In this edition of news from HPWD:

• Lubbock Master Gardeners Association Project  
• Southcrest Christian School Team Awarded Invention Grant
• Annual Water Level Measurements Begin January 2nd 
• Research and Demonstration Grant Applications 
• Conservation Reminder
• Waste Reminder
• Administratively Complete Permit Applications
• Upcoming Events
• Texas Water News and Drought Updates

Lubbock Master Gardeners Association Project

In 2024, HPWD awarded the Lubbock Master Gardeners Association (LMGA) a Research and Demonstration grant. LMGA is a nonprofit education and all-volunteer organization that facilitates a Demonstration Garden at the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum.

LMGA planned, designed, and implemented a project at the Lubbock Arboretum to facilitate rainwater retention and reduce erosion and stormwater runoff. Heavy rainfall and erosion damaged the demonstration garden and walking pathways in 2023.

The Arboretum and Demonstration Garden are visited year-round, and the LMGA offers educational programs to the public. After completing this project, the LMGA held its Garden Tour on September 7, 2024. Over 300 attendees learned about the benefits of basins, berms, and rain gardens and the importance of reducing stormwater runoff. Visit the HPWD website for more resources on Waterwise Landscaping.

Southcrest Christian School Team Awarded Invention Grant 

The Southcrest Christian School team was selected for the $7,500 InvenTeam Lemelson-MIT Grant to create an invention that would relieve pressure on aquifers and enhance sustainable agriculture practices. HPWD supports Southcrest students' work by helping them obtain Dockum Aquifer water samples. The Southcrest Christian School is one of only eight high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year. The team consists of eight students from Southcrest Christian School, one from Idalou High School, two from Lubbock High School, and two from Whiteface High School. See the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams newsletter to learn about the project.

 Annual Water Level Measurements Begin January 2nd  

Field Technicians will begin annual water level measurements in observation wells on January 2, 2025, to determine the changes since last year. Measurements will begin in Castro, Deaf Smith, and Parmer Counties.

Water level measurements are made in a network of approximately 1,400 privately owned water wells, spaced at a density of about one well per nine square miles across the 16 counties in the HPWD service area. The preliminary results will be available on our website as each county is completed.

 Research and Grant Applications

The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) is accepting grant applications for 2025 water conservation research, demonstration, and education projects. HPWD is looking for innovative ideas that will help conserve water.  The form is available on our website here.

Proposals are due no later than Monday, February 3, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.

Conservation Reminder

A dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing dishes. Run the dishwasher only when it is full. If you must wash a few pots by hand, turn the water off when you're not rinsing.

Waste Reminder

Running your lawn sprinklers during freezing weather is wasteful, does not infiltrate the soil, and may create runoff. Runoff is considered groundwater waste and is prohibited by state law and HPWD rules. The November rainfall should provide plenty of moisture for most of the winter months.

 Administratively Complete Permit Applications

  Upcoming Events

Texas Water News and Drought Updates

• North Plains GCD secured a legal victory in federal court in November, affirming the district's authority to regulate groundwater production under its rules.  Read the full news release on the TAGD website. 
• The 89th Texas Legislature will convene in Austin on January 14. 
• The drought conditions map and the monthly outlook are updated.