Veterinarian and landowner Dr. Chris Grotegut says the central challenge in the Texas Panhandle is simple: for decades, the region has pumped more water from the aquifer than nature can replace. Irrigation boosted production after WWII, but it created a long-term imbalance underground.
To move back toward sustainability, Chris transitioned much of his irrigated farmland into grassland and reduced pumping, especially after the extreme 2011 drought. When water levels stabilized, it confirmed that cutting back could protect his wells and his operation over the long haul.
Playas are a key part of the solution. Chris has restored seven on his property and says removing pits and sediment dramatically speeds infiltration. “The faster it disappears,” he explains, “the better the recharge.”
He also sees restoration as a smart investment. In today’s market, water and grassland drive property value more than irrigated acres ever did.
Chris’s message is clear: conserving water now is the only way to secure a future for the High Plains.