Water District Hears Annual Report
The Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s board of directors (Mike Hughes and John Phillips absent) approved Manager Rick Harston’s annual report on the district action plan for fiscal year 2003 at its regular meeting Jan. 20.
Harston reported 19 water mineral analyses and 69 water coliform analyses performed during the year. Seventy-three of 75 water level monitoring wells in the district’s network were measured; nine irrigation wells were permitted and one house well was registered. He said no wasteful water practices were identified, and all new wells comply with spacing, drilling and construction regulations. No abandoned wells were reported and there were no reports of water wells plugged or capped.
Ten agriculture producers used GGCD’s Topcon mapping equipment to map 1661 acres, and the laser plane leveling equipment was used by nine producers. No investigations regarding possible contamination form oil and gas production were conducted, no complaints were filed with the Texas Railroad Commission, and no unplugged abandoned oil and gas wells were reported to that commission.
Drought Severity Labeled ‘Mild’
Harston reported that, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, as of Jan. 3, Glasscock County is in a mild drought, with moderate, severe and extreme droughts the next three steps upward on the Palmer scale. The index lists no area in Texas in drought conditions worse than “mild.” The Palmer index is available at: http://www.texaswaterinfo.net/Monitoring/Meteorological/Drought/pdsi.htm
GCSWCD’s Value Questioned
Harston told the board that the Glasscock County Soil and Water Conservation District had asked the GGCD (and other county entities) for a donation. Director Dennis Seidenberger said he didn’t think that organization actually should be given anything, since “…they accomplish nothing.” He said in 38 years of farming, he has gotten nothing from them, although he has tried repeatedly. He said the same few producers get all the money from GCSWCD every year. Director Kenneth Braden said producers shouldn’t give up on the organization. Director Larry Wheat said he mostly agreed with Seidenberger regarding GCSWCD’s usefulness, but nevertheless, he moved to give them $500, and Seidenberger seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously.