As the state is losing water, some conservation organizations are paying farmers to leave the water in the ground and consume more sustainably. | via TexasTribune
Water marks are seen on the gates and concrete at the Falcon Dam in Starr County on Aug. 18. This area of the reservoir is normally underwater, but because of an extended drought, water levels have been below 20% since earlier this year.
Known as water trades, the transactions help keep water in nature and prop up the state’s agricultural economy. Experts believe this could become a major conservation strategy for the drought-prone state, given the state’s preference for solutions that boost markets, over regulation. According to Kapnick, 64% of the country was in drought conditions this summer, and much of that was concentrated in Texas. At the peak of the summer, 95% of the state was experiencing drought, compared with 59% of the state now. Without nature chipping in with consistent rainfall, farmers have to turn to irrigating their crops, which can strain natural resources such as the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer and the Ogallala Aquifer.
The Ogallala is heavily relied upon in the High Plains region, which produces 30% of the nation’s crops and livestock, in times of drought. However, the region has also had more decline in the aquifer’s water levels than anywhere else in its span through seven other states, according to a 2019 report from NOAA.
Leurig said that with population growth and climate change driving the demand for available water, more market deals will likely happen. The Texas chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a national environmental organization, is also working on a similar program. One water transaction it offers is a dry-year lease option. This arrangement outlines a base payment made to the farmer every year, with the understanding that they will not take water from the stream when the source of surface water falls below a certain level.
The Edwards Aquifer Authority also tries to prepare for those critical times. The water management agencythat enable water permit-holders to forbear pumping from the aquifer during periods when the groundwater is at historic lows.
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