In this edition of news from HPWD:

• Annual County Advisory Committee Meeting
• Ogallala Commons Rainwater Harvesting Conference 
• Rural Youth Catalyst Summit
• 4-H Water Ambassador Application is Open until May 1  
• Conservation Reminder
• Waste Reminder
• Administratively Complete Permit Applications
• Upcoming Events
• Texas Water News and Drought Updates

Annual County Advisory Committee Meeting

On April 8, 2025, we conducted our annual County Advisory Committee meeting.  Thirty-two County Advisory Committee members, all HPWD board members, all HPWD staff, and three guest speakers were present.

Presentations were delivered on the following topics:

• 2025 Outlook--Brian Bledsoe, Meteorologist
• NRCS Program Update--Mark Hall, NRCS Program Manager Zone 1
• GW Availability Studies--Jennifer Davidson, P.E., Lubbock Co. Engineer
• Water Well Registration Statistics--Gray Sanders, HPWD
• 2025 Water Level Observations--Billy Barron, HPWD
• Irrigation Assessment Program--Billy Barron, HPWD 

Ogallala Commons Rainwater Harvesting Conference

The Ogallala Commons Rainwater Harvesting Conference, held March 27-28 in Amarillo, was well attended. More than 170 participants attended the two-day event. HPWD was one of the conference's sponsors and donated fifty (50) rain barrels for select attendees. Even on a small level, harvesting rainwater provides a substantial benefit and teaches residents the importance of water conservation.

The second day included tours to Amarillo businesses incorporating rainwater components into their structures.

Visit the HPWD website for more resources on Rainwater Harvesting.

Rural Youth Catalyst Summit

On March 29, 2025, Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources welcomed 35 high school students across the High Plains and Panhandle to the ‘Rural Youth Catalyst Summit’ held at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock. This was a free opportunity for local sophomores and juniors to step into the future as leaders and innovators and address challenges in rural areas. The Youth Summit is part of "We Love West Texas" and the Agricultural Education Department at TTU.

The morning session featured a ‘Meet West Texas! Networking Session,’ followed by workshops on ‘Leadership & Marketing Yourself’ and ‘Future of Agriculture, Water, & Rural Communities.’  The students visited with local experts during small table sessions.   Jennifer McClendon, HPWD Education Coordinator, visited with the students about water conservation and the importance of groundwater for this region. 

See the story featured on KCBD here.

4-H Water Ambassador Application is Open until May 1

Applications for the 9th Cohort of Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors will be accepted from March 15 through May 1, 2025. Students within the district who are admitted to the program are eligible for a $300 tuition gift to cover their participation fee. For more information on this program, visit texas4hwaterambassdors.com/application.

Conservation Reminder

Keep mulch or compost around your trees and plants. This helps retain moisture and slows evaporation.

Waste Reminder

Water waste is prohibited pursuant to Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code and HPWD rules.  What is waste? This month, we look at Chapter 36.001(8)(C), where waste is defined as the following:

8)(C) escape of groundwater from a groundwater reservoir to any other reservoir or geologic strata that does not contain groundwater;

If you need assistance or have questions about preventing water waste, contact the High Plains Water District office at (806) 762-0181.

Administratively Complete Permit Applications

Upcoming Events

Texas Water News and Drought Updates

•  The Texas Water Foundation has created a document overviewing this session's two priority water bills: SB 7 (Perry) and HB 16 (Harris).  It also summarizes the funding legislation in SJR 66 and HJR 7. You can view it here.
• The drought conditions map and the monthly outlook are updated.