Water Stewardship
Securing the Future of the Ogallala Aquifer

The Texas Panhandle faces a dual challenge: limited rainfall and rapid depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer. In Texas, the Ogallala recharges at a rate less than ¼ of an inch per year. As forage and silage crops are vital to our beef and dairy economy, intelligent, long-term water management is more critical than ever.

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Our Solution: The WaterWise Economic Usage Model

This tool empowers farmers, policymakers, and lenders with predictive insights to shape sustainable water strategies and protect land investments.

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Strategic Objectives

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• Preserve agricultural viability while reducing reliance on groundwater.

• Leverage technology and policy to create scalable, science-backed conservation.

• Align stakeholders—from producers to lenders—around a unified water strategy.

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Key Tools and Partners

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We’re working with the Tecovas Foundation, Texas Tech University, National Sorghum Growers, and Amarillo National Bank to fund and develop the WaterWise model.

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• Economic forecasting tools that:

  • Help farmers optimize irrigation and reduce risk.

  • Enable banks and insurers to assess long-term investment viability.

  • Support public agencies in water-related infrastructure planning.

• Automated reporting tools to simplify regulatory compliance.

 

What Success Looks Like

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• Reduced Ogallala drawdown.

• Resilient farms using drought-tolerant crops.

• Informed policy shaped by real-time data.

• Expanded grant access through compelling, data-backed applications.

 

Upcoming: The 2025 Water Symposium will bring stakeholders together to shape this strategy.