In this edition of news from HPWD:

• HPWD Board Awards 2024-25 Research and Demonstration Funds
• Water Conservation Project
• Conservation Reminders
• Administratively Complete Permit Applications
• Upcoming Events
• Texas Water News and Drought Updates

HPWD Board Awards Research and Demonstration Funds

 A total of $195,549.53 was awarded for water-related research, demonstration, and education projects at the April 9th HPWD regular board meeting. There were 13 proposals submitted for 2024, with funding requests totaling over $288,000. 

The following projects were approved for this year’s grant funding:

·       Rainwater Retention Project - Lubbock Master Gardener’s Association Demonstration Garden

·       Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors 2024 Program

·       Stewarding Our Water Future: Playa Field Days, Roundtables, and Festivals – Ogallala Commons

·       Subsurface Drip Irrigation System on 28-acre Research Field for Enhancing Field Research Capacity at the Lubbock Center – Texas A&M AgriLife Research

·       Water Works Education Exhibit – FiberMax Center for Discovery

·       Strategic Meter-Specific Water Conservation Interventions Informed by Analyses of Municipal Hourly Water Consumption Data – Texas Tech University Water Resources Center

·       Development of Stress-Tolerant Hi-A Sweet Corn for High-Value Crop Production Under Limited Irrigation – Year 2 – Texas A&M AgriLife Research

·       Plant-Based Polymers as Effective Treatment Agents in Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl PFAS from Underground Water – Tarleton State University

Water Conservation Project

Brenda Wolfe of Lubbock was able to create a drought-tolerant lawn by removing her Bermuda grass and planting Buffalo grass. According to Wolfe, Bamert Seed Company in Muleshoe, Texas, was a great resource to help make this transition on her lawn. The drought-tolerant native grass only requires about ½ inch of water a week to sustain it in the summer.  Conversely, Bermuda grass requires about 1 inch per week. A xeriscape rain garden was also installed to control local flooding and water run-off. Brenda encourages every citizen to become familiar with water conservation and is grateful for the support from HPWD in her efforts to complete this project.  Visit the HPWD website for more resources on Waterwise Landscaping.

 Conservation Reminders

There are many ways that we may practice water conservation.  HPWD Education Coordinator Jennifer McClendon is happy to share programs with local residents.  If you need a program for any upcoming event, please contact the district office. Several tips for outdoor water conservation include:

• make sure your lawn irrigation does not create runoff, as that is considered wasteful
• fix any irrigation leaks or broken sprinkler heads that waste water and do not irrigate properly
• use drought-tolerant native plants

Administratively Complete Permit Applications

Upcoming Events

Texas Water News and Drought Updates

• Speaker Dade Phelan has released interim charges ahead of the 89th legislative session.
• .The drought conditions map and the monthly outlook are updated.