Lubbock Groundwater District Marks 75 Years

A local government agency that helps oversee the water beneath the South Plains is marking 75 years of work. The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District was established in 1951 after residents in 13 counties voted to create it.

The Lubbock based district became the first groundwater conservation district of its kind in Texas. Its work includes conserving supplies, preventing waste and monitoring the resource that supports farms, livestock and homes.

General Manager Jason Coleman said producers have reduced irrigated acreage as available groundwater has declined. More efficient equipment has changed how farms use water, but the amount remaining underground still limits what can be irrigated.

Residents can use the district’s well measurements to look beyond the surface of a property. Its map shows water levels over a 10 year span, and residents can request a well check before buying land.

District residents also elect its board, giving voters a role in groundwater oversight.

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Photo Via James Clark