Analyzing potential water conservation strategies in the Texas Panhandle

Authors: CROUCH, MARIKATE - Texas A&M Agrilife; GUERRERO, BRIDGET - West Texas A & M University; AMOSSON, STEVE - Texas A&M Agrilife; MAREK, THOMAS - Texas A&M Agrilife; ALMAS, LAL - West Texas A & M University

Submitted to: Irrigation Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2020
Publication Date: 7/31/2020
Citation: Crouch, M., Guerrero, B., Amosson, S., Marek, T., Almas, L. 2020. Analyzing potential water conservation strategies in the Texas Panhandle. Irrigation Science. 38(5):559-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-020-00691-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-020-00691-2

Interpretive Summary: The Texas Panhandle relies almost solely on the Ogallala Aquifer as the primary source of irrigation water. However, seven of the 21 counties are projected to incur water shortages between 2020 and 2070. Working in a project funded by the USDA ARS Ogallala Aquifer Program, economists from Texas A&M AgriLife and West Texas A&M University conducted a regional analysis to evaluate several agricultural water conservation strategies to address the decline in regional water use. Assuming that cotton can be grown successfully, substituting cotton for corn could reduce groundwater withdrawals by 50% while maintaining farm income. Conversion of irrigated cropland to dryland would decrease land values from $2,750 per irrigated acre to $1,020 per dryland acre. The analysis examined potential water savings and implementation costs associated with the alternative water use strategies. This information is useful to stakeholders such as producers, groundwater conservation districts, and regional water planning groups.

Technical Abstract: Water is a vital resource for agricultural crop production in the Texas Panhandle. This semi-arid region relies almost solely on the Ogallala Aquifer as the primary source of water. Agricultural production dominates water use in the area and is projected to account for 92% of total water use by 2020. Since agriculture is such an essential sector of the regional economy, prolonging irrigation capability through improvements in crop production methods is warranted. The area of concern and evaluation in this study consists of Texas’ northernmost 21 counties where groundwater withdrawal rates continue to exceed the aquifer’s recharge rate, resulting in less available irrigation resources. Within the region, seven counties in the Panhandle Water Planning Area of Texas are projected to incur water shortages in the 2020–2070 planning horizon. A regional analysis evaluating several agricultural water conservation strategies and combinations to address the decline of water use in the region is presented. The analysis examines potential water savings and implementation costs associated with the alternative strategies to provide useful information to stakeholders such as producers, groundwater conservation districts, and regional water planning groups.