an upward Metropolitan Water District or any using ground water from the Ed­ applied to any such leases." revision of the water allocation other water purveyor should file with wards with large-scale irrigation should be made." the purveyor a Water Conservation equipment, such as center pivot Recommendation # 5 and Reuse Plan documenting how trains, should be encouraged to adopt "Between August 1, 1994, and Recommendation # 6 each industrial customer will reduce the most efficient and up-to-date January 1, 1995, representatives of the "Within Medina and Uvalde its normal use of Edwards Aquifer practices and water application U.S. and Texas Departments of Agri­ Counties, their respective Under­ water and detailing the emergency apparatus available. Drip irrigation culture, the TNRCC, the TWDB, the ground Water Conservation Districts, measures it will take during periods and other efficient practices should Medina and Uvalde Underground and within Bexar, Comal, and Hays of restricted water withdrawals from be promoted. Water Conservation Districts, the Counties, the Edwards Underground the Ed wards Aquifer to protect Edwards Underground Water Dis­ Water District should distribute each minimum flows in the Comal and See FEDERAL Page Three trict, the National Weather Service, county's irrigation water allocation and knowledgeable representatives on or before April 1, on an equitable of appropriate academic institutions basis among farmers and ranchers (such as agricultural specialists from who irrigated crops or pastures Texas A & Mand Texas Tech Univer­ during any of the preceding five sities) should devise a methodology, calendar years. Preference should be subject to subsequent and regular an­ given to those farmers and ranchers nual analysis and modification, to who have instituted efficient determine whether irrigation water irrigation practices and installed withdrawals should be limited, and, efficient irrigation equipment. THE CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920) if so, what volume of water should be Whenever possible, a farmer should assigned for use in Bexar, Medina, be allocated at least two acre-feet for THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... M anager th e High Pl ain s Underground W ater Ken Ca rver ...... Ass istant M anager Comal, Hays, and Uvalde Counties each acre intended to be irrigated." Don McReynolds ...... Geologist Conse rva tion District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Williams ...... D ir. Adm in ./Permits for irrigation for any calendar year Glenn Blackmon ...... Engineer Technician Lu bbock, TX 79405- 1499 Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician when Comal Springs flow is less than Recommendation # 7 Second-class postage paid at Lubbock, TX. Ka th ryn C de Baca ...... Executi ve Secretary 250 cfs on January 1 and estimated re­ "For the long range, the City of POSTM ASTER : Send address chan ges to Tama ra Daniel Information/Education Ass istant charge to the Edwards during the San Antonio should continue its THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Lubbock, TX 79405- 1499 1-806-762 -0181. J:;;Arnor:nldF~~ Hu~~skyt:~E ··· ··············•••... C••••••hief• ~.g Enng·c·inultu;,air~nu~~:~~;eer Technician preceding calendar year is less than efforts to secure a reliable surface Scott Libby ...... Irri gation Technician 500,000 acre-feet. The U.S. Geologic water supply of sufficient magnitude Pa t Kunkel ...... Bookkeeper CARMON M cCAIN, Editor Rosie Risinger...... Sec retary/Receptionist Survey (USGS) has indicated that it to meet what it perceives to be its Da n Sea le ...... En gineer Technician can provide estimated recharge data future needs that are more than water INFORMATION/ EDUCATION DIRECTOR Ke ith Whitwort h ...... Draftsman September 1994 THE CRO S S SECTION Page3 Edwards conflict marked by lawsuits seeking ground water control Submission of this emergency This lawsuit is still on file; however, it use. In September 1992, State District Aquifer Authority to be led by a nine­ withdrawal reduction plan to U.S. is now a moot point due to a Judge Pete Lowry of Austin ruled member board appointed by elected District Judge Lucius Bunton is the September 1992 court ruling that the that the Edwards Aquifer is not an officials in eight counties, abolished latest occurrence in a long-running Edwards Aquifer is not an underground river and is not subject the Edwards Underground Water battle for the right to use the ground underground river. to state control. District, and validated the Uvalde water stored in the Edwards Aquifer On May 21, 1991, the Sierra Club On February 1, 1993, Senior County Underground Water Conser­ for municipal, industrial, agricultural, filed suit against the Secretary of the Federal District Judge Lucius Bunton vation District. A dispute with the and recreational purposes. Department of the Interior and the ruled in favor of the Sierra Club and U.S. Justice Department regarding the On June 19, 1989, the Guadalupe­ U.S. Fish and Wild life Service the GBRA in their lawsuit against the Voting Rights Act over selection of Blanco River Authority (GRBA) filed alleging failure to carry out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking directors has placed the Authority in suit in state district court in Hays mandates of the Endangered Species protection of endangered species a state of limbo. The Edwards Under­ County seeking a declaratory Act of 1973. found in Comal Springs at New ground Water District remains in judgement regarding ownership of The Texas Water Commission Braunfels and San Marcos Springs at operation one year after its scheduled the water within the Edwards (now TNRCC) designated the San Marcos. abolishment. Aquifer. The suit requested that the Edwards Aquifer to be an During the 73rd Texas Legislative A three-judge panel in Washington court declare the waters of the underground river on April 15, 1992, Session, Senate Bill 1477 by Senator is expected to decide this fall if the Edwards Aquifer to be contained in and declared that the ground water Kenneth Armbrister (D-Victoria) and proposed change in aquifer govern­ an underground river and therefore in the aquifer was under laws Representative Ron Lewis (D-Mau­ ing boards violates the Voting Rights the property of the State of Texas. governing surface water rights and riceville) created the Edwards Act. Federal Judge to consider emergency plan to manage Edwards Aquifer Continued From Page Two available for reuse for appropriate water withdrawals from the Aquifer ducted as part of the study. A plan purposes as a substitute for increased are restricted to protect minimum for allocating costs of any feasible "The Medina and Uvalde Under­ withdrawals." spring flows, water purveyors distri­ augmentation projects should be in­ ground Water Conservation Districts, Recommendation # 12 buting Edwards Aquifer water out­ cluded, and the institutional arrange­ the Edwards Underground Water "Each water purveyor, military side the area overlying the Aquifer ments for their collection described." District or any eligible Soil and Water installation, and irrigation farmer or should collect a surcharge for the ex­ Conservation District should take ad­ rancher taking water from the ported water. Such a surcharge Recommendation # 16 vantage of the Texas Water Develop­ Edwards Aquifer should prepare a should be fixed by the TNRCC to be "Under the sponsorship of the ment Fund for irrigation farmers in Water Conservation and Reuse Plan. commensurate with other fees EUWD or its successor agency and all five counties and be the sponsor The plan should include conservation collected from beneficiaries of with the cooperation and assistance for such loans." and reuse practices as well as emer­ Edwards Aquifer water during of the USGS, a monitoring network gency measures to be implemented to periods of restricted withdrawals to should be designed and installed that Recommendation # 10 protect minimum flows from the protect minimum spring flow and will answer questions about the 'bad "Users of Edwards Aquifer water Comal and San Marcos Springs at should be transferred to the Edwards water line' and its possible move­ for domestic and livestock purposes any time when withdrawals from the Aquifer regulatory authority." ment. Particular attention should be should reduce their water use to the Edwards Aquifer are restricted for given to determine whether, and if so same extent as those who receive that purpose. Of particular impor­ Recomm endation # 14 at what depth, the 'bad water' may Edwards water through water pur­ tance in each water purveyor or "Edwards Aquifer recharge lie beneath, or in the vicinity, of the veyors." Water District plan is an explanation structures should be evaluated using Comal and San Marcos Springs." (In the emergency withdrawal of how the plan will be monitored a cost benefit methodology so that plan, Moore states that Living Waters and enforced and a stated commit­ their costs can be compared with Emergency Action For The Artesian Springs, Ltd. ("The Catfish ment that aggressive enforcement costs of other water supply Remainder of 1994 Farm") has filed a claim to some will be practiced when the emergency alternatives for Edwards Aquifer and Calendar Year 1995 48,000 acre-feet/year of Edwards measures are in effect. Water pur­ municipal/ military use-including If Necessary Aquifer water pursuant to S.B. 1477.) veyor plans should be filed with the conservation, reuse, springs augmen­ "Actions to assure a minimum "As it is allowed to do under the Court. Irrigators in Medina County tation, if feasible, and surface water flow of no less than the "jeopardy" Settlement Agreement closing its should develop such plans in concert storage, transportation and treat­ level for the fountain darter, 150 cfs well, the Corporation plans to file the with the Medina County Under­ ment-some of which may provide (without rams horn snail control) in necessary application with appro­ ground Water Conservation District; more cost-effective means of assuring Comal Springs (which should also priate agencies and provide notice those in Uvalde County should minimum Comal Springs flow. assure a flow of 100 cfs in San Marcos that it intends to resume operations utilize the Uvalde County Under­ "It may be that exploration of the Springs), should be undertaken by 90-days after June 15, 1995. The out­ ground Water Conservation District; possible recharge of the Carrizo­ existing users in five stages utilizing come of these actions cannot be and those in Bexar, Comal and Hays Wilcox Aquifer south of the Edwards mechanisms which should: predicted." Counties, the EUWD. These district which is currently being mined plans should be filed with the Court. would be more fruitful." 1. Distinguish between discretionary Recommendation # 11 Military installations should file their use and nondiscretionary use; "The City of San Antonio and all plans with the EUWD or with the Recommendation # 15 other water purveyors who also Court. "Judgement of, or a decision 2. Require reduction of all discre­ operate wastewater treatment plants "The Medina and Uvalde Under­ relating to, spring flow augmentation tionary use to the maximum extent should take all necessary actions to ground Water Conservation Districts, should await the final report now feasible; retain control of all treated waste­ the EUWD, and the City of San being prepared. Any project proposal water which comes originally from Antonio and other water purveyors for augmentation should be subjected 3. Require utility pricing, to the the Edwards Aquifer so that it is may choose the indicator wells on to a comprehensive, exhaustive anal­ maximum extent feasible, to limit which their emergency plans are trig­ ysis of all aspects of springs augmen­ discretionary use by the customers WATER USE (1981 to 1988) gered so long as the chosen indicator tation from the Edwards Aquifer by a of water purveyors; and EDWARDS AQUIFER REGION well is sufficiently sensitive to reflect broad multi-disciplinary team. Af­ lower levels as the result of their fected federal, state and local agen­ 4. Require reduction of nondiscre­ Municipal/Military Use ...... 58% plan's emergency reductions in cies should assist in formulating the tionary use by existing users, to the Irrigation Use ...... 30% ground water withdrawals. The plans scope of work for such a study and extent further reductions are neces­ Industrial, Domestic, should contain a description of the participate in an Advisory Committee sary, in the reverse order of the Livestock, Misc ...... 12% means which will be used to audit to evaluate progress and results at following water use preferences: Court Monitor Joe Moore writes: performance of individual water use intervals as the study proceeds. A a) Municipal, domestic, and live- "... significant reductions can be reduction and penalties for failure to comparative cost-benefit analysis stock; ach ieved through limiting municipal , mil­ comply." including consideration of conserva­ b) Industrial and crop irrigation; itary, and irrigation uses or adopting tion, reuse, drought condition c) residential landscape irrigation; alternatives to ground water withdrawal, Recommendation # 13 Aquifer recharge, and surface water d) recreational and pleasure; and such as conservation and reuse." "During periods when ground supply alternatives should be con- e) other uses authorized by law." Page4 THE CROSS SECTION September 1994 Early inhabitants of Llano Estacada relied on water in playa basins EDITOR'S NOTE-From prehistoric times to the present, playa basins have played a major role in the habitation, settlement, and economic development of the Texas High Plains. The following paper, presented during the May 1994 Playa Basin Symposium at Texas Tech University, gives a historical overview of the importance of playa basins to the area-CEM.

