The North Plains GCD has joined forces with growers, researchers, irrigation engineers and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service for demonstrations of agricultural water conservation that can save water in Texas, while extending the viability of the area's agricultural economy. The Texas High Plains Initiative for Strategic and Innovative Irrigation Management and Conservation (the Initiative) has been awarded a $499,848 Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to perform the demonstrations over the next three years. The Initiative is designed to demonstrate strategic irrigation and crop system management technologies and practices that result in water savings across the region and best practices that are applicable nationwide in regions facing similar resource concerns.

The Initiative is a collaborative effort between the USDA-NRCS and North Plains GCD, High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC) and Texas Tech University. Until this joint application for funding, the member organizations of the Initiative were working on two separate irrigation efficiency demonstrations, the TAWC in Hale and Floyd counties in the south plains, and North Plains Groundwater Conservation District in the in the northern panhandle counties.

"When we began talking about our individual projects, we saw that we were employing some different strategies and technologies, but the projects actually have the same basic objective," said Bob Zimmer, president of the North Plains board of directors. "We decided there are advantages to joining forces to demonstrate irrigation water conservation methods." The grant will be split between the two projects, providing just under a quarter of a million dollars for each.

"The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District is pleased to be a partner in this initiative.  Projects, such as this, have been a mainstay of the district during its 60-year history.  It is important to continue research to develop best management practices to allow growers to use less water, maintain crop yields, and continue the economic viability of the Texas High Plains region," said Robert Meyer of Canyon, High Plains UWCD board president. High Plains is a critical supporter of the TAWC project.

The TAWC has been conducting demonstrations since 2005 with the support of their funding agency, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The TWDB has also joined in the North Plains project in its second year by providing funding for three years beginning in 2011. "The drought conditions this year have driven home the importance of conservation to our region and our state," said Rick Kellison, Project Director for the TAWC. "Funding of programs like this will help us continue to address these pressing concerns."

The grant is one of 52 awarded this year across the nation by the USDA-NRCS, the lead agency in conservation planning and assistance to address conservation of all natural resources. However, this is the only CIG awarded this year to an exclusively, Texas-based project. "These grants will help some of America's top agricultural and conservation institutions, foundations and businesses develop unique approaches to enhancing and protecting natural resources on agricultural land. Their creativity and problem-solving will benefit conservation-minded farmers and ranchers, and everyone who relies upon our nation's natural resources for food and fiber," said NRCS Chief, Dave White.

Other important partners involved in the Initiative include: Texas AgriLife Extension and USDA, Agricultural Research Service.