the source for Edwards Aquifer water permits and a leading advocate for the responsible transfer of conserved Edwards Aquifer permits by irrigators to municipalities and businesses.
edwardswater.com, LLC - 143 E. Nopal, Uvalde, TX 78801
Office: 830.278-2773 contact us Toll Free: 866.45WATER Fax: 830.278.3234
Copyright 2005 edwardswater.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
Agricultural water conservation can assist the state in meeting the water needs of its growing population while maintaining the productivity of the agricultural sector.
-- Texas Water Resources Institute
Similar to Uvalde County farmers which account for 50% of Edwards Aquifer irrigation use, farmers in Medina and Bexar counties have seen very similar conservation benefits and stand ready to transfer a portion of their conserved water in a responsible manner.
"Higher and better use" refers to the value placed upon water by type of use. The table below demonstrates the direct economic benefit per acre-foot of water for the South Central Texas region, according to the Texas Water Development Board's Water for Texas - 2002 report.
Similar to farming operations around the state of Texas, farmers in Uvalde, Medina and Bexar counties face higher production costs, lower government payments, and a highly competitive market. Unlike many other areas around the state, farmers in Uvalde, Medina and Bexar counties have a valuable product that is ready and waiting to be brought to market.
The responsible lease of conserved irrigation permits would not only directly benefit farming operations at a time when this local industry needs it the most, but it would provide a stable and long-term benefit to the local economies in which these farmers operate. And, under a responsible system where only conserved water is leased, we do not expect a negative impact on crop production. This is supported by data from the Texas Census of Agriculture (see table below), demonstrating relatively stable farm sales, despite higher costs, lower government payments and significant water conservation (see above graph).
Farmers operating over the Edwards Aquifer have conserved more water than any other aquifer user group and stand ready to make this water available for a "higher and better use" in their local communities, in the growing cities of South Central Texas, and around this great state of Texas.
Demonstrated by the graph below, farmers in Uvalde County alone have conserved more than 65,000 acre-feet per year over the 5-year period 1999-2003. Also demonstrated in the graph, a portion (63,000 acre-feet) of this conserved water is available for "higher and better use" through water transfers from farmers to municipalities and industry.
This is a topic of critical importance and we encourage you to follow the links below, as well as review the other resources on this site.