By Dr. David J. Murrah Associate Director of Libraries for Special Collections and Director, Southwest Collection Texas Tech University

First-time visitors to these high plains of Texas, especially those who arrive by air, are always impressed by three elements of our landscape: 1) how level it is; 2) the circular imprint of the sprinkler systems as seen from the air; and 3) after a heavy rainfall, the multitude of little round lakes.

PART OF A SERIES

This symposium should demon­ strate the modern critical relationship between two of these elements, irri­ gation and the existence of playa The Playas lakes. But, historically speaking, playas singularly have been a major For more than 12,000 years, mankind has relied on the runoff water that collects in the playa basins of the Llano element for human life and activity Estacada. These watering points not only attracted early man - but also a variety of animals including mammoths, on the Llano Estacada for as long as camels, bison, the giant short-faced bear, and the giant armadillo. mankind has wandered its prairies, almost twelve thousand years. When I was a teenager in the artifacts by the hundreds, primarily The evidence of their long The Llano Estacada, or "Palisaded 1950s, our family farmed a tract of in the form of hide scrapers, broken presence there suggests that m,mkind Plains" of Texas is the largest non­ land in southeastern Moore County arrowhead points, and charcoal has used the playas of the plains for moun tainous land formation in in the upper Texas Panhandle, east of remnants of camp fires. livelihood for probably as long as North America. From a historical per­ Dumas. Our farm bordered a large Neither my father, my older brother humans have roamed the region. spective, the Llano Estacada is defined playa lake bed, one that was always nor I had enough savvy and education Research at the Lubbock Lake as the level plains lying south of the dry due to the extended drought of at the time to fully appreciate the Landmark indicates that humans Canadian River, an unbroken plain the 1950s. During the spring of 1958, significance of our find, but as the were killing animals for food in this stretching south from Amarillo and we drilled our first irrigation well, years have passed, and as we have immediate area almost 12,000 years Pampa to Midland. For the purposes and thus began deep breaking the learned more about the first inhab­ ago, and that, except for intermittent of this paper, the term Llano Estacada land in preparation for our first itants of the Llano Estacada, I have often periods of drought, the practice will also refer to the high plains irrigated crop. As we plowed near the found myself wondering about those continued well into modern times region of Texas which lies north of perimeter of the old lake, we found people who camped around our playa (Johnson, 1987). the Canadian. the moldboard turning up Indian lake over the thousands of years. NEXT: EARLIER CUL TURES

66t>~·SOt>6L SVX3l '>1 ::>0BBnl 0 3nN3AV 0£6l ~ 'ON !::>11::l!SIO NOl!VAl::l3SNO::> 1::13l'o'M aNnOl::l~l::l30Nn SNl'o'ld H~IH llll\ll::l3d SS'o'l::> ON0::>3S (OC:6·t>9S SdSn) NOl!::>3S SSOl::I::> 3Hl Published monthly by High Plai ns Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Aven ue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 10 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER October 1994

Listing Arkansas River shiner as endangered species could jeopardize private property rights and public water supplies on Texas High Plains Is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 truly being used to protect en­ dangered animals and plant life or has it become a tool which allows en­ vironmental activists to further their agendas at the expense of private property rights and public water supplies? That's the question that residents of the Texas High Plains should be asking Congress because of a recent announcement that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is con­ sidering a proposal to list a two-inch RED RIVER SHINER minnow, known as the Arkansas River shiner, as an endangered (ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL) species in the Canadian River which crosses the Texas High Plains. Earlier, Endangered Minnow? USFWS officials announced pro­ The Arkansas River shiner is a member of the same species as the Red River shiner (shown above). According to the 1991 Field posals to list the Swift Fox as an en­ Guide To Freshwater Fishes, the Arkansas River shiner may be fou nd in river drainage in weste rn Arkansas, western Kansas, west­ dangered species in this area. ern Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, and northeastern New Mexico. The guide also states that the fish are common to the area. Listing the Arkansas River shiner as an endangered species could result in another Edwards Aquifer situation A USFWS biologist has also stated • Operation of Lake Meredith USFWS to conduct public hearings on here on the Texas High Plains. Area that "one of the main areas of concern could be affected if the USFWS plans to designate the shiner as an residents will ultimately suffer hard­ is the pumping of ground water from requires increased streamflows as endangered species. ships in order to preserve a few min­ the Ogallala Aquifer." part of a recovery plan. Lake Mere­ "We are very concerned that the nows in the Canadian River-which The USFWS proposal in the Federal dith has a substantially lower water listing of the Arkansas River shiner as are known to be abundant in other Reg ister states that "When ground supply yield than original studies an endangered species would have a areas, such as the Pecos River of New water is pumped faster than it is re­ indicated. Further reduction of firm tremendous negative impact on our Mexico. stored, water tables drop, channel yield could reduce water supplies to region of the state. We strongly be­ In the August 3rd Federal Register, seepage ceases, and streams cease to the 11 cities served by the Canadian lieve that our region' s economic, the USFWS stated that the shiner was flow. Under these conditions, suitable River Municipal Water Authority. social and recreational resources once abundant in the western por­ habitat to support Arkansas River • Execution of the Lake Meredith should not be devalued nor our tions of the Arkansas River Basin in shiner populations is non-existent." Salinity Control Project would citizens have to suffer these losses Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Given the unpredictability of rain­ possibly require "consultation" with because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Texas. The USFWS states that within fall in the area, a major reduction in the USFWS, with unknown resulting Service feels the need to save th is the past 20 years, this species has dis­ ground water pumpage for crop pro­ impacts. This project, designed to shiner in the Canadian River," said appeared from over 80 percent of its duction would have a severe impact stop the inflow of salty water to the the legislators in a letter to the federal historic range and is now almost upon all sectors of the region's agri­ Canadian River in New Mexico, is agency. entirely restricted to the Canadian business economy. For example, 25 absolutely necessary to stop water The legislators also questioned the (South Canadian) River in Oklahoma, percent of the total U.S. cotton crop quality degradation in Lake listing of the Arkansas River shiner as Texas, and New Mexico. and 56 percent of all cotton produced Meredith. an endangered species since the exact The USFWS claims that the shiner in Texas is grown in the High Plains • The Alternative Water Supply species flourishes in the Pecos River is threatened by "habitat destruction area. The economic impact of a cotton project would supply ground water of New Mexico. The USFWS did not and modification from stream de­ crop with a value of $1,000,000,000 to be mixed with Lake Meredith include that population in its endan­ watering or depletion due to diver­ would be over $3,000,000,000 to the water to meet water quality stan­ gered species proposal. sion of surface water and excessive area. Reducing ground water pump­ dards. If ground water pumpage is In addition, U.S. Representative ground water pumping." age to preserve a two-inch minnow limited, it would put a severe Larry Combest of Lubbock and U.S. According to the USFWS, re­ would devastate the region's pros­ constraint on this project. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison have servoirs constructed within the perous agricultural economy. • Recreational activity at Lake voiced their concerns about the pro­ Arkansas River Basin (including Lake Designation of the Arkansas River Meredith could be affected if the posed rule and both have asked the Meredith at Amarillo) have " ... de­ shiner as an endangered species USFWS requires releases of lake USFWS to hear the concerns of local wa tered, or otherwise altered con­ could also have profound effects on water to improve downstream residents at public hearings. siderable sections of river habitat once the towns and cities in the Texas habitat for the shiner. We encourage all residents of the inhabited by Arkansas River shiners. High Plains (including Amarillo and State Senator Teel Bivins of Texas High Plains to voice their con­ Inundation has eliminated Arkansas Lubbock) which rely on Lake Amarillo as well as Representatives cerns to their Congressmen and the River shiner spawning habitat, Meredith for their primary water Warren Chisum of Pampa, John USFWS regarding this threat to isolated populations, and favored an supply. Smithee of Amarillo, and David private property rights and our increased abundance of predators." For example: Swinford of Dumas have asked the public water supplies. Page2 THE CROSS SECTION October 1994 Producers ask questions about drip

