“It is a critical first step toward what we have to do as a state,” said Sharlene Leurig, CEO of Texas Water Trade. “We can’t continue managing water the way we’ve been managing our water.” Story by 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.As Texas faces an increasingly fraught environmental future from climate change, a new approach to conservation is growing.
“The tool the Legislature has been pointing toward for several decades now has been basically allowing water trades,” said Sharlene Leurig, CEO of Texas Water Trade. “That’s water to be purchased or leased in a way that makes that water available for the environment.” Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
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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