Dear Kyle Miller,
We are writing to you on the subject of water conservation here at Texas Tech. Clinton
Kveton, Tyler Lucas, and I being concerned students believe Texas Tech can do more
to conserve water. This proposal we have made for you is for planting native plants on
Texas Tech campus.
The Ogallala Aquifer is the water basin that our city gets most of its water from. For a
long time the Ogallala Aquifer has been decreasing. Lubbock has started cracking down
on unnecessary watering around the city but yet Texas Tech still uses quite a bit of
water. We have suggested using native plants to this region instead of the exotic
flowering plants currently being planted because the current plants require so much
more water.
This report urges further investigation and research be conducted so that Texas tech
can become more eco friendly. One of the newer goals of the University is to become
“greener” school and we believe this is a step in the right direction.
We are coming to you with this proposal because you are the student liaison to the
board of regents. We hope to persuade you into proposing our idea to the board of
regents so that the university could look further into this as soon as possible.
Respectively,
Jerrin Klein, Tyler Lucas, and Clinton Kveton
Going Native on Texas Tech Campus
Jerrin Klein, Clinton Kveton, Tyler Lucas
“Going Native on Texas Tech Campus”
Date: November 17, 2009
To: Kyle Miller
Table of Contents
 Letter of transmittal
 Title page
 Table of Contents
 Introduction
 The Problem
 Our Recommendation
 Conclusion
 Purpose
 Illustrations
 Works Cited
Introduction
For a long time, Lubbock has depended heavily on the water from the Ogallala Aquifer
and Lake Meredith. These two water supplies are quickly receding and will be dry in the
next few years. We concerned students believe that Texas Tech can do more to
conserve this precious supply.
“In a fall 2008 issue of The Sierra Club's "Sierra" magazine, Tech was named one of
five schools in the nation failing to implement green policies.” (Hartz 2009) Tech needs
to implement more green procedures. Tech also promised in this same article that it
would start these procedures. They solved their problem by adding recycling bins and
limiting the amount they watered. Now, Texas Tech still over waters on Pansies that will
die in a month and be dug up to be replaced with more Pansies restarting the costly
cycle. Also, the grass at the recreation fields is dead due to under watering and burning
up due to the harsh sun.
Our proposal is to use native plants and grasses here on Texas Tech University. This
would reduce water consumption greatly while bringing a more rustic and natural look to
Texas Tech University. The failing exotic grasses and water hungry flowers planted
here are causing Tech a gross amount of money to maintain and draining our natural
resources. The effects of not starting a conservative program would cost Texas Tech
more in the future. With water costs rising and our resources diminishing, Lubbock will
soon be out of water and out of options. Texas Tech can do its part in helping in this
crisis we face.
The Problem
We have found through observation that Texas Tech uses a significant amount of water
keeping flowers alive on campus. This excessive water use is contributing to the
decline of the Ogallala Aquifer. The area around Lubbock is one of the areas of the
aquifer that is rapidly declining.
The Ogallala aquifer is a vital source of water for the southern high plains. When this
source runs out the entire southern high plains is going to be in a severe water crisis.
At the end of this report there are two charts of the Ogallala Aquifer.3&4 These maps
come from the USGS website. The first one is a map of the aquifer from 1980-1995.
The areas of orange and red are declines of significant amounts. The blues indicate
areas of rises or recharge. As you can see there are many areas of Nebraska and
some parts of Texas that are actually increasing. Most of the aquifer is declining.
The second map2 is the Ogallala aquifer in 2007. There is now only a small area in
Nebraska that is actually increasing. Most of the aquifer is still declining. Some of the
most rapidly declining areas of the aquifer include the area right around Lubbock.
Due to the wind in Lubbock water is constantly blown from the sprinklers onto the
concrete. This problem still uses that same water without the result of green plants.
This is very wasteful. There is a picture example of this from Tech’s campus at the end
of this report.5
Our Recommendation
A way to mitigate this problem is for Tech to go native. If Texas Tech plants flowers that
are native to this area they will require significantly less water. There are lots of
flowering plants native to this area. They are still aesthetically pleasing. These plants
can survive off the rainfall that this area receives annually.
Texas Tech currently plants many flowering plants that are not meant to survive in this
environment. Flowers such as pansies that are planted at the entrance to school
cannot survive without constant watering.