PLEASE CLOSE THOSE By Tamara Daniel In response to producer interest in the latest irrigation technology, the High ABANDONED WELLS Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 installed 10-acre drip irrigation demonstration plots in Hockley, Lubbock, and Lynn Counties in 1992. In drip irrigation, buried lines and emitters are used to apply slow, frequent applications of water to the soil directly surrounding the plant roots. Water losses caused by evaporation, deep percolation, and runoff are virtually elimi­ nated. Drip irrigation can save as much as 30 to 40 percent of the water required by some other types of irrigation to provide the plants with an equal amount of water. For the past three years, the Water District has conducted a field demon­ stration day at each site to give area producers the opportunity to learn more THE CROSS SECTI O N (US PS 564-920) about drip irrigation and how to use it in cotton production. THE CROSS SECTION is pu blis hed monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... Manager Many interested producers (with lots of questions) attended the July 21 , Ken Carver...... Assistant Manager the Hi gh Pl ain s Undergro und W ater Don McReynolds ... Geologist 1994 field day at the Robert Kauffman farm near Levelland and the August 25, Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca Will iams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Glenn Blackmon ...... Engi neer Technician 1994 field day at the Ute Becton farm near Idalou. The Lynn County field day, Lu bbock, TX 79 405- 1499 Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician Second -class postage paid at Lu bbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca...... Executive Secretary originally scheduled for September 8th at the Leland White farm, was Tamara Daniel ...... Information/E ducation Assistant POSTMASTER: Sen d add ress changes to Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agricu ltural Engineer cancelled due to hail damage to the crop. THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenu e Q, Brian Houston ...... Agriculturist Here are the most frequently-asked questions from the two 1994 drip irriga­ Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-806-762-0181. Arn old Husky ...... Chief Engineer Technician Scott Libbi ...... Irrigation Techn ician tion field demonstration days: Pat Kunke ...... Bookkeeper Rosie Risinger ...... Secretary/Receptionist CARMON McCAIN, Editor Dan Seale ...... Engineer Technician INFO RM ATI ON/EDUCATIO N DIR ECTO R Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman How much water is needed to operate a drip irrigation system? The amount of water needed (gallons per minute) depends on a variety of BOARD OF DIRECTORS factors, such as the type of crop planted, the soil type, and the crop production Precinct 1 goals of the producer. A good rule of thumb is two to three gallons per minute (C ROSBY, LUBBOCK and LY N COUNTIES ) Precinct 4 James P. Mitchell, Pres ident...... Wolfforth (ARMSTRONG, DEAF SM ITH, POTIER and per acre for cotton production and four to six gallons per minute per acre for Precinct 2 RA DALL COU TIES ) (COCHRAN, HOCKLEY and LAMB COUNTIES) Robert Meyer, Secretary-Treasurer ...... Hereford more water-intensive crops such as corn. This year, Ute Becton irrigated the Stanley Miller, Vice-President ...... Amherst Precinct 5 cotton at the Lubbock County drip irrigation demonstration site with only 2.2 Precinct 3 (FLOYD and HALE COUNTIES) (BA ILEY, CASTRO and PARMER COUNTIES) Bruce Rigler ...... Pl ainview gallons of water per minute per acre. Drip irrigation has allowed Becton to A.W. Gober ...... Farwel l "spoon feed" the crop. All of the water is applied in the root zone, and no COUNTY COMMITTEES water is lost to evaporation. "I know that every bit of the water I applied went Armstrong County Hockley County to the plant," said Becton. C.D. " Red " Rogers, Secretary Jim Montgomery, Secreta ry Another advantage of the drip irrigation system is that the fertilizer Wayside, Texas 1012 Austin Street, Levelland Wade Bell, 1996 ...... Box 129, Ways ide Rodney McMillan , 1998 ...... 513 E. Jackson, Levelland injection equipment allows Becton to apply the nutrients in the exact amounts Joe Bible, 1996 ...... Box 120, Wayside Larry Smith, 1998 ...... Box 6, Ropesville Buddy Heisler, 1996 ... HCR 1, Box 26, Wayside Mike McKee, 1998 ...... Box 934, Su ndown the plant needs. Drip irrigation helps eliminate wasted water and fertilizer. M.L. M cGehee, 1996 ...... Box 151 , Wayside G. Scott Fred, 1998 ...... 3698 India Rd, Level land Foster Parker, 1996 ...... Route 1, Box 55, Happy Jim Copeland, 1998 .. . .. RI. 1, Box l 23A, Anton The 1994 harvest at the Lubbock County drip site has been estimated at 2 to Bailey County Lamb County 2.5 bales of cotton per acre. Bi ll Liles, Secretary Bill W ischkaemper, Secretary Federa l Land Bank, 316 Main, Muleshoe Federal Land Bank, 504 Phelps, Littlefield James L. Wedel, 1996 ...... RR2 , Box 1235, Muleshoe Jerry Goheen, 1998 ...... Rt. l , Box 137, Amherst How much does a drip irrigation system cost? Jay Herington, 1996 ...... RI. 3, Box 375, Muleshoe Royce Coll ins, 1998 ...... Box 45 1, O lton Ll oyd Throckmorton, 1996 ..... Rt. 1, Box 744, Muleshoe Henrian En loe, 1998 ...... RI. 1, Box 92, Amherst When the Water District installed the demonstration plots in 1992, the cost Eugene Shaw, 1996 ...... RI. 2, Box 1285, Muleshoe Brad Heffington, 1998 ...... 220 E. 27th , Li ttlefi eld Clif P. Heinrich, 1996 ...... Box 129, Maple Pau l Yarbrough, 1998 ...... Box 1149, Littlefi eld was approximately $900 per acre. However, costs are expected to decrease as Castro County Lubbock County drip irrigation becomes more popular and more systems are installed. Prices Dolores Ba ldridge, Sec retary Becca W illiams, Secretary Cit y Hall, 200 E. Jones St., Dimm itt 2930 Avenue Q, Lu bbock range from $500 to $1 ,000 per acre and depend upon the type of drip tape W.A. Baldridge, 1996 ...... 608 W. Grant, Dimmitt Herman Lorenz, 1998 ...... Rt. 3, Box 136, Lu bbock used, tape spacing, the filtration system needed, and the automation system Mack Steffey, 1996 ...... HCR 2, Box 22, Hart Jackie Brown, 1998 ...... 4206 88th, Lu bbock Gerald Summers, 1996 ...... Route I, Box 33, Dimmitt La rry Gamble, 1998 ...... 1525 Terry, Slaton used . Becton is installing a drip system on land across the road from the Darrell K. Buckley, 1996 ...... Box 977, Dimmitt Ryn n Tru ett, 1998 .. ..Rt. 1, Box 44, Idalou Hubert G. Backus, 1996 ...... P.O. Box 165, Nazareth Roy Lee Blai r II, 1998 ...... P.O. Box 951, Shal lowater demonstration plot, and he has received a commercial bid of $500 to $550 per Cochran County Lynn County acre. W.M. But ler, Jr., Secretary Becca Williams, Secretary W estern Abstract Co., 108 N. Main Ave., Morton 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock John D. Srygley, 1998 ...... Rt. 2, Box 67, Morton Steve Miller, 1998 ...... Box 623, Ta hoka Richard Will iams, 1998 ...... RI. , 2, Box 150, Morton John Earl Fie lds, 1998 ...... Box 282, W ilson Who can help me design a drip irrigation system? Dennis Brown, 1998 ...... Box 842, Morton W.A. " Billy" Russ, 1998 ...... Rt. 5, Box 272, Ta hoka There are several sources to help producers design their drip irrigation Dennis Lemons, 1998 ...... 502 E. Garfield, Morton Glen Brewer, 1998 ...... RI. l , Box 177, O'Donnell Jimmy Mullinax, 1998 ...... HCR 2, Box 158, Morton John Edwards, 1998 ...... Box 215, New Home system. Most drip irrigation dealers will assist with design of an irrigation Crosby County Parmer County system. Representatives from WaterMaster Irrigation Supply, Inc. and Subma- Becca Williams, Secretary Pat Kunse lman, Secretary 2930 Avenue Q , Lubbock City Hall, 323 North Street, Bovina Dona ld Kirksey, 1998 ...... Box 396, Lorenzo Carrol l R. Cook, 1996 ...... 901 Arrah, Fr iona Dale Lam inack, 1998 ...... RI. 1, Box 37, Ra lls Alan Monroe, 1996 ...... HCR 1, Box 213, Friona Jimmie Wheeless, 1998 ...... RI. 2, Box 86, Crosbyton Dale E. Gober, 1996 ...... Box 192, Bovina Mark Schoepf, 1998 ...... HCR 2, Box 7, Lorenzo Vick Christian, 1996 ...... Route l , Box 60A, Farwell Matthew W il meth, 1998 ...... Box 599, Ralls Robert Ga ll man, 1996 ...... HCR 1, Box 93A, Friona Deaf Smith County Potter County B.F. Cain, Secretary Bru ce Blake, Secretary 11 0 East Th ird , Hereford Bushland Grain, Bushland Sid Shaw, 1996 ...... 123 N. Texas, Hereford G. Michael Menke, 1996 ...... Rt. 1, Box 476, Amarillo Arturo Gonza les, 1996 ...... Box 175, Hereford Bob Lolley, 1996 .. . .. Box 7756, Ama ril lo Don Waters, 1996 ...... 224 Ave. E, Hereford O liver A. Wann, 1996 ...... Box 92, Bushland Charlie Bell, 1996 ...... 132 N. Texas, Hereford Randa ll B. Fletcher, 1996 ...... Box 25, Bushland L.J. Clark, 1996 ...... 316 Ave. J, Hereford W illiam K. Irwin, 1996 ...... Box 120, Bushland Floyd County Randall County Vern a Lynne Stewart, Secretary Patri cia Ru sler, Secretary 108 W . Missouri, Fl oydada Farm Bureau, 1714 Fifth Ave., Ca nyon F.L. M on tandon Ill, 1998 ...... Box 3, Aiken Pat W il helm, 1996 ...... HCR 2, Box 25, Happy Ed w in Nutt, 1998 ...... Rt. 3, Box 89, Floydada Michael Pau l W ieck, 1996 .. RI. 1, Box 316, Ca nyon Charles H uffman, 1998 ...... Rt. l , Box 145, Lockney Gary Ray Wagner, 1996 ...... Box 188, Bush land Nathan Johnson, 1998 ...... HCR 5, Box 34A, Floydada Charles Kuhnert, 1996 ...... Box 82, Umbarger A.C. Pratt, 1998 ...... Rt. 4, Box 161, Floydada Lyndon Wagner, 1996 ...... RI. 1, Box 494, Amari llo

Hale County NOTICE: Information regarding limes and places of the Sharon Perk ins, Secretary monthly County Committee meetings can be Hale Co. SWCD, 304 S. Garland, Pl ainview secured from the respect ive Cou nty Kevin Igo, 1998 ...... 111 6 Jefferson, Plainview Secretaries. Mike Ferguson, 1998 ...... 1403 S. Date, Plainview Drip Irrigation Cotton Carroll Leon, 1998...... Box 637, Plainview Applications for well permits ca n be secu red The drip irrigation cotton crop was showing its yellow blooms by the time of the July Tomm ie Wages ...... 903 Vel Ray Dr., Abernathy at th e add ress shown be low th e county Birt La ne ...... HCR 1, Box 235, Plainview Secretary's na me. 21st Hockley County field demonstration day.

J October 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 irrigation during Hockley and Lubbock County field demonstration days tic Irrigation Systems said their companies provide designs and a parts list free of charge when they are provided with information about the site. This in­ formation includes field dimensions, soil type, land slope, the amount of water, and amount of water pressure available. The Water District staff is also available to assist producers with questions pertaining to system design.

