The High Plains Water District is now accepting proposals for 2021 Research and Demonstration Projects. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2021.
HPWD funds a number of projects focused on water conservation demonstration, education and research each year. Past funding has been awarded to projects relating to the Dockum Aquifer, rainwater harvesting, agricultural water conservation, urban water conservation, groundwater reuse, and new water treatment methods.
Send your completed application and supplemental information to jason.coleman@hpwd.org.
March 2, 2021 Press Release: HPWD now accepting RFPs for research and demonstration projects
HPWD Research and Demonstration Funding Policy (Revised March 12, 2019)
2020-2021 Research and Demonstration Grants
Ogallala Commons: Playa Field Day and Festivals
Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock: Development of stress-tolerant specialty corn genetics and production systems as a high value crop option for limited water capacities
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Lubbock: Industrial hemp fiber yield: Dryland versus limited irrigation
Texas Tech University, TTU Water Resources Center: Evaluating the feasibility of Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) Aquifer as an alternative source of water in the Southern High Plains
West Texas A&M University: Lab-scale experiments to increase entrepreneurial expansion and beneficial use of water for aquaponics vegetable production
West Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife: Cover crop best management practices for improved cotton seedling emergence and stand establishment
2019-2020 Research and Demonstration Grants
City of Lubbock: Rainwater Harvesting Development Project
Lubbock Memorial Arboretum: Waterwise Demonstration Garden
Michelle A. Sutherland: 3D Aquifer Visualization Model
Ogallala Commons: Playa Field Day and Festivals
Playa Lakes Joint Venture: Mapping Playa Wetness and Estimating Playa Recharge
Tarleton State University: Improving Groundwater Recharge
Tarleton State University: Plant Based Polymers Used for TDS and Arsenic Removal
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock: Drought Tolerant Corn Hybrids
Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension, Amarillo and USDA-ARS Conservation Production & Research Laboratory, Bushland: Evaluation of TDR Soil Water Sensor
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant & Soil Science: Demonstration Garden to Promote Water Conservation
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant & Soil Science: Effect of Shade on Water Use in Turfgrass
2018-2019 Research and Demonstration Grants
Bushland ISD: Middle school waterwise learning garden (Project not undertaken.)
City Of Wolfforth: Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) Aquifer investigation
HPWD Field Research: Basin-based aquifer recharge system
Ogallala Commons: Playa management field days
Sharing Hope Ministry: Rainwater harvesting tanks for Garden of Hope
Tarleton State University: Plant polymers for removal of total dissolved solids (TDS)
Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors: Leadership Academy
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock: Development and deployment of drought-tolerant corn hybrids
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant & Soil Science: Soil Health in Residential Landscapes
USDA-ARS Conservation Production & Research Laboratory, Bushland and Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension, Amarillo: Lawn irrigation management workshop
West Texas A&M University: Water productivity of commercial-scale aquaponics
2017-2018 Research and Demonstration Grants
Ogallala Commons: “Stewarding Our Water Cycle” internship and Playa Management Field Days
Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors: Leadership Academy
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Bushland: Well monitoring instrumentation in Southwest Potter County
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service (Lubbock, Amarillo, Bushland and College Station): Automatic center pivot speed control for irrigation water conservation
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science: Comparing forage potential of forage sorghum, pearl millet and corn under limited irrigation
2016-2017 Research and Demonstration Grants
Bushland Independent School District: Elementary school waterwise learning garden
Tarleton State University: Using plant-based polymers as effective treatment agents in the removal of dissolved solids and radioactive materials from the Dockum Aquifer
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, Amarillo: Evaluation of the depth and water quality of the Dockum Aquifer in Southwest Potter County
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension: Soil Endoscope
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering: Brackish groundwater quality monitoring in the Dockum Aquifer
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant & Soil Science: Inclusion of alternative crops into cropping systems to extend the life of limited groundwater
West Texas A&M University: Best practices for small and medium scale rainwater harvesting for maximum economic value
2015-2016 Research and Demonstration Grants
City of Abernathy: Dockum Aquifer depth and salinity study
Ogallala Commons: “Stewarding Our Water Cycle” internship
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Castro County: Soil moisture monitoring equipment
Texas A&M Research and Extension, Amarillo: Enhancing irrigation research facilities in the Texas High Plains
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics: Economic analysis to determine the feasibility of groundwater supplementation from the Dockum Aquifer
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science & Dept. of Agriculture Economics: Economic analysis of residential irrigation habits and landscape design to reduce outdoor water usage
USDA-ARS Conservation & Production Research Laboratory, Bushland: Conserving agricultural water with traveling drip irrigation, LEPA and LESA
2014-2015 Research and Demonstration Grants
Texas Tech University, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science: Turfgrass Research
Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts: Irrigation well flow testing and water well efficiency testing
