TEXAS PANHANDLE GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District has operated in the Texas Panhandle since 1957. The District was originally located in parts of 3 counties; it currently covers all or parts of 9 counties. The Ogallala Aquifer, part of the High Plains Aquifer system, is the primary groundwater reservoir. The aquifer is being mined in the original part of the District; in other areas the aquifer may be sustainable to some degree. Municipal, industrial and irrigation withdrawals have resulted in localized areas of depletion. The 1997 Texas Legislature’s Senate Bill 1 required groundwater districts to adopt management plans with quantifiable and measurable goals. The PGCD adopted a primary goal that states that 50% of current (1998) saturated thickness within the aquifer will remain 50 years in the future. The Panhandle Region Water Planning Group adopted the same goal. The District also adopted rules requiring adherence to the same 50% in 50 years standard. These rules will be tested in court. The District is developing implementation procedures for these rules, including dividing the District into specific management sub areas.

There are several large-scale groundwater export projects in the District. One 40,000 acre-feet per year project recently began operation. This project caused an increase in groundwater rights trading activity. A recent sale involved 77,000 acres of water rights. Two other proposals involve 150,000 acres and 210,000 acres respectively. Marketing of this water would include construction of pipelines from Roberts County, Texas to San Antonio, El Paso, or the Dallas-Ft Worth metro area. Several lawsuits involving these water sales and proposals have resulted.

The District also operates a precipitation enhancement program to provide water for recharge, crop growth and reduce irrigation demand. A metering program designed to help determine agricultural water use demands was initiated in 1999. Operation of these various programs provides many challenges for the District.