Can I install the system? Yes. However, it requires specialized equipment. In most installations, the drip tape is plowed in, and the main lines are ditched in. Installation costs can also be reduced if a producer provides assistance with labor, according to Mike Buxkemper of WaterMaster Irrigation.

What length of drip tape do I need to use? The length of tape to be used depends upon several factors: the field shape, field slope, flow rate, and tape size. The tape length is determined by calculat­ ing acceptable friction losses in the tape itself. Friction losses can be overcome by running the tape downhill from the supply line or by using larger diameter At the Well Site tape. Drip tape used by the District was 5/ 8 inch and 7 /8 inch in diameter. Each installation needs to be designed for the existing conditions. Water District Agricultural Engineer Jerry Funck (far right) discusses the design and installation of the drip irrigation system at the Ute Becton farm with a group of area pro­ What kind of filters do I need? ducers. A drip irrigation system needs a filter capable of removing any material What tape spacing is best? which could cause clogging problems. In most installations, this will consist of The tape at the drip demonstration plots was buried at three different spac­ a screen filter. System costs will increase, depending upon the complexity of ings: 40 inches, 80 inches, and 120 inches. Generally, the 40- and 80-inch rows the filtration system. The well at the Lubbock County drip site pumped a lot have shown no difference in production. The 120-inch spacing has shown a of sand, and a more complex filtration system was needed. In the case of a small drop in production. Since smaller amounts of drip tape per acre are drip system, as with all irrigation systems where chemicals are to be applied needed for 80-inch spacing, this is more economical and still provides through the system, the required chemigation safety equipment must be adequate water to produce optimum cotton yields. installed. How long will the tape last? What thickness of drip tape is needed? Drip irrigation for row crop production is relatively new-so there is very The unit of measurement for the thickness of drip tape is the "mil," which is little historical data available. It has been estimated that the tape will last ap­ 1/ lOOOths of an inch. A one-mil tape is 1/1000 of an inch thick, and a 15-mil proximately 10 years. Manufacturers report some buried drip irrigation tape tape is 15/1000 of an inch thick. The tape ranges from 4- to 25-mil. Typically, a in Arizona is 13 to 14 years old and still in use. 15-mil tape is used for row crops in heavy soils, for a longer drip tape life expectancy, while 4-mil is used for single season crops and 25-mil is used for What kind of maintenance is required? landscapes. Drip irrigation systems require some maintenance during the growing sea­ son. About four times a year, the drip lines must be cleaned or "flushed." Ac­ What kind of outlet spacing can I get? cording to Becton, this is an easy process since chemicals can be added Outlet spacing can range from two inches to four feet. On most row crops, a through the fertilizer injection equipment. Acid is used to keep hard water 12-inch spacing is used. For grasses, outlets should be closer together. deposits and roots from clogging the drip tape. The lines are also chlorinated to prevent algae from growing in the lines. It is important for producers to How deep should the tape be buried? make sure they adequately flush their drip lines with fresh water between the Drip tape should be buried a minimum of 12 inches beneath the land acid application and the chlorine application. surface. The tape at each of the Water District's demonstration plots is buried 14 inches deep. Because of this, the bed must be maintained from year to year. Can repairs be made without having to replace large amounts of the tape? "This has not been a problem, but we have to be careful when we plow," said Yes. If plowing damages a line, the single line can be replaced. If the line is Becton. ripped, or has a leak, a compression fitting can be used to splice new tape into the line. Becton has had to repair his drip tape several times because animals have dug down and torn the line. He said it is very easy to repair. Also, since the drip tape is buried only 14 inches below land surface, any water leaking from the system will come to the surface and form a puddle, making the leak simple to find.

What kind of crop can be grown using drip irrigation? Most crops can be grown using drip irrigation. Drip irrigation management practices vary with each crop, based upon the amount of water needed, the tape spacing, and tape depth.

How often was the crop watered? Becton began his pre-plant irrigation on April 11th and shut off the drip system on May 6th. The soil was very dry, and it took 26 days and 2.5 acre­ inches of water to bring the soil to field capacity. On June 18th, the system was turned on again, and it ran continuously through August. Becton applied 1.26 acre-inches of water in June; 3.0 acre­ inches in July; and 2.92 acre-inches in August. An estimated 1.5 acre-inches was applied in September. The total amount of water applied for the production of this crop is 11.18 acre-inches. This includes the pre-plant Soil Moisture Monitoring irrigation and the 1.5 inches in September. At the Hockley County drip irrigation field demonstration day, Water District Irrigation It takes Becton 24 hours to complete an irrigation cycle. Each irrigation Technician Scott Libby (second from left) explains how gypsum blocks and resistance cycle applies an equal amount of water per planted acre across the entire meters can be used to monitor soil moisture conditions under drip irrigation. demonstration plot. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION October 1994 Early inhabitants of Llano Estacado relied on water in playa basins EDITOR'S NOTE-Mankind has relied names to the Brazos and Colorado on the playa basins of the Llano Estacado rivers, and to the permanent spring­ for food and livelihood for about 12,000 ~ fed lakes such as Punta de Agua, or years. The role of playa basins as they BAILEY LAMB HALE FLOY:\ MOT LEY COTTLE "point of water," (Lubbock Lake), relate to early exploration and trade in the Laguna Sabinas (Cedar Lake) in area is discussed in this second part of the Gaines County, Laguna Salada (Salt paper presented by Dr. David Murrah at '- LJ~ PU N'TA DE AGU Lake) in Bailey County, Laguna Rica the May 1994 Playa Basin Symposium at (Ll BBO i LAKE (Rich Lake) in Terry County, and Texas Tech University-CEM. Laguna Ombligo (Mound Lake) in COC HRAN LUBBOCK DICK ENS KING ~LEY ~ '\ Lynn County (Abbe, Carlson, and By Dr. David J. Murrah Murrah, 1989). Associate Director of Libraries for If the Spaniards had any further Special Collections LUGUINA RICA . LAG UNA OM BLIGO designs on conquering the plains, it and Director, Southwest Collection (RIC !I LAKE) I (MOUND L~KE) Texas Tech University was lost with the Comanche invasion YOAKUM TERRY LYNN GARZA KENT STO NEWA LL of the 1700s. These nomadic horse­ These first Native Americans, gen­ mounted people pushed out of the erally referred to by archaeologists as Rocky Mountains and d eep into Folsom and Clovis cultures, butch­ LAGUNA SABINAS I I I Texas, s triking Spanish ranches, ered a variety of animals, including (CEDAR LAKE) • SPRING-FED LAKES NAMED missions, and settlements, which in the elephant-like mammoth, camel, DURI NG SPA NISH EXPLORATIO N OF GAINES TEXAS HIGH PLA INS turn caused Spaniards to abandon bison, the giant short-faced bear, and much of their frontier in what is now the giant a rmadillo. (Johnson and D HIGH PLAI NS WATER DISTRI CT SERVICE ARE A central Texas. However, in Spanish Holliday, n.d.). These large animals New Mexico, its residents succeeded roamed the entire southern Great About seven thousand years ago, even though he covered n early a in making an uneasy peace with the Plains, as evidenced by research at the climate of the southern plains be­ thousand miles (Wedel, 1961). Comanches and in the 1780s began a sites similar to Lubbock Lake, includ- gan to become more dry. The mam­ It was Coronado's exp edition lively trade with the Indians. Traders moths and other large animals disap­ which recorded the first description known as Comancheros annually PART OF A SERIES peared, but the bison remained, and of playa lakes. Pedro de Castaneda, a trekked from northern New Mexico in turn provided food, housing, tools, chronicler of the journey, was im­ across the arid Llano Estacada to favo­ ing Plainview, Blackwater Draw near and weapons for the plains residents pressed with the uniform configura­ rite Comanche camp sites located Portales, ew Mexico, and n ear for the next seven thousand years. tion of the little lakes. "They were as along the eastern escarpment of the Miami, Texas, in the upper Texas The nomadic buffalo hunters are round as plates," he noted, "a stone's Cap Rock at such places known as Panhandle (Bradley, 1987) . those who left evidence of their pre­ throw or more across, some fresh and Quitaque, in Briscoe County; Mucha­ There is no doubt that these now sence at our playa lake in Moore some salt. The grass grows tall near que, in Borden County; Tahoka Lake extinct animals and their hunters County, and their cooking fires must these lakes; away from them , it is in Lynn County; Cedar Lake in used the playas of the plains as they have graced the shores of virtually very short, a span or less" (Winship, Gaines County; and Canon Rescate, or drifted from one watering point to every playa on the southern plains 1964). These lakes, once filled by Ransom Canyon, located just to the another. As spring rainfall would fill (Wedel, 1961). spring rains, would be fouled b y east of present-day Lubbock. In the playas, the grazing animals In reality, then, the 20,000 playa buffalo which would wallow in them passing across the plains, the would drift farther and farther from lakes of the Texas high plains played a as the weather warmed (Bolton, Comancheros developed well-worn the permanent water sites. During major role in making the region a 1949). roads which utilized sprin gs and periods of prolonged drought, how­ breadbasket for the native Americans, While the Spaniards were awed by small playa lakes for water sources. ever, they would always be found at not only for those who actually lived the vastness of the plains and abun­ (Abbe, Carlson, and Murrah, 1989, the springs, su ch as those located on the plains, but also for the tribes to dance of game, they failed to find the and Wallace, 1967). The Comancheros' along Yellow House Canyon, which the east and west, w ho came from objects of their quests-golden cities trade with the Comanches continued fed the Lubbock Lake. As a result, hundreds of miles of distance to hunt inhabited by people that could be for nearly one hundred years, man would slaughter the animals bison (Bolton, 1949). Indeed, when the subjugated. Thus, they gave no swapping blankets, guns, tobacco, with spears, particularly those w ho Spanish explorer Francisco de Coro­ further thought to trying to settle the and hardware for buffalo robes, meat, would trap themselves in the nado traversed the Llano Estacada in plains, but they did spend the next slaves, and, in the later years, cattle m arshes and bogs. This practice 1541, he found the region well­ 150 years exploring the vast region. by the thousands, stolen from early­ continued, particularly at our own populated by both bison and native In the process, they located and day ranchers in West Texas. Lubbock Lake, well into the historic Americans. He reported that not a day named every significant river or NEXT: DEBUNKING THE era. passed that he did not see buffalo, source of water, giving Spanish DESERT MYTH

