Promoting Conservation of Irrigation Water in the Texas High Plains.

The Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) was formed in 2004 as a partnership among crop and livestock producers, research and extension faculty, and the local water conservation district to demonstrate methods of extending the usefulness of the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation while maintaining economic returns. We have collected data on water use, crop inputs, and crop yields during nine growing seasons (2005-2013) from a variety of cropping systems and irrigation methods to calculate agronomic and economic efficiencies of water use. We have developed web-based decision tools to aid producers in matching crop species to a field’s water availability and in scheduling irrigation events to match water use to evapo-transpiration. Outreach and education efforts drove the communication of results via field walks, radio updates and interviews, fact sheets, conferences, and workshops. Producers report greater awareness of water use and have implemented practices to improve irrigation efficiency.