LPGCD Launches Agricultural Flow Meter Program

With the help of a $50,000 matching grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (LPGCD) is launching a new initiative to install flow meters on agricultural and irrigation wells across Bastrop and Lee Counties. These meters will provide producers with valuable data to monitor and reduce groundwater use, supporting both agricultural productivity and long-term aquifer health.

Irrigation accounts for nearly 70 percent of groundwater use in Texas, so this program has the potential for meaningful impact in our region. Similar programs in the Texas Panhandle have resulted in water savings of about 10 percent, and LPGCD hopes to achieve comparable, if not greater, results here. We are grateful to TWDB for investing in our communities and helping advance water sustainability in agriculture.

Did you know that agricultural wells producing up to 200 acre-feet per year are required to have meters? LPGCD is here to help! Through our new Agricultural Flow Meter Cost-Share Program, we purchase the meter, the producer installs the meter, then we provide reimbursement for installation costs. Together, we can track use, improve efficiency, and protect our aquifers.

When producers know how much water they’re using, they can plan smarter and save more water. Real data means smarter management for both agriculture and aquifers. Flow meters strengthen farms and sustain water for the future.

Interested in participating? Join our Agricultural Flow Meter Program today! Call (512) 360-5088 to learn more.