66v~-S0t:>6L 5VX31 '>t0088nl 0 3 n N3.l\'lf 0£62: ~ "ON 1011::11510 NOil'if .l\1::135NOO 1::131VM aNnOl::l~l::l3aNn 5Nl'lfld HmH 11Wl::l3d 55'1f10 ON0035 (OC:6-v9S 5d5n) NOl1035 5501::10 3Hl Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405-Ph. 762-0181 Volume 40-No. 11 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER November 1994 Area residents voice concerns about proposed endangered species listing Since the last issue of The Cross will "direct (its) energies toward Section, there have been several im­ working with the state, local portant developments in the dispute governments, property owners and over private property rights and the other interested citizens to establish proposed designation of certain conservation plans that protect both birds, plants, fish, and other animals our natural heritage and our in Texas as endangered species. economic potential." As reported in the October news­ This is welcome news to the letter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser­ farmers and ranchers of central Texas vice (USFWS) is considering a who feared that their private petition to list a two-inch minnow, property would come under strict known as the Arkansas River Shiner, federal control and restrictions if the as an endangered species in the habitat designation were approved. Canadian River of the Texas High Such restrictions could have Plains. In addition, the Swift Fox may prevented farmers and ranchers from be listed as another endangered clearing vegetation from their land species in the area. and/ or adding any new construction Many High Plains residents have that would disrupt nesting areas for voiced their concerns to their elected the songbird. officials and the USFWS. The USFWS Urban residents were also con­ Swift Fox acknowledged that it has received cerned that they might be restricted According to the Audubon Society Field Manual of Norlh American Mammals, the Swift more than 300 calls and letters since from removing trees and other brush Fox (Vulpes velox) may be found in shortgrass prairies and other arid areas ranging news of the proposed endangered from their yards without a federal from Southern Canada to northern Texas. The Swift Fox derives its name from the fact species designation for the Swift Fox permit. Cities and towns building that it can run as fast as 25 mph for short distances. became known. We suspect that an streets or installing sewer and water even larger number of letters have been written protesting the proposed lines would have fallen under the more about the Swift Fox and the caused by such critical habitat listing of the Arkansas River Shiner same restrictions. Arkansas River Shiner. designation. as an endangered species. Lawmakers have requested public Grass-roots opposition to pro­ Arkansas River Shiner/Swift Fox hearings in the Panhandle area to S.2410 posed listings has played a major role On September 28, Texas Parks and obtain testimony regarding the pro­ On August 18, Senator Phil in recent Endangered Species Act Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials posed listing of the Arkansas River Gramm of Texas introduced S. 2410, developments. told a Texas House agriculture sub­ Shiner and Swift Fox as endangered known as the Private Property Rights committee that TPWD cannot and species. Res toration Act, which has been Golden-Cheeked Warbler would not support the proposed list­ The USFWS claims that the referred to the Committee on On September 27, Secretary of the ing of the Arkansas River Shiner or Arkansas River Shiner is threatened Governmental Affairs. Interior Bruce Babbitt announced that the Swift Fox as endangered species by "habitat destruction and modifica­ Under this proposed legislation, the USFWS is abandoning plans to in this state. tion from stream dewatering or de­ property owners would have a cause designate parts of 33 central Texas The TPWD feels that the federal pletion due to diversion of surface of action against the United States if counties as "critical habitat areas" for agency's data is not sufficient to water and excessive ground water the application of a statute, regula­ the Golden-Cheeked Warbler. In a warrant listing either of the two pumping." tion, rule, guideline or policy of the letter to Texas Governor Ann species as endangered at this time. It Designation of the minnow as an United States restricts, limits, or Richards, Babbitt stated the USFWS suggests additional studies to learn endangered species could have pro­ otherwise infringes upon real found effects on ground water pump­ property rights and if such age in the area. It could also have a application results in a reduction in direct impact upon the operation of the fair market value of the affected Lake Meredith, the primary water portion of the property. supply for Amarillo, Lubbock, and A prima facie case against the nine other area cities served by the United States would be established if Canadian River Authority. the Government action resulted in a temporary or permanent decrease of Amending Th e fair market value of the affected por­ Endangered Species Act tion of the property amounting to Legislation was introduced during either 25 percent or more of property the second session of the 103rd Con­ value or $10,000 or more. River Shiner gress to amend the Endangered Spe­ Under this proposed legislation, cies Act of 1973 (ESA) to ensure that the property owner would be able to The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico could constitutionally protected private choose to recover a sum equal to the not or would not provide us a drawing or photo of the Arkansas River Shiner. They said property rights are not infringed decrease in the fair market value of it looked similar to the Red River Shiner shown above. How important can a minnow upon. Much of the newly-introduced the property and retain title to the be if the federal agency proposing to protect it can not even provide a picture or draw­ legislation also contains recourse for ing to show what it looks like? compensation for economic losses See LEGISLATION Page Two Page2 THE CROSS SECTION November 1994 Legislation seeks moratorium on future endangered species listings

Continued From Page One S.921 sponsored by 36 House members, Mennonites listed as endangered The Water District has requested a including Represen ta ti ves Larry species under the ESA. property or the fair market value of copy of the 1973 Endangered Species Combest of Lubbock and Charles Dr. William Hazeltine, the petition the property before the government Act to compare to the Endangered Spe­ Stenholm of Stamford. writer, believes that the ESA should action and relinquish title to the cies Act Amendments of 1993. This bill be applied consistently. The ESA portion of property regulated. has been referred to the Committee HR 5144 allows the listing of isolated However, no compensation would on Environment and Public Works. This bill is similar to HR 5073 as it populations of mammals, and the be required if the owner's u se or also would place a moratorium on petition claims that these people proposed use of the property H.R. 5073 the listing of any future endangered qualify for protection because they amounts to a public nuisance as H.R. 5073, known as the Farm , or threatened species. However, this are isolated by their customs and commonly understood and defined Ranch and Hom estead Protection Act of proposed legislation does not contain culture. by the laws of the state where the 1994, would place a moratorium on provisions for compensation to land­ "The ESA seems to cover humans property is located. The United States the ESA to prevent the Secretary of owners for loss of property values because they are mammals, and the would have the burden of proof to the Interior from listing any more due to an endangered species desig­ Act clearly covers all mammals establish whether or not the property species as endangered or threatened nation. This proposed legislation was without limitation," says Hazeltine. use constitutes a public nuisance as or declaring an area of critical habitat introduced by Representative Chet Once a species is listed as defined by law. for a species until the Act is Edwards of Waco. endangered, all agencies of the Any awards or judgements for reauthorized . HR 5073 would also Federal Government would be plaintiff, including litigation costs, amend the ESA to include a provision We Knew It Was obliged to do everything necessary to would be paid out of the funds of the for compensating private landowners Bound To Happen... assure survival of the listed agency or agencies responsible for for land falling into critical habitat An environmental consultant in population or species. issuing the statute, regulation, rule, areas. This bill has been referred to California has filed a petition with Perhaps the American Farmer guideline or policy. Payments would the Committee on Merchant Marine Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt should be the next proposed endan­ not be made from a judgement fund. and Fisheries. This legislation is co- to have the Old Order Amish and gered species? Water District receives additional ag loan funding from TWDB

The High Plains Water District has ty; four loans in Deaf Smith County; been approved for a new loan for an four loans in Floyd County; five loans additional $4 million from the Texas in Hale County; three loans in Hock­ Water Development Board (TWDB) ley County; four loans in Lamb to continue funding the Agricultural County; six loans in Lubbock County; Water Conservation Equipment Loan three loans in Lynn County; and four Program. loans in Parmer County. "The interest rate under this new These 45 borrowers received loans contract will be around 6.05 percent," totaling $2,000,000 for the purchase of says Becca Williams, Water District 54 quarter-section or full-section cen­ Director of Administration. "That is ter pivots, three computerized pivot the rate charged to us by the TWDB control panels, and installation of one in Austin, plus one percent for underground pipeline. The value of administrative costs." the purchased equipment is more The low interest rate results from than $2.7 million. the TWDB obtaining $1.3 million in According to Williams, there is a U.S. Department of Energy Oil Over­ limited amount of funds still charge Funds through a grant from available at 4.8 percent interest. She the State Energy Conservation urges producers to act quickly to take Office, a division of the Texas advantage of this low rate. Careful Review General Services Commission. A Guidelines adopted by the five­ Members of the Castro and Lamb County Committees are shown during a recent portion of these funds were used to member Water District Board of Di­ review of agricultural water conservation equipment loan applications from their respec­ buy down the interest rate on a $7 rectors limit agricultural water con­ tive counties. The County Committees meet regularly to recommend approval or denial million block of Agricultural Water servation equipment loans to a maxi­ of water well permits and loan applications to the Water District's five-member Board of Conservation bonds sold by the mum of 75 percent of the purchase Directors. Shown seated from left are Assistant Manager Ken Carver, Lamb County TWDB last month. price of irrigation delivery and appli­ Committee member Henrian Enloe, and Castro County Committee members W.A. Any equipment to improve the cation equipment. Baldridge, Gerald Summers, and Mack Steffey. Standing from left are Precinct Three efficiency and I or water distribu­ Loans are secured by a first lien on District Director AW. (Webb) Gober and District Manager A. Wayne Wyatt. tion of an irrigation system within the equipment. In addition, land­ the 15-county Water District service owners sign a Deed of Trust giving area is now eligible for funding the Water District a lien on the land, under the new contract. This arrange for a letter of credit from a includes Low Energy Precision bank, or assign assets as additional Application (LEP A) center pivot security to guarantee the loan. sprinkler systems, surge valves, drip Through August 31, 1994, cumul­ irrigation, and underground pipe­ ative water savings of 126,687 acre­ lines. Williams adds that labor costs feet have resulted from the purchase and electrical costs associated with of agricultural water conservation THE CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920) installation of this equipment are equipment with proceeds from the THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne Wya tt ...... Ma nager Ken Ca rver...... Ass istant Manager also eligible under the loan program loan program. th e Hi gh Pl ain s Underground W ater Don McReynolds ...... Geologist guidelines. Interested producers may receive Conse rva ti on District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q Becca W illiams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 Glenn Blackmon ...... •••...... Engineer Technician Under a recent loan contract with an information packet about the Agri­ Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician Second-class postage paid al Lubbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary the TWDB, Agricultural Water Con­ cultural Water Conservation Equip­ Tamara Daniel ...... In formation/ Education Assistant POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jerry Fu nck, P.E ...... Agricultural Engineer servation Equipment loans were ment Loan Program by contacting THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Avenue Q, Brian Houston ...... Agricu lturist Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-806-762-0181. Arnold Husky ...... Ch ief Engineer Tec hnician made in 10 of the 15 counties within Becca Williams at the High Plains Scott Libbi ...... I rriga ti on Tec hnicia n the Water District. Water District, 2930 Avenue Q, Lub­ Pat Kunke ...... Bookkeeper CARMON McCAIN, Editor Ro sie Ri singer ...... Secretary/Receptionist This includes nine loans in Castro bock, Texas 79405-1499, or by calling Dan Sea le ...... •...... Engineer Technician INFORMATION/EDUCATION DIRECTOR County; three loans in Crosby Coun- her at (806) 762-0181. Keith Whitworth ...... Draftsman November 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 The "Great American Desert" is now rich agricultural production area

EDITOR'S NOTE-One can only imag­ ine the surprise and disbelief that the early explorers of the Llano Estacada would experience if they knew the land they labeled as " the Great American Desert" almost 200 years ago, was now one of the richest agricultural production areas in the country. The role of playa basins in the settlement of the region is . - ... ~ .. discussed in the final part of the paper .. . - presented by Dr. David Murrah at the May 1994 Playa Basin Symposium at Texas Tech University- CEM.

By Dr. David J. Murrah Associate Director of Libraries for Special Collections and Director, Southwest Collection Texas Tech University Meanwhile, as the empire of the United States expanded westward in the early 1800s, its government sent exploring parties onto the Great Endless Horizon Plains, and the subsequent reports, Early explorers of the Llano Estacada region of Texas may have been greeted by such a view. Upon seeing such a completely unlike those of the Span­ sight in 1820, Lt. Stephen Long declared that the area was unfit for a people depending upon agriculture for subsis­ iards, created the impression that the tence. Almost 175 years later, this "wasteland" is an abundant production area for cotton, grain sorghum, corn, wheat, southern plains was a barren waste­ sunflowers, soybeans, vegetables, grapes and cattle. land, causing map makers to label the region as "The Great American Desert." wholly unfit for cultivation and of habited solitude, which always has large Indian population: "This is a course uninhabitable for a people been and must continue mistake," he noted, "as there is no uninhabited forever (Marcy, 1850). country in winter better adapted to LAST OF A SERIES depending upon agriculture for their subsistence." (Twaites, 1966). And, In another report following his all the wants of the Indians than the Captain Randolph B. Marcy added 1852 expedition, Marcy noted, "The head streams of the Brazos, Pease, Three men were primarily res­ largely to the development of the almost total absence of water causes and Wichita Rivers" (Wallace, 1967). ponsible for creating this myth. desert myth in this widely-read all animals to shun [the Llano Once the favorite haunts and hiding Zebulon Pike, the first American on description written in 1849: Estacada]; even the Indians do not places of the Comanches were the southern plains, wrote in 1808 venture to cross it except at two or discovered, it was only a matter of When we were upon the high table that the region would be as famous as three points where they find a few time before they were forcibly land, a view presented itself as the Sahara Desert for its emptiness: small ponds of water" (Marcy, 1854). removed from their beloved boundless as the ocean. Not a tree, "Our citizens will through Such information only served to Comancheria, the Llano Estacada. By necessity .. .leave the prairies [that are] shrub, or any other object either perpetuate American and Texas igno­ the end of 1874, several military incapable of cultivation to the animate or inanimate, relieved the rance about the Llano Estacada. After incursions into the region virtually wandering and uncivilized dreary monotony of the prospect. It Texas became a state in 1845 and its ended Indian domination and aborigines ... " (Wedel, 1961). Twelve was ... the dreaded Llano Estacado ... a settlers had pushed westward toward opened the region for the rapid years later, U.S. Army explorer Lt. land where no man, either savage the Comanche country, its decimation of the once-vast buffalo Stephen Long declared emphatically or civilized permanently abides .. .a inhabitants had no knowledge of the herds. Moreover, military exploration that the southern plains were "almost treeless, desolate waste of unin- extensive trade between the and mapping led to American dis­ Comanches and the Comancheros, covery of such places as Shafter Lake, and, even as late as the early 1870s, Peck's Springs near modern Midland, did not know that the thousands of and Monument Springs in eastern head of cattle stolen by the New Mexico (Carlson, 1989). This in­ Comanches from Texas ranches were formation proved to be quite valuable actually butchered in the markets of to Texas cattlemen, already poised to Taos and Santa Fe. push toward the now vacant grass­ Yet, the myth - that the Llano rich prairies of the Llano Estacada. Estacada was waterless and impassa­ Thus, within a decade following 1875, ble - persisted into the 1870s. But no the entire plains were full of cattle. one did more to destroy the mystery Once on the high plains, Texas cat­ than did Col. Ranald Mackenzie. In tlemen found the thousands of playas 1872, utilizing information provided to be very useful-as long as rain by a captured Comanchero who had would keep the lakes full. admitted that "there was plenty of Throughout the early 1880s, rain fell, water" on the plains, Mackenzie led a but beginning in 1885, the weather military scout across the southern became more dry, forcing a collapse Llano Estacada into New Mexico, in the cattle market and subsequent passing near Abernathy, Muleshoe, bankruptcy of many ranch and Portales, following cart and cattle operations. The only ranchers to trails left by the Comancheros, and survive were those who had stopping for water at Spring Lake purchased land at low prices and had A Playa With Each Plot? and Soda Lake (Wallace, 1967, and adequate capital to fence and provide Many early-day land developers recognized the benefits of playa basins. In Wallace, 1965). water for their pastures with the use 1913, the Texas Land and Development Company laid out farm tracts so that Mackenzie's foray also dispelled of windmills (Murrah, 1981). there was a playa basin on each one. These were used to provide drainage the myth that the environs of the Of those ranches confined to level and water for irrigation. Llano Estacada would not support a See EARLY Page Four Page4 THE CROSS SECTION November 1994 Early land developers promoted benefits of area playa basins to buyers Continued From Page Three agricultural empires in the world. It would take another fifty years for Llano Estacada, only a few survived ground water irrigation technology to the dry years of the 1890s; most spread throughout the Llano Estacada. disappeared in the wake of a rapidly As I mentioned at the outset of this advancing farmers' frontier. Attracted paper, my family did not begin irri­ by rich soil and encouraged by gating until 1958. But, it did not take generous state land laws, farmers had begun crop raising on the plains as us very long to learn how to use our early as 1879. In that year, an Indiana playa lake in conjunction with irriga­ farmer, Paris Cox, began promoting a tion. The playa lake became a tail­ proposed Quaker colony to be water pond, and soon we strung established on the Llano Estacada aluminum pipe from a lake pump and where he claimed that the region's reused the water as best we could. I playa lakes were designed by nature do not know how widespread this to hold water for livestock. In 1880, practice is today, but my friend Don Cox had persuaded a handful of Marble showed me only recently his Quakers to move to northeastern new setup on his Floyd County farm, Lubbock County where they estab­ which comprises a combination of a lished near a large playa lake the first lake pump and underground pipe community on the South Plains which Estacada Cemetery connected to a rotary sprinkler they named Estacada (Conroy, 1983). In 1878, Paris Cox persuaded a group of people to leave Indiana and establish system, with the water being drawn Although the Quakers had disap­ a Quaker colony at the edge of a large playa basin on the Llano Estacada. First from a large playa lake. peared by 1893, their successful farm­ called "Maryetta" in honor of Cox's wife, the settlement was later named Historically speaking, there is no ing efforts clearly demonstrated the Estacada. When Crosby County was formally organized in 1886, Estacada was doubt that playa lakes have contri­ future for the plains, and the region chosen as the first county seat. After the courthouse was moved to Emma in buted immeasurably to making the gradually filled with farmers, espe­ the early 1890s, many of the early colonists migrated elsewhere, and the com­ Llano Estacada a source of life for ani­ cially after the wet year of 1905. In munity was abandoned. Now part of Lubbock County, Estacada serves as a mals and mankind for thousands of that year, the entire Llano Estacada historic reminder of those individuals who opened the Texas Plains for agricul­ years. Playas were significant in pro­ region received from 30 to 40 inches tural development. viding a water source for the large of rain, which kept the playas full all grazing animals of prehistoric times, . summer and turned the prairies into (Blodgett, 1988). The promoters of every tract in order to provide which in tum attracted hunters from a garden (Texas Department of Shafter Lake, in Gaines County, were drainage and potential recharge for a wide region. Playas provided water Agriculture, 1909). The abundant particularly brazen. Their advertise­ irrigation (Brunson, 1970). In 1913, for the active trade between the peo­ moisture played into the hands of ments pictured a conventional lake, the Company also drilled an ple of New Mexico and the Indians of larld prorr1oters vvho had begun to suitable for boating and fishing, irrigation well adjacent to the Santa the Llano Estacada during the late swarm into the region with the when in reality, the lake was a broad, Fe Depot in Plainview, and pumped eighteenth and much of the nine­ arrival of railroads. At every but very shallow alkaline lake, dry the water into nearby Lake teenth centuries. Evidence suggests opportunity, the promoters touted much of the time. Yet some gullible Plainview. The first view seen by that mankind has lived on these the plains' abundant water supply, Yankee land buyers actually shipped prospective land buyers was that plains almost continuously for twelve both on the surface and their boats to Texas in advance of of the gushing water well pumping thousand years or more, and perhaps underground. To counter the popular their own arrival (Blodgett, 1988). up to 1,500 gallons per minute. no other area in North America can conception that the region was a Other promoters used playa lakes Many thought that the huge water make that claim. It may be, then, that desert, they chose names for towns to their advantage. The Texas Land flow was a trick and that the water the indigenous and unique little like Roaring Springs, Shafter Lake, and Development Company, which was actually coming from the lake. playa lakes, "round as plates," may Blue Lake (now Hereford), Spring pioneered ground water irrigation But it was not a trick, and irrigation be the explanation for having made Lake, Running Water, Middle Water, in the Plainview area in 1912, laid would subsequently make the possible this long record of contin­ Shallowater, Lake View, and Oasis out farm tracts to include a playa on Llano Estacada one of the richest uous human habitation.

