The Cross Section, Volume 29, Number 10, October 1983 Page: 2
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Page 2 October, 1983 THE CROSS SECTION
h....S.-.,
THIS ABANDONED domestic well in a
residential area in Lubbock was discovered
by children playing.Water Ruling
In a case with far-reaching implica-
tions for agricultural, energy and urban
development in Colorado, the State
Supreme Court has ruled that deep
groundwater supplies cannot be tapped
by developers or corporations which
simply lay claim to them. Rather,
groundwater can be claimed only by
landowners who secure state permits
and comply with state regulations de-
signed to prevent the depletion of
aquifers and damage to neighboring
users.
The case involved claims to more
than 1.5 million acre-feet of ground-
water by Denver geologist/lawyer John
Huston and a group of partners. The
claims were based on the state's con-
stitution which grants water rights to
the first person who claims the water
and puts it to beneficial use. The high
court ruled, however, that groundwater
is not subject to appropriation and
adjudication procedures as surface
water is, thus rejecting the priority
system, and that access should be
regulated by the well permit system in
which an applicant for a groundwater
permit must be the person owning the
land above the water. The Court's
decision "will prevent the wholesale
hoarding of groundwater for private
speculation," said Governor Dick
Lamm.
(From the Groundwater Newsletter,
July 31, 1983)Remember 4 year old Jared Artho's
miraculous rescue from a 260 foot
open hole in Deaf Smith County two
summers ago? His uncle was filling
the hole with sand when the boy
got too close. It was the first case in
the water district's 30 year history of
a child falling down an abandoned
hole.
Those lessons are hard to forget. But
some of us do. Over the last year the
water district field technicians have
located 48 abandoned open holes in
Parmer County. These discoveries were
made during a routine survey for this
and other programs. Those landowners
and operators have all covered or com-
pletely filled those holes. But that
represents just one county in the High
Plains where the estimated number of
wells is near 70 thousand.
The District won't find most of the
abandoned well holes. We are usually
notified of an open hole by someone
else, often hunters, surveyors, or neigh-
bors who live close to those danger-
ous abandoned well sites.
Most recently we were notified ofHOUSE TO STU D Y
[noa/ 117ater Is-au..
Texas House Speaker Gib Lewis re-
cently announced the interim study
charge to the House Committee on
Natural Resources. Two of the topics
he assigned for study by the Commit-
tee should be of interest to West
Texans. They are to investigate and
monitor all efforts being made in Texas
with regard to, and determine the
potential for, increased ground water
production and supplies through en-
hanced recovery methods. The Com-
mittee is also charged to investigate
and recommend legislation for man-
agement of ground water.
The Committee is made up of State
Representatives Tom Craddick, R-Mid-
land, chairman; Rodney Tow, D-Con-
roe, vice chairman; Gerald Geistweidt,
R-Mason, chairman for Budget and
Oversight; J. W. Buchanan, D-Dumas;
Chip Staniswalis, R-Amarillo; Hill
Kemp, D-Manvel; Arves Jones, R-El
Paso; Roman Martinez, D-Houston;
and Noel Grisham, D-Round Rock. The
Committee is to prepare a final report
to the 69th Session of the Texas
Legislature.
Other interim study charges made
by the Speaker to the House Commit-
tee on Agriculture and Livestock of
possible interest include the assign-
ment to examine the economic feasi-
bility of the conversion of irrigated
farmland in West Texas to water-
efficient crops and/or dryland farming.an old domestic well hole. that was
discovered by children playing in a
Lubbock city lot newly cleared of a
demolished house. That site was
located in a residential neighborhood
surrounded by family homes. The dis-
trict filled and sealed the 35 foot hole
without incident but not without
concern.
Said Obbie Goolsby, District field
technician who oversees the open hole
monitoring program, "People need to
know how dangerous these are. Evenif its oni a 15 foot deep hole, if a child
fell in and the dirt fell in on top of
him, he! could suffocate. It's a death
trap."
State law requires that all open
holes, 10 i inches or more in diameter
be kept covered at all times with a
permanent cover. The District's rules
are the same as state law.
If you know the location of any of
these dangerous abandoned well holes,
notify the High Plains Underground
Water District or your local police.- . - - . .
