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TexasTowelie

(111,292 posts)
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 12:54 PM Apr 2014

Wells run dry during irrigation season north of Lubbock

Nancy Hubbard doesn’t have any water in her well.

She hasn’t since April 11, when the cotton farmers near her home began watering their fields.

“Any water that gets into the house, we carried in, in buckets,” said Hubbard, 63. “It’s pretty much DIY out here.”

Hubbard lives on County Road 5800 outside the city limits, although she’s close enough to town that her address is Lubbock.

And she’s not alone.

Residents estimate about two dozen homes north of Lubbock are without water.

More at http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2014-04-26/wells-run-dry-during-irrigation-season-north-lubbock#comment-330813 .

[font color=green]The comments after this article are very interesting and informative as they deal with topics such as water rights, land speculation and federal farm subsidies. It's a good read for anyone living in rural areas where a municipal water supply isn't available and drought is a recurring issue.[/font]

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Wells run dry during irrigation season north of Lubbock (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2014 OP
But But,There ain't no global warming. Wellstone ruled Apr 2014 #1
Of course these 'farmers' snappyturtle Apr 2014 #5
This is only the beginning Lodestar Apr 2014 #2
Since your link requires a subscription to read I could not view it. snappyturtle Apr 2014 #4
Sorry about the WS subscription issue... Lodestar Apr 2014 #6
Oh that's ok! I just wanted you to know that I was commenting w/o snappyturtle Apr 2014 #7
This is so important. I wish folks would look at the BIG picture of snappyturtle Apr 2014 #3
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
1. But But,There ain't no global warming.
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 01:24 PM
Apr 2014

Typical response from some one who wears blinders. Geez,wonder why her well went dry,duh,you have been in a severe drought for 10 years lady. These farmers have been pumping this water table dry for years. It's high desert lady and there is only so much water.

snappyturtle

(14,656 posts)
5. Of course these 'farmers'
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 02:19 PM
Apr 2014

use the water there. The frackers are not citizens of that area and a blight to the land. Do you think the 'farmers' are using more water than the frackers?

Lodestar

(2,388 posts)
2. This is only the beginning
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 01:39 PM
Apr 2014

Water hungry crops vs. drinking water. It requires change on several fronts and few seem willing to face the issue constructively.
We need sustainable models and new attitudes that fully acknowledge the issues involved.
As for cotton growers, perhaps man made fibers will begin to erode the cotton industry.

Cotton's Crown Threatened by Manmade Fibers

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049904579516282130809074?mod=rss_whats_news_us&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304049904579516282130809074.html%3Fmod%3Drss_whats_news_us

snappyturtle

(14,656 posts)
4. Since your link requires a subscription to read I could not view it.
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 01:57 PM
Apr 2014

Are you implying we should use man made fibers rather than natural ones?

Lodestar

(2,388 posts)
6. Sorry about the WS subscription issue...
Mon Apr 28, 2014, 05:07 AM
Apr 2014

Probably only need the headline anyway...it speaks for itself. No I wasn't suggesting anything only
saw this article and wondered how/if it might impact the cotton industry.

snappyturtle

(14,656 posts)
3. This is so important. I wish folks would look at the BIG picture of
Sun Apr 27, 2014, 01:54 PM
Apr 2014

what is happening to the rural lands and by whom. Here's an article that should scare the pants off of all...urban dwellers included:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/11/texas-tragedy-ample-oil-no-water

snip.....

No-one in Barnhart paid much attention at the time, and McGuire hooked up to the town's central water supply. "Everyone just said: 'too bad'. Well now it's all going dry," McGuire said.

Ranchers dumped most of their herds. Cotton farmers lost up to half their crops. The extra draw down, coupled with drought, made it impossible for local ranchers to feed and water their herds, said Buck Owens. In a good year, Owens used to run 500 cattle and up to 8,000 goats on his 7,689 leased hectares (19,000 acres). Now he's down to a few hundred goats.

The drought undoubtedly took its toll but Owens reserved his anger for the contractors who drilled 104 water wells on his leased land, to supply the oil companies.

Water levels were dropping in his wells because of the vast amounts of water being pumped out of the Edwards-Trinity-Plateau Aquifer, a 34,000 sq mile water bearing formation.


snip....

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