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September 14th, 2024
Via KOSA, a look at one Texas farm’s efforts to protect its aquifer amid growing water export concerns:
Located 99 miles from Midland, Belding Farms, a 60-year-old pecan orchard in Fort Stockton, is making significant strides to safeguard its groundwater supply. The farm recently petitioned the local groundwater district to create a mitigation fund. This mitigation fund would be used to help offset potential negative impacts on water wells as a result of declining aquifer levels which are driven by increasing water exports.
The growing demand for water in West Texas, especially in Midland, is putting increasing pressure on Pecos County’s aquifer system. In July, Midland revealed plans to tap into the water supply managed by Fort Stockton Holdings (FSH), a longstanding land-owning family, through a groundwater production and transport permit. This permit allows FSH to produce and utilize 28,400 acre-feet of water annually from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer.
This move has heightened concerns at Belding Farms, where there is mounting fear that the future of the aquifer may be at risk.
“The aquifer, to the extent to which Midland plans to pump, has never been pushed to the point that it will be pushed,” said Zachary Swick, Farm Manager of Belding Farms.
Though not outright opposed to water exports, Belding Farms is advocating for a balanced approach that ensures water usage in Pecos and surrounding counties remains sustainable. Midland’s reliance on importing water from Fort Stockton’s Holdings, a multigenerational landowning family, has raised concerns not only for Belding Farms but also for the surrounding agricultural community, as they all depend heavily on the same groundwater source.
The proposed mitigation fund would help offset the negative effects that water extraction might have on local wells, ensuring the farm—and its community—can continue operations even as water exports increase.
Ryan Reed, an attorney representing Belding Farms, highlighted the farm’s mission:
“It’s not to prevent the export of water to Midland or other cities, but it’s to protect the local users of that water and ensure that water is used responsibly and managed appropriately.”
Belding Farms is also investing heavily in water conservation technologies. For years, the farm has proactively reduced its water usage by implementing several innovations. They’ve replaced traditional dirt canals with concrete channels to reduce water absorption into the ground and have laser-leveled their orchard to prevent runoff. Additionally, the farm has invested over half a million dollars into a trial research project involving high-efficiency sprinklers, designed to target irrigation more effectively.
“These measures reduce evaporation and ensure more water reaches directly to the trees,” Swick explained.
Early results of the trial have shown that the farm is saving an acre-foot of water per acre, which could potentially conserve over 2,000 acre-feet of water annually.
Despite these efforts, the larger issue of groundwater depletion looms. In addition, the Texas Legislature has previously found that similar large-scale water export projects have caused rapid declines in aquifer levels, negatively impacting existing users. Carlos Rubinstein, a former chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, voiced concerns about how new developments could affect the area.
Rubinstein predicts this trend to continue.
Belding Farms hopes to keep their water supply intact to continue their operations, but they emphasize that they cannot face this challenge alone.
The message from Belding Farms is clear: while not against water exports, they are advocating for a collective responsibility. They want all parties to be held accountable for the protection of the aquifer, ensuring that this vital resource is preserved for future generations.