Texas Water Development Board approves $2,000,000 in financial assistance to the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District to finance water-efficient irrigation system improvements

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (February 24, 2014) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $2,000,000 loan to the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Donley, Armstrong, Potter, Hutchinson, and Roberts Counties) from the agriculture water conservation loan program to provide financing for irrigation system improvements.

The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District will use the funds to provide loans to area farmers to purchase water-efficient center pivot irrigation systems, sprinkler package conversions, and drip irrigation systems. Since 1992, TWDB has made 19 loans to this district for a total of $11 million to help area producers reduce their water use. The district covers 6,378 square miles and has 967,000 cultivated acres, of which 281,500 are irrigated. Principal crops grown in the area include wheat, grain sorghum, corn, and sunflowers. These funds will allow agricultural producers to increase their water conservation efforts.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.