These flowering plants can be replaced by ones that are native to this region. There are
many species of flowering plants that are native to the panhandle region. They can
survive with the annual rainfall for this area. There is picture at the end of this report
showing an example of these types of plants1.
Some non-flowering native plants can be used for landscaping. There are some areas
of campus that have already started this. These plants look decorative and survive on
just the rainfall in this region. These areas include the Administration building2, and
some of the gardens along Ag Row. There is as picture at the end of this report
showing the example of native landscaping in front of the Administration building.
There has been discussion among leaders of the university that they don’t want Tech to
look like the prairie. Texas Tech is in the prairie, so why not make it look like it. It can
still be attractive. It would bring a unique look to the university. The prairie approach is
very water efficient.
Texas Tech’s main campus is 920 acres. That is a lot of land to water all the time. If
Tech were to significantly cut back on the amount of water we used to keep our campus
looking good, we would save a lot of water and money. We would also be doing are
part to save the environment.
Conclusion
For years Lubbock had depended on the Ogallala Aquifer as one of its main water
sources. That is not a bad thing, but when you consider we use most out of almost five
states, it becomes a problem. We, as an institution that not only cares about the well
being of the future, but also is responsible in its formation, we must stand up and take a
stand. We have to help make Texas Tech a better place, not only socially, but
economically and environmentally.
It’s not a lie, the Ogallala Aquifer depletes more and more each day. The state already
sets rules on watering times and amounts. The city of Lubbock even enforces these
rules and regulations. Sadly, these regulations still allow too much water to be used
which still causes the aquifer to lower. If we continue where we’re going, it could mean
futures Tech students learning what the Ogallala Aquifer was rather than how to
preserve it.
In conclusion, this proposal is nothing more than a request to pursue further research
and implementation. As a college campus we must be able to be looked upon for
changing the future of for the better. In times of economic hardship, the “going green”
movement, and the general public learning about our planet’s depleting natural
resources, the move will not only be good for Texas Tech, but for a nation as a whole.
Purpose
As previously stated, the purpose of this proposal is not only to help change the future,
but to bring a “Call to Action” amongst the citizens of West Texas. As a higher learning
institution, we can set a great example for being economically and environmentally
sound. This example would hopefully spread to the rest of the city causing more people
to plant more water friendly plants. This trend could spread thanks to the devotion to the
University. The changes to our city could be major.
Replacing plants would be a major example of change. If we planted native plants to fit
into the environment that we live in, we could save water usage. Overall, this could save
money on the amount of water we used. The benefits of this transition from exotic and
foreign plants to native plants of West Texas could be countless. Money, water and
labor could all be factors to which we save.
When setting an example it’s easy to put off and let other people dictate the decision.
Yet, for setting an example, wouldn’t Texas Tech, the heart of the area that relies so
much on the Ogallala Aquifer, be the perfect candidate?
No matter how you look at a problem, there are always several choices to be made on
how to solve it. Not only is replacing plants an answer but there are many other ways to
preserve the water we use. Even though it could be a high cost of labor at first, the
benefits from replacing plants could be astronomical.
If changing the future for the better is what a college campus is supposed to do, then
this change should be evident.
Illustrations
1) “Dotted Gayfeather” – Liatris punctata
Dotted Gayfeather- A flowering plant that lives on the annual rainfall
of the southern high plains.
2)
Native Landscaping in front of the Administration Building
3)
Water level changes of the Ogallala Aquifer 1980-1995
(Wordpress.com 2009)
4)
Water level changes of the Ogallala Aquifer 2007
(geology.com 2007)
5)
Water being wasted from wind-blown sprinklers on Tech campus
(squidoo.com n.d.)
Works Cited
geology.com. May 2007. http://geology.com/usgs/images/high-plains-aquifer-map.gif (accessed
November 30, 2009).
Hartz, Marlena. Tech works to improve energy use. April 18, 2009.
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/041809/loc_430391963.shtml (accessed November 22, 2009).
squidoo.com. http://shipbright.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/300px-ogallala_changes_19801995_svg.png?w=300&h=395 (accessed November 30, 2009).
Wordpress.com. October 2009. http://shipbright.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/300pxogallala_changes_1980-1995_svg.png?w=300&h=395 (accessed November 30, 2009).