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Published monthly by High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, 2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405- Ph. 762-0181 Volu me 40- No. 12 THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER December 1994 Preliminary work starts on regional Ogallala Aquifer management plan More than 40 water professionals Attendees then formed committees from the High Plains region gathered to begin gathering information for the recently to begin the process of de­ plan. Topics include: 1) description of veloping a regional water manage­ water resource base; 2) current and ment plan to augment and extend the historic water use and its economic Texas Water Development Board's bi­ impact on area and state; 3) examples annual Water Plan. of conservation on historic depletion "Through a cooperative effort, a rate; 4) estimate of future water re­ water management plan can be serves by decade; 5) options for developed that will give the High residents of the area to consider in Plains of Texas assurance that water enhancing water supplies; and 6) will be available for all needs," said opportunities to maximize the utiliza­ A. Wayne Wyatt, High Plains Water tion of water by homeowners, muni­ District Manager. cipalities, industry, and irrigators. Development of such a plan will A mission statement was necessarily examine many alterna­ presented for discussion and tives for better, more efficient water consideration at a December 6, 1994 use, such as the use of LEP A center meeting. Some aspects of the mission pivot sprinkler systems, surge valves, Improving Water-Use Efficiency statement include: underground pipeline, development The development of an Ogallala Aquifer regional management plan will focus on • Providing a water supply for con­ of plants bred for higher water-use methods to improve water-use efficiency in both the agricultural and urban areas. tinued economic development. efficiency, and research of new water­ Converting from furrow irrigation to a LEPA center pivot sprinkler {left) can improve • Providing water for sustained use techniques - such as high-fre­ irrigation application efficiency by as much as 41 percent. Replacing high water use agricultural production and live­ quency, low-volume irrigation. fixtures (right) with those that use less water allows homeowners to improve their stock needs. Dr. James Janish of the Texas Tech water-use efficiency. • Maintaining or improving the University (TTU) Economics Depart­ quality of life for area residents. ment outlined previous and on-going "bottom-up" system such as was Management Plan which is flexible • Wildlife enhancement. regional water management plans in used by the City of El Paso and a enough to give scope and direction to Additional information about the Texas and the United States. He listed "top-down" system such as the court­ the work to be done. Issues such as Ogallala Aquifer Regional Manage­ three major components for those imposed plan of the Edwards Aquifer availability of water, uses and users, ment Plan is available by contacting water plans: 1) development of sup­ area; and 3) environmental issues. deficits, constraints on development, A. Wayne Wyatt, High Plains Water ply and demand management op­ Dr. Lloyd Urban, TTU Water prevailing patterns, and economic District, at (806) 762-0181, or Dr. tions unique to each site; 2) par­ Resources Center Director, outlined a conditions are to be addressed in the Lloyd Urban, TTU Water Resources ticipation plan options including a proposed structure for the Water water resource planning. Center, at (806) 742-3597. Record wildlife totals result of private landowners' conservation efforts By Tamara Daniel any other time prior to World War II. tant role in the conservation effort. species to species. Each specific Results from a 1994 Texas Parks Sansom adds that the bag limits Sansom considers his staff to be the habitat has to be studied and and Wildlife Department study for other wildlife have been increased best in the United States. considered when making decisions. (TPWD) indicate that wildlife popu­ due to population increases. For • Private landowners have had a For example, deer do not eat coastal lations have reached record numbers example, bag limits for ducks have great interest in wildlife conservation bermuda grass, even though it is within the state. been raised from three to four per for many years. "The critical element suitable for cattle and other animals. Each year, TPWD personnel go day, and bag limits for doves have is working with private landowners Coastal bermuda grass would into the field and hand count the been raised from 12 to 15 per day. For in Texas," says Sansom. "They will therefore not be included in planning wildlife population. the first time, the TPWD has issued a determine the future of Texas habitat for deer. "Texas has the largest population trophy tag for the red drum fish on wildlife." "Landowners can do a lot to aug­ of white-tailed deer in the United the Texas coast. About 98 percent of the land in ment wildlife habitat," says John States," says Andrew Sansom, Execu­ Sansom attributes the population Texas is privately-owned. Therefore, Hunter, associate professor of Range tive Director of the Texas Parks and increases to several key factors. wildlife relies upon landowners to and Wildlife at Texas Tech Wildlife Department in Austin. • Texas hunters and fishermen provide them with the necessary University. II Also, Texas hunters will harvest have supported conservation efforts habitat for survival. He suggests that a few rows of more wild turkey than any other within the state for many years. Landowners can also provide grain around the edge of a field be state." Sportsmen must purchase a license to areas for nesting cover, day cover for left for food. Trees can be planted for At one time, wild turkey were hunt or fish within the state. The cool breezes in the summer, and cover; and food plots of wheat, almost extinct. Thanks to restocking revenue from the license sales protection from snow and ice in the sunflowers, sorghum, and corn may and hunting limits, there are more supports TPWD and its programs. winter. be planted in or near protected cover. wild turkey in Texas today than at • The TPWD staff plays an impor- Specific habitat needs vary from See HABITAT Page Four Page2 THE CROSS SECTION December 1994 Importance of conservation irrigation stressed in 1954 Cross Section article

EDITOR'S NOTE - Below-average precipita­ the attention of the people of this area before the well goes completely dry. fit of the few of us who are using it tion and h eavie r than norma l pumpage the fact that the water in the High Since the principal economy of the during the 1994 growing season has caused today. many area agricultural producers to realize Plains is a depletable resource. Water Southern High Plains is agricultural, Certainly, water in storage is like the limitations has, on occasion, been referred to as a we have coined a new phrase that fruit in a jar. It is no good unless put of their water mineral, and like any other mineral, if should become foremost on the supplies. The to beneficial use. But few people THE following article it is continuously mined, can be tongue of every farmer, banker, have ever consumed a jar of fruit at about the impor­ exhausted. pump dealer and well driller in the one sitting, for in so doing, they not CROSS tance of "Con­ The annual reports of the State High Plains "Conservation only suffer the physical servation Irriga­ Board of Water Engineers and the Irrigation." tion" appeared consequences, but tomorrow they SECTION U.S. Geological Survey show that in Conservation Irrigation to us in the July 1954 have no fruit for their next meal. We Cro ss Section, the Southern High Plains we have means the use of our irrigation water and is just as been taking out water at an unusually as an insurance, not as a means of cannot say that harvesting the fruits timely today as high rate in the past few years. We getting rich quickly at the expense of of a bountiful harvest produced by it was 40 years indiscriminate pumping would hurt [4ru ago-CEM. are going to present the factual infor­ our water and our posterity. us, but what of the harvest of Y E A R S mation as it becomes available to Conservation Irrigation should impress upon the minds of the mean the prolongment of our present tomorrow? agricultural, industrial, and economy as long as possible, elimi­ As Benjamin Franklin so aptly One of the objectives of the municipal water users the necessity nating to a bare minimum the mining stated, "When the wells run dry - HPUWCD is to continuously call to of conservative, wise use of water of our valuable resource for the bene- we know the worth of water."

Wise use of water resources essential to economy of High Plains area

By A. Wayne Wyatt, Manager an above-average decline in the sive to produce. Therefore, we expect equipment h as resulted in some Agriculture is the principal water level of the aquifer in 1994. a decrease in the number of center additional acreage being returned to driving force of the Texas High Due to the current drought, 1994 pivot sprinkler systems installed full irrigation. This is likely to result Plains economy. Water is the most crop yields are predicted to be below during 1995. in an accelerated rate of decline in limiting factor in agricultural the five-year average for the area. If The many studies of the amount of water levels in these areas. production in our region. we maintain the status quo, the High ground water in storage in the High It is important to remember that Precipitation provides the majority Plains area would likely suffer in­ Plains aquifer system have contained we have a large volume of water in of the water supply for High Plains creasingly large decreases in crop projections of how much water will s torage - even though heavy agriculture. The average annual pre­ yields during future droughts. be available by decade for future use. pumpage has taken a toll on the ci pi ta tion for the area of about 18 However, we do not expPct this to The most current studies indicate aquifer this year. inches, falling on the 22 million acre happen. One reason is that irrigators that the historic rate of water When weather patterns change Texas High Plains area, equals about have made tremendous progress has depletion has decreased. However, back to a normal or wet cycle in the 33 million acre-feet of water. been made in recent years in im­ no study thus far has documented an future and reduce demands for the During years with average precip­ proving their irrigation application increased water supply - except in a ground water stored in the Ogallala itation, about four to six million acre­ efficiencies, and we expect these im­ few isolated areas. Aquifer, we cannot assume that our feet of ground water is pumped from provements to continue at a rapid Certainly, we can all be thankful water problems will end. Ground the High Plains Ogallala Aquifer to pace. that the rate of water depletion has supplement rainfall. For instance, approximately 1,500 decreased. Additionally, we are fairly water depletion is likely to continue - Since most of the area has received new center pivot irrigation systems certain that the depletion rate will only at a reduced rate. below-average precipitation since were installed within the 15-county continue to decrease in some areas as We must fulfill our obligation to mid-1992, producers have had to High Plains Underground Water the landowners and operators con­ do everything we can to maintain, pump an above-average amount of Conservation District No. 1 service tinue upgrading their irrigation and perhaps even improve, our water water from the aquifer during the area following the 1993 all-time equipment to more efficient systems. conservation efforts. Our economy past three years to ensure acceptable record cotton crops. Previously, we noted insignificant depends upon the wise use of our crop yields. Conservation improvements made water level changes in some areas water resources. Any improvements The unusually heavy demand on by farmers are generally in direct because well yields were low and the we make not only help each of us as the aquifer has resulted in substantial proportion to crop yields and profits. irrigation equipment was inefficient. individuals - but also help our decreases in water well yields in The 1994 irrigated crop yields are ex­ However, in recent years, installation respective communities and the High many areas and will likely result in pected to be good - but were expen- of high-efficiency water application Plains as a whole.

