All cost-share funding for the 2018 High Plains Underground Water Conservation District (HPWD) Assistance In Irrigation Management (AIM) program was claimed by producers in less than three days.

AIM is a voluntary cost-share program to help producers with the purchase price of telemetry-based irrigation monitoring systems used with either a center pivot system or a subsurface drip irrigation system. This equipment allows remote monitoring of irrigation systems to detect problems or make adjustments during rainfall events.

On Aug. 17, HPWD announced $150,000 in available grant funds from the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program. This is $75,000 less than the total funds awarded in August 2017.

“Based on past producer interest, we knew that these funds would be claimed very quickly. As a result, the AIM Program online application site is now inactive. HPWD staff are reviewing applications for administrative completeness. Program participants will be contacted in the next 10 business days about the interlocal agreement they must complete,” said General Manager Jason Coleman.

HPWD will explore future grant funding opportunities with the Texas Water Development Board. However, no additional funding is available from the agency at this time.

"The HPWD Board of Directors commends these producers for their interest in this equipment. Purchasing and installing these devices can help conserve groundwater,” said Coleman.

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Created in 1951 by local residents and the Texas Legislature, the High Plains Water District works to conserve, preserve, protect, and prevent waste of underground water in aquifers within its 16-county service area. HPWD is the first groundwater conservation district created in Texas.