Come & join us for a Rainwater Harvesting Demonstration in Stanton this Thursday!

Water in your body- How everything works better with water.

This schematic illustrates exactly how vital water is to our bodies. It is very important to stay hydrated at all times because every single part of our body relies on water to function. Check it out!

Photo credit: http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-you-know-water.html

Catch some Rain Knowledge with the South Plains UWCD

How can rainwater be harvested and used for your yard? This was one of the many topics covered at last night's Rainwater Harvesting Workshop hosted by the South Plains Underground Water Conservation District. Local residents gathered in the Terry County Show Barn to learn about conserving water outdoors and capturing rainwater from their roofs.

Following the brief presentation given by SPUWCD Education Coordinator, Adeline Fox, participants selected the rain barrel they liked. All who attended received a complimentary rain barrel, water timer and a rain chain. Rain chains act as a "chain gutter" directing water to a designated spot. In this case, the rain chain can direct water into the rain barrel. Guests had the option of spray painting minor details or simply leaving their rain barrel as is.

Practicing rainwater harvesting is beneficial in dry and arid climates. One inch of rainfall can fill a 60 gallon barrel easily. With a continued drought and summer on its way, it is also important to keep outdoor water conservation in mind. Increased temperatures cause higher rates of evaporation and watering at the right time of the day is critical during the summer months. Always remember to use water wisely.

In summation, the program was a success. Guests of all ages attended and had fun making the rain barrel their own. For more information on rainwater harvesting, visit the South Plains UWCD website at spuwcd.org. Here are some pictures from the event. Enjoy!

A total of 16 guests attended.

The rain chain and water timer work great for outdoor water use.

Starting to learn rainwater harvesting young!

He knew how to use the rain chain before I even gave the presentation!

Painting her last name on the pretty gray barrel.  

Very creative for the textured barrel.

The kids' art was on the back! :) Smart mom.

Stencil close up

This was my favorite design of the night! It looks rustic.

Water Conservation Day at the Capitol a great success

The Southern Ogallala Conservation and Outreach Program hosted a water conservation artwork contest in early January. Winners of the contest were awarded an all-expense paid trip to Austin in celebration of Texas Water Day at the Capitol. SOCOP took two high school students to Austin last week. One student from Plains and one from Brownfield traveled to Austin to tour the Capitol and meet their state representatives. Below are some pictures from the trip. We had a great time!

Angela Sanchez, Brownfield High School senior and winner 

for the South Plains UWCD, displays her winning artwork.

The whole group pictured in the House Gallery.

We were able to go on a dome tour. 

We eventually made it all the way to that Texas star at the top!

Representative Charles Perry and the group.

Polina Tolstova, a Russian foreign exchange student  currently attending 

Plains High School, was the winner for the Sandy Land UWCD.

Llano Estacado UWCD Rainwater Harvest & Xeriscaping Workshop

On the evening of March 18, residents of Seminole and surrounding towns gathered for a free workshop regarding rainwater harvesting and xeriscaping. Approximately ten people attended to listen to Nancy Lovett, a Permian Basin Master Gardener talk about the two important topics. The first program discussed groundwater information and lead into rainwater harvesting methods. 

Following the first program, door prizes were given out to the lucky names drawn. LEUWCD provided door prizes ranging from drought tolerant plant species to soaker hoses and low-flow sprinkler heads. The workshop wrapped up with a discussion of xeriscaping and native plant species that work well in the West Texas climate. The workshop was well-received and guests in attendance took away information that can be useful for each of their yards. 

For more information about rainwater harvesting or xeriscaping for your own yard, feel free to contact our office by emailing savegroundwater@gmail.com or calling at 432-758-1127.

Mark your calendars!

Water Conservation Day at the Capitol winners announced

Juniors and Seniors from Martin, Terry and Yoakum counties competed in the annual Water Conservation Day at the Capitol art contest hosted by the Permian Basin UWCD, South Plains UWCD and the Sandy Land UWCD. To celebrate Water Conservation Day at the Capitol, students compete in an art contest relating to water conservation issues.

Winners travel to Austin to display their artwork in the Capitol and meet their representatives. In addition to being recognized for their art, winners get to serve as pages on the House and Senate floors. Pages act as messengers to the representatives and provide any assistance necessary to the floor delegates.

One winner was selected from each water district. Winners for the 2013 WCDC art contest include:

Permian Basin UWCD- Lexi Robles from Sands CISD with her artwork titled "Stop the Flow, Save H2O"

Sandy Land UWCD- Polina Tolstova from Plains ISD with her artwork titled

"Protect our water for the future generations. Don't let it be the victim of indifference"

South Plains UWCD- Angela Sanchez with Brownfield ISD with an untitled artwork submission.

Congratulations to our winners! Students will be making the trip to Austin March 27-29. For more information regarding the event, feel free to contact us via email at savegroundwater@gmail.com