-H- -0
THE CROSS SECTION (USPS 564-920)A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE HIGH
PLAINS UNDERGROUND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO. 1
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock, Texas 79405
Telephone (806) 762-0181
PATRICIA BRUNO, Editor
Second Class Postage Paid at Lubbock, Texas
District Office at Lubbock
A. Wayne Wyatt ........................ Manager
Don Smith ............................ Geologist
Don McReynolds ....................... Geologist
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Precinct 1
(CROSBY, LUBBOCK and LYNN COUNTIES)
James P. Mitchell, President ............. Wolfforth
Precinct 2
(COCHRAN, HOCKLEY and LAMB COUNTIES)
Mack Hicks, vice President .............. Levelland
Precinct 3
(BAILEY, CASTRO and PALMER COUNTIES)
A. W. Gober, Secretary-Treasurer ........... Farwell
Precinct 4
(ARMSTRONG, DEAF SMITH, POTTER and
RANDALL COUNTIES)
Jim Conkwright ......................... Hereford
Precinct 5
(FLOYD and HALE COUNTIES)
Gilbert Fawver .......................... Floydada
COUNTY COMMITTEEMEN
Armstrong County
Carroll Rogers, Secretary
Wayside, Texas
Tom Ferris, 1985 ............... Box 152, Wayside
Larry Stevens, 1985 ...........Route 1, Happy
Kent Scroggins, 1985 .........Box 126, Wayside
James Stockett, 1987 ............ Box 127, Wayside
Jim Burnett, 1987 ............... Route 1, Wayside
Bailey County
Doris Wedel, Secretary
H&R Block, 224 W. 2nd, Muleshoe
W. Lewis Scoggin, 1985 ... Rt. 2, Box 215, Muleshoe
David Stovall, 1985 ...........Rt. 2, Muleshoe
Ernest Ramm, 1985 ............... Rt. 2, Muleshoe
D. J. Cox, 1987 .................... Rt. 1, Enochs
Tommy Haley, 1987 ............ Box 652, Muleshoe
Castro County
Dolores Baldridge, Secretary
City Hall, 200 E. Jones St., Dimmitt
Garnett Holland, 1985 .....1007 Maple St., Dimmitt
W. A. Baldridge, 1985 ......1608 W. Grant, Dimmit
Dan C. Petty, 1985 .............. Box 846, Dimmitt
Floyd Schulte, 1987 ............. Rt. 2, Dimmitt
George Elder, 1987 ....... Rt. 5, Box 19, Dimmitt
Cochran County
W. M. Butler, Jr., Secretary
Western Abstract Co., 108 N. Main Ave., Morton
Keith Kennedy, 1986 ........... Star Rt. 2, Morton
L. T. Lemons, 1986 ............Rt. 2, Morton
Hershel M. Tanner, 1984 ..... Rt. 2, Box 36, Morton
Richard Greer, 1984 ...... Star Rt. 1, Box 4, MortonKeith Whitworth ....................... Draftsman
Clifford Thompson ....................... Permits
Kenneth Carver ...................... Agriculturist
Patricia Bruno .............. Mass Communications
Obbie Geolsby ............... Engineer Technician
Dan Sealr ................... Engineer Technician
Eldon Larajter ............... Engineer Technician
Jerry Funck .................. Agricultural Engineer
Richard Howard ....................... Draftsman
Kay Hughes .......................... Bookkeeper
Kathy Redeker ................. Executive Secretary
Carole Rosiak .................. Secretary-Librarian
Floyd County
verna Lynne Stewart, Secretary
108 W. Missouri, Floydada
Charles Huffman, 1986 ............. Rt. 1, Lockney
Kenneth Willis, 1986 ...... Rt. 4, Box 103, Floydada
C. O. Lyle, 1984 ............Rt. 4, Floydada
Cecil Jack on, 1984 ..............Rt. 3, Floydada
D. R. Saraji-s, 1984............ Star Rt., Floydada
Hale County
J. B. Mayo, Secretary
Mayo Ins., 1617 Main, Petersburg
Larry Martin, 1986 ............ Box 189, Petersburg
W. T. LecfA 1986 ............. Box 249, Petersburg
Harold W Newton, 1984 ...... Box 191, Petersburg
Jim Byrd, 11984............... Rt. 1, Petersburg
Ray Porte 1984 .............. Box 193, Petersburg
Hockley County
Jim Montgomery, Secretary
609 Austin Street, Levelland
Marion aIr , 1986 ......... Box 185, Whitharral
Jack Earl Irench, 1986 . ...- Rt. 3, Box 125, Levelland
W. C. M. w,e, 1984 ............ Box 514, Sundown
Leon Yotrig 1984 ................ Rt. 1, Ropesville
Robert PhIlips, 1984 ...... 218 Redwood, Levelland
Lamb County
George Harlan, Secretary
103 E. 4th Street, Littlefield
Haldon M-.samore, 1986 .... Rt. 2, Box 272A, Sudan
Jim Brown, 1986 ............ Rt. 1, Box 152, Olton
P. A. Washington, 1984 ........ Box 124, Springlake
Jack Stubblefield, 1984 ............ Box 397, Spade
Larry Loch4"ood, 1984 ......... Star Rt. 2, Littlefield
Lubbock County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Owen Gilbreath, 1986 ...... 3302 23rd St., Lubbock
Pierce Truett, 1986 ........... Rt. 1, Box 44, idalou
Don Bell, 1984 .....84........ Box 114, Wolfforth
Ronald Schilling, 1984 ....... Rt. 1, Box 23, Slaton
Granville Igo, 1984 ....... 1304 8th St., Shallowater
Lynn County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Gary How min, 1986.......Rt. 1, Box 54, Wilson
Danny Nettles, 1986 ................ Rt. 4, Tahoka
Leland Zant, 1984 ..............Rt. 1, Wilson
David R. Wied, 1984 .............. Box 68, Wilson
Wendell i'rