Remarks by
Precinct One District
Director James Powell
(Portion of Crosby,
Lubbock and Lynn
Counties)
Business Project Plan
Presenter Name | Company Name
HPWD Irrigation Assessment Program
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Conducted 2002-2007

In 2002 about 41 sites were originally monitored

Approximately 128 sites were enrolled during 2007

HPWD staff measured the following parameters:

Flow rate (gpm)

Run time (hrs)
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Conductivity of source water

pH of source water

Cooperating producers supplied yield data

HPWD calculated the estimated irrigation application (ac-in/ac)

IAP to be reinstated for 2014 crop year

HPWD would like to add water level measurements to the data collection
Summary of IAP Results
Source: HPWD Irrigation Assessment Program
Crop
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Average
Corn
13.41
21.07
18.71
14.09
18.93
18.28
17.42
Cotton
9.81
10.59
6.14
7.51
12.30
4.75
8.52
Sorghum 12.49
11.57
13.05
14.19
10.00
12.26
Peanuts
14.29
15.41
8.09
14.10
5.14
9.77
Wheat
Notes:
18.59
13.10
6.74
14.11
Irrigation averages were calculated district-wide each year. Almost all counties within the HPWD had IAP sites.
Swisher Co. was not a part of the HPWD at this time.
HPWD #1
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Created in 1951
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Started with 13 counties, now has 16
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Covers 7.5 million acres
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Oldest and largest district in Texas
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Currently 99 water districts in Texas
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Sixty-two are single county districts
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Political subdivision of Texas
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Five-member board of directors
What has the Board been doing?
District Community
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Hired new general manager
Restructured permitting process
Created electronic newsletter and permits
Strengthened office operations
Reinstated county committees
Built a balanced budget
Seeking input for rules revisions
Strengthening conservation programs
Meetings, meetings and meetings
What is a DFC?
DFC defined by the Texas Water Development Board:
"the desired, quantified condition of groundwater resources (such as water levels,
spring flows, or volumes) within a management area at one or more specified future
times as defined by participating GCDs and GMAs as part of the joint planning process."

Parmer
County
Well and
Center
Pivot
Inventory
Source: HPWD
HPWD 50/50 Desired Future Condition
(DFC)
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50 percent of saturated thickness
remains 50 years later for the
Ogallala/Edwards-Trinity (High Plains)
aquifers
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Texas law requires that DFCs be
reviewed and readopted at least every
five years.
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The 50/50 DFC is a 50-year planning
horizon
Management Plan
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By statute, a management plan must address:
 Providing the most efficient use of groundwater
 Control and prevention of waste of groundwater
 Natural resources that are or may be impacted
 Drought conditions
 Conservation, recharge enhancement, rainwater
harvesting
 Desired future conditions

HPWD management plan must contain performance
standards for meeting the goals.
*Management plans and DFCs must be reviewed and
readopted every five years.
Our Proposed District Plan

The centerpiece is an annual static
production rate of 18” (1.5 ac-ft/ac)
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Alternate methods of reporting
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
Flow meters
One irrigated crop certification
Energy consumed
Nozzle package
CAFO may use head count
Contiguous acre clarification.
Contiguous Acres Illustration
18” and your crop

One acre inch of water = 27,154 gallons

Irrigated 120 acre circle at 18” =
58,652,640 gallons
City Water Use (Lubbock)
 On average, a person in Lubbock uses 147 gallons of
water a day.
(195 gallons per day during the summer and 121 gallons per day during the winter.)

Using current population numbers - 147 gallons X 300,000 people
= 44,100,000 gallons per day (MGD) X 365 days in a year =
16,096,500,000 gallons in a year (billions of gallons)
How does it compare?

Lubbock annual usage of 16 billion
gallons

The on-farm equivalent would require
275 center pivot irrigation systems each
irrigating 120 acres at 18”.
How is the water best used?
Photo credit:
Plains Cotton Growers
Water use per crop (18”)

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Cotton production at 65-100 lbs. per
acre-inch on 18" irrigation = 1,170 lbs. to
1,800 lbs. lint cotton
This production can vary with:

Weather

Variety

Fertility

Management

Luck
Water use per crop (18”)

•
Photo credit:
Texas Corn Producers
Corn production at 10 bushels per
acre-inch on 18" irrigation = 180 bushels
This production can vary with:

Weather

Variety

Fertility

Management

Luck
Water use per crop (18”)
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Photo credit:
Texas Wheat Producers
Wheat production at 5 bushels per
acre-inch on 18" irrigation = 90 bushels
This production can vary with:

Weather

Variety

Fertility

Management

Luck
Water use per crop (18”)
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Sorghum production at 200-500 pounds per
acre-inch on 18” irrigation = 3,600-9,000 lbs.
This production can vary with:

Weather

Variety

Fertility

Management

Luck
Water use per crop (18”)
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Peanut water use for the Texas South
Plains is 20-30" per acre
This production can vary with:

Weather

Variety

Fertility

Management

Luck
Conclusion
 As a crop consultant, you have an opportunity to
embrace water management systems to meet
challenges on behalf of your clients.
 In the absence of our active engagement, the state will
decide for us.
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We need and value your input.
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If you have questions or need additional information,
please contact us at (806) 762-0181.
Contact
James Powell
Precinct One District Director