M ERRY

TH E CROSS SECTION (US PS 564-920) THE CROSS SECTION is published monthly by A. Wayne Wyatt ...... ••...... Manager CHRISTMAS Ken Carver ...... Assis tant Manager the Hi gh Pl ain s Undergro und W ater Don McReynolds...... Geologist Conse rvation District No. 1, 2930 Aven ue Q Becca W ill iams ...... Dir. Admin./Permits Glenn Blackmon ...... Engineer Technician Lubbock, TX 79 405-1499 Terry Bridges...... Engineer Technician Second-class postage paid at Lu bbock, TX. Kathryn C de Baca ...... Executive Secretary Tamara Daniel ...... Information/Education Ass istant POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jerry Funck, P.E ...... Agricultural Engineer THE CROSS SECTION, 2930 Ave nue Q, Brian Houston...... Agriculturist Lubbock, TX 79405-1499 1-806-762-0181. Arnold Husky ...... Ch ief Engi neer Tec hnician HIGH PLAINS WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF SPcaot tKtulnibkbey. ··············•• · ...... Irrigation Tec hnician I ...... Bookkeeper CARM O N McCAIN, Editor Ros ie Risinger...... Secretary/Receptionist Dan Sea le...... Engineer Tec hnician INFO RMATION/EDUCATION DI RECTO R Ke ith Whitworth ...... ••...... Draftsman I I I December 1994 THE CROSS SECTION Page3 New dehydration plant allows vegetable growers to help feed hungry

High Plains vegetable growers know timing is critical when har­ vesting and selling their crops. Fresh vegetables ruin if they do not reach the market within a short time frame. If this occurs, the producer is forced to take a loss, and the crop is either plowed under, dumped in landfills, or fed to cattle. A similar situation occurs when vegetables or fruit are shipped to an area and are turned down by processors or supermarkets. Most of this produce is good, edible food that .. 111..0CUIT~ AVI , LU•I-OCK. fl.U.S 1-....ot is either irregular in size, shape, or -·- color or still has field dirt on it. The produce is wasted simply because it does not meet cosmetic standards. In other instances, food is wasted because there is not enough storage room or enough refrigerated storage to keep it from spoiling. With the October 24 opening of the Breedlove Food Dehydration Plant in Lubbock, the South Plains Food Bank now has the capability to preserve fruits and vegetables that would other­ wise be wasted and use them to feed hungry people throughout the world. "After receiving dehydrated food left over from Desert Storm and sub­ sequently touring for-profit dehydra­ tion facilities, the National Advisory Board of the South Plains Food Bank saw an opportunity to bring a proven system to Lubbock," says Tom Hurley, South Plains Food Bank Food For The Hungry Board President. On "World Hunger Day" in Projected operation of the continuous food dehydration line at the Breedlove Food Dehydration Plant is shown in this October 1992, the Food Bank an­ illustration. Fruits and vegetables will enter the plant via the automatic truck dumper at far right. From there, the vegeta­ nounced the start of a fund-raising bles will be washed, destoned, peeled, sliced or diced, dehydrated, and packaged for shipment. campaign to build the food dehydra­ tion plant. together in specific storage bins. during global disaster relief efforts Executive Director of the South Plains Mary Louise Breedlove Kingsbery One production line will be since fresh foods may spoil before Food Bank. gave 29 acres of land on which to automated and will process as many they can be distributed to those who build the processing plant. Shortly as 5,000 pounds of raw vegetables per need them. Grand Opening thereafter, two local businessmen, hour. This line will wash, destone, Also, cooking is not always Many officials lauded the food H.A. Sessions and J.T. Talkington, peel, slice or dice, blanch, remove necessary to prepare dehydrated dehydration plant's recent grand donated a 48,500 square-foot building starch from wash water, dehydrate, fruits and vegetables. If warm water opening. and 42 acres of land located at North and package vegetables. This section is added, the vegetable returns to a Texas Governor Ann Richards Loop 289 and Martin Luther King of the food dehydration plant will ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat state. said, "Your efforts to benefit the Boulevard. A 7-acre orchard to operate with very little labor and will Food Bank officials say this is impor­ people of Texas and the nation are produce apples for the dehydration be dedicated to the two largest tant not only with respect to disaster exemplary. Through your production plant was planted on the land vegetable crops available. relief, but also because many of the of dehydrated foods for needy donated by Mrs. Kingsbery. The new A second production line will underprivileged do not have regular hungry people, you will be touching plant is named in honor of her late process as much as 8,000 pounds of access to cooking facilities. However, and improving the lives of so many parents, Aulyne and Clent Breedlove. raw fruit, vegetables, or legumes per a fresh, clean water source is essential. individuals ... By starting something When the Breedlove Food Dehy­ day. This line will be labor-intensive so important right here at home, you dration Plant becomes fully opera­ and will be principally staffed by Distribution have taken us one step closer to tional in early 1995, it will be able to inmates from the Lubbock County The dehydrated food processed at ending world hunger." dehydrate enough food during an Correctional Facility. Lubbock's Breedlove plant will be "This plant could have a eight-hour shift to create 30,000 meals Smaller "static" dehydrators will primarily distributed through Second tremendous impact on feeding per day. Operating one shift per day, be used to dry apples, strawberries, Harvest-the national network of hungry people. Now, with a readily the plant will be able to process 28 and other fruit. food banks providing meals for hun­ accessible supply of dehydrated million pounds of food annually. The plant is expected to employ gry people in their respective areas. foods, we will have an additional, The plant will primarily process more than 20 people when fully "The South Plains Food Bank has invaluable resource for providing potatoes, carrots, apples, onions, green operational. helped put more than 8.2 million nutritious foods to hungry people," beans, and bell peppers. In the future, pounds of food on the tables of the said Mary Ann Keefe, Deputy the Breedlove plant may also be Dehydration Advantages hungry in the past year. Food banks Administrator for Special Nutrition capable of dehydrating meat and milk. Food dehydration offers many in the Second Harvest network across Programs, Food and Nutrition Ser­ advantages: the nation distributed over 600 vice, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Plant Operation • It removes up to 90 percent of million pounds of food during the High Plains producers are com­ Fruits and vegetables will be the weight of the food, resulting in same time period. mitted to producing fiber and food to unloaded on pallets at the plant's lower transportation costs during "The Breedlove Dehydration Plant clothe and feed the world's popula­ loading dock or will automatically distribution. is the first of its kind to be used for tion. With the opening of the Breed­ enter the plant via the automatic • It has a shelf life of several years charitable purposes, and our Board love Dehydration Plant in Lubbock, truck dumper. Since moisture content with very little spoilage or loss of hopes that it will serve as a model for area farmers have a new opportunity in vegetables varies with each nutritional value (even without refri­ similar projects throughout the nation to turn waste food into a marketable harvest, each shipment will be kept geration). This is particularly helpful and the world," says Carolyn Lanier, product to benefit the hungry. Page4 THE CROSS SECTION December 1994 Habitat management by landowners helps increase wildlife populations Continued From Page One ment, and identify wildlife species. FEDERAL AND STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST Many students have taken this Playa lakes are the only winter It is unlawful for any person to hunt, take, possess, transport, sell or offer knowledge and actually implemented habitat for many bird species on the for sale, or ship any restricted species or goods made from these species it in the field - just as Davis does. Texas High Plains. According to within the State of Texas. Holders of valid scientific or zoological permits Davis manages his family's 300 Charles Coffman of the Natural issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are authorized to hold acres of land along the Paluxy River species within the restrictions of their permits. (Sourc e: 1994-1995 Texas Resources Conservation Service in Erath County and utilizes the same Hunting Guide) (formerly the USDA-Soil Conserva­ tion Service), playas can be enhanced land management principles that he Mammals: Amphibians: teaches in for wildlife by leaving weeds and his classroom. Blue Whale Black-spotted newt Finback Whale Blanco Blind Salamander other vegetation growing around The land is managed for cattle production, but needs of wildlife are Black Right Whale Texas Blind Salamander them. Sperm Whale Rio Grande Lesser Siren With wildlife populations flourish­ always considered in management decisions. Davis is always careful to Black-footed Ferret Houston Toad ing in recent years, Texas landowners Jaguar White-lipped Frog have discovered a new source of leave food and cover for wildlife. Jaguarundi In recent years, Davis says he has Margay Fish: supplemental income through hunt­ Paddlefish ing and fishing leases. If the habitat seen an increase in the wild turkey Ocelot population on his land. He has al­ Red Wolf Shovelnose sturgeon is good to excellent, wildlife is more Blotched gambusia abundant, and landowners can ways had a large population of white Gray Wolf Mexican Wolf San Marcos Gambusia charge more for hunting leases. tail deer. Big Bend Gambusia The National Cattlemen's Associa­ Black Bear Money to help cost-share the Coati Clear Creek Gambusia tion newsletter, The Beef Brief, recently establishment of wildlife habita t is Manatee Pecos Gambusia available from several agencies, such noted that "cattle farmers and ranch­ Mexican Long-nosed bat Comanche Springs Pupfish Leon Springs Pupfish as the Agricultural Stabilization and ers provide food and shelter for much of the nation's wildlife. Statistics Birds: Fountain Darter Conservation Service (ASCS) and the Bluntnose Shiner show that 75 percent of U.S. wildlife Brown Pelican Texas Forest Service. Coffman Phantom Shiner recommends checking with each of habitat (excluding Alaska) is on pri­ Bald Eagle Northern Aplomado Falcon Blackfin Goby the various agencies to determine vate lands, and 85 percent of wild animals depend on private lands for American Peregrine Falcon Plants: which program will best suit Attwater's Prairie Chicken food, shelter and water. Texas Wild Rice individual needs. Whooping Crane Navasota Ladies' Tresses Darwin Davis, agriscience instruc­ "Furthermore, public lands, in­ Eskimo Curlew Texas Poppy-Mallow tor and landowner, does double duty cluding grazing lands managed by Interior Least Tern Tobush Fishhook Cactus to assist Texas wildlife populations. cattlemen, have growing wildlife Ivory-billed Woodpecker Nellie Cory Cactus For the past five years, Davis has numbers. Cattlemen own or manage Red-cockaded Woodpecker Sneed Pincushion Cactus taught wildlife management to stu­ more land than does any other Black capped vireo Davis' Green Pitaya dents at Granbury High School near industry. Thus, cattlemen are Golden-cheeked Warbler Lloyd's Hedgehog Cactus responsible for much of our wildlife Black Lace Cactus Fort Worth. Each year, approxi­ Reptiles: habitat." Ashy Dogweed mately 50 students take the class. Speckled Racer Johnson's Frankenia Interest in the class has grown among During the past few years, endan­ Louisiana Pine Snake Texas Snowbells urban students. gered or threatened species have Concho River Water Snake Slender Rush-Pea "I teach habitat management dur­ received much attention throughout Western Smooth Green Snake Prairie Dawn ing the course, which includes plant­ Texas and the United States. Yet, it is Northern Cat-Eyed Snake White Bladderpod ing and managing food plots, leaving not surprising that the media has Chihuahuan Mud Turtle Large-Fruited Sand Verbena cover s trips, and providing water given very little or no attention to Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Little Aguja Pondweed sources," he says. statements pertaining to increases in Hawksbill Sea Turtle Texas Trailing Phlox Leatherback Sea Turtle Terlingua Creek Cat's-Eye Davis also teaches students to con­ wildlife populations made by TPWD Loggerhead Sea Turtle Walker's Manioc serve the land, respect the environ- officials and producer groups.

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