Editing Ogallala Aquifer (section)

==Conservation==
Since 2010, the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, which encompasses eight counties north of [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], including [[Moore County, Texas|Moore]] and [[Dallam County, Texas|Dallam]] Counties, has offered a $300,000 annual demonstration project to conserve water that farmers pump from the Ogallala Aquifer. Participating farmers grow corn with just over half of the water that they would normally require to irrigate the fields, or they plant several weeks later than customary. Pivot sprinklers are used in the project, rather than the more expensive drip irrigation. According to district manager Steve Walthour, conservation is essential considering declining levels of the aquifer.<ref name="cons">{{cite web | url=http://lubbockonline.com/texas/2013-07-01/texas-push-show-farmers-how-save-water#.UdNzYBUo45t | title=In Texas, a push to show farmers how to save water | publisher=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | work=lubbockonline.com/ | date=July 1, 2013 | access-date=August 1, 2013 | author=Gailbraith, Kate | quote=The North Plains district first imposed pumping limits in 2005 and tightened them in 2009. In 2005, it also began phasing in requirements for some wells to have meters. Both moves were controversial at the time. A larger groundwater district just south of North Plains, the 16-county High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, has struggled in its attempts to impose metering requirements and pumping limits.  North Plains officials "just were a little further ahead of the curve", said David Brauer, who manages the Ogallala Aquifer program for a United States Department of Agriculture research laboratory in the Panhandle town of Bushland. A group from the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, southwest of Fort Worth, went to see Grall’s demonstration field last year and came away impressed.  "I know my board president said it’d be nice to be able to do something like that here at home", said Joe Cooper, the general manager of the Middle Trinity district.}}</ref> The local non-profit organization Ogallala Commons, named for the aquifer itself, which not only collaborates and supports the local communicates, also works to conserve the Ogallala Aquifer and the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite journal |date=2003 |title=To Save the Ogallala Aquifer, Save Playa Lakes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EhhNAAAAYAAJ&q=Ogallala+Commons+nonprofit+organization |journal=Outdoor Oklahoma |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation |volume=59-60 |page=109 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-319329921.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220153054/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-319329921.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |title=Co-Ops Rock! |date=February 18, 2013 |publisher=States News Service |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lajuntatribunedemocrat.com/article/20150920/NEWS/150919866 |title=Grant awarded for youth engagement |date=September 20, 2015 |publisher=lajuntatribunedemocrat.com |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

Eleven farmers in 2013 participated in the conservation program, with some planting in dry earth, rather than watered soil. They are leaving more space between plants,  a technique that retains moisture for a longer period of time. Soil sensors permit farmers to gather accurate information about the moisture level of their crops. The motivation to save water comes from the district's regulations on extracting water from the aquifer. The [[United States Geological Survey]] determined the water level in the aquifer has dropped more in Texas than in any other state in the basin.<ref name="cons" />

Farmers on their own land may draw water from the aquifer without charge. Pumping costs are low because the fuel used, [[natural gas]], is inexpensive. The North Plains district first established limits on pumping in 2005 and tightened the regulations four years later. Certain wells are now required to have meters. Yet another challenge facing the district is that higher prices for crops{{when|date=April 2016}} have prompted some to plant additional fields and further increase the use of water from the aquifer.<ref name="cons"/>