On September 29, 1951, voters confirmed the creation of High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No.1 (HPWD). Established as Texas' first and largest groundwater conservation district, HPWD has spent three-quarters of a century dedicated to conserving, preserving, and protecting the region's vital groundwater resources.

How It All Began

The foundation for local groundwater management in Texas was established on January 5, 1949, when the 51st Texas Legislature created underground water conservation districts under Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution. Representative I.B. Holt of Olton authored House Bill 162, commonly known as the Texas Groundwater Act of 1949.

Two years later, residents of 13 Southern High Plains counties voted to establish a local groundwater conservation district dedicated to protecting landowners' groundwater rights and managing the area's water resources. The District became a pioneering example of local management and groundwater stewardship.

Following voter approval on September 29, 1951, the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 became a reality. The District's first elected Board of Directors took office on November 5, 1951.

• Precinct 1: E.C. Hatton
• Precinct 2: A.C. Chesher, Vice President
• Precinct 3: Jesse M. Osborn, Secretary
• Precinct 4: Tom McFarland, President
• Precinct 5: Tom Bostic

Afterward, the 53rd Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 30. This legislation ratified, confirmed, and validated the creation of HPWD and formally established its boundaries, as determined by the local vote. Senate Bill 30 provided the District with clear legal authority to conserve, preserve, protect, recharge, and prevent the waste of groundwater within its boundaries.

Through subsequent annexation elections, the District expanded its service area to its current 16 counties. Today, HPWD serves residents, producers, businesses, and communities across 7.5 million acres of the Southern High Plains, continuing a tradition of groundwater stewardship that began in 1951.

Visit our Historical Timeline on our Website.

 From Settlement to Stewardship

The history of water on the Texas High Plains mirrors the history of the region itself. Early settlers relied on native grasslands, windmills, and shallow water supplies to establish homes and farms.

As irrigation technology advanced in the early 1900s, groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer allowed agriculture to expand across the region. Over the decades, irrigation practices continued to evolve. Water-driven center pivot systems, introduced in the 1960s and 1970s, improved irrigation management and reduced labor requirements, but water applied through elevated sprinklers was often subject to evaporation and wind drift losses. These challenges led to innovations such as Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) technology, conservation research, and public education programs that significantly improved water-use efficiency.

Since 1951, HPWD has worked alongside producers, researchers, and communities to promote conservation of groundwater resources.

Current Board of Directors

Together with District staff, the elected Board continues to guide HPWD in carrying out its mission.

Leadership Through the Years

Throughout HPWD's history, the District's General Managers have played a vital role in shaping policy, advancing groundwater conservation, and guiding the organization through periods of growth and change. Their leadership has helped ensure the District remains focused on serving the people of this region.

 A Legacy of Innovation

HPWD has been recognized as a leader in groundwater conservation and agricultural water management. According to its 50th Anniversary publication, the District pioneered and promoted numerous water conservation advances, including:

• Groundwater monitoring programs
• Water well spacing regulations
• Protection against groundwater contamination
• Mobile irrigation testing laboratories
• Soil moisture monitoring
• Hydrologic atlases
• LEPA irrigation systems
• Center pivot irrigation improvements
• Subsurface drip irrigation demonstrations
• PET (Potential Evapotranspiration) irrigation scheduling
• Managed aquifer recharge trials

Many of these innovations helped producers improve irrigation efficiency while extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer.

One of the District's earliest accomplishments came in 1957 when the Board of Directors adopted a rule prohibiting open, unlined oilfield brine pits to help protect groundwater quality from contamination.

County Advisory Committee Members

HPWD acknowledges the many contributions our County Advisory Committee Members have made toward groundwater conservation. Their local knowledge and commitment help ensure that District programs and policies reflect the needs and concerns of the people and communities served by HPWD.

Responsibilities

• Advise the HPWD Board of Directors on District rules and policy matters.
• Make recommendations regarding District programs and activities.
• Serve as a liaison between local residents and the HPWD Board of Directors.
• Provide valuable local insight on groundwater conservation and management issues.

See where your board members serve and learn who your county advisory committee members are with this interactive map.

Staff

For 75 years, HPWD staff have played a vital role in implementing the programs, services, and educational efforts that support groundwater conservation throughout the region. Today's professional staff continues that effort through the District's daily operations.

• Tammy Anderson, Accountant
• Billy Barron, Field Technician Supervisor
• Nathaniel Bibbs, Permit Assistant
• Liz Casias, Administrative Assistant
• Jason Coleman, P.E., General Manager
• Lance Epperson, Field Technician
• Cristian Lopez, Field Technician
• Jennifer McClendon, Education Coordinator
• Megan Metzig, CPA, Accounting Assistant
• Vance Porter, Field Technician
• Gray Sanders, Information Technology/Permit Administrator
• Robert Triggs, Field Technician
• DJ Warrick, Field Technician (Canyon)
• Malachi Wilhite, Field Technician

Looking Ahead

As HPWD celebrates 75 years of service, the District remains committed to the mission established by its founders in 1951: conserving, preserving, and protecting the groundwater resources of the Southern High Plains.

The challenges facing future generations may be different from those faced by the District's founders, but the commitment remains the same. Through responsible management, scientific research, public education, technological innovation, and partnerships with landowners and communities, HPWD continues to work toward ensuring that groundwater resources remain available for generations to come.

75 Years of Protecting the High Plains' Most Valuable Resource: Groundwater 1951-2026
High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1
Conservation • Preservation • Protection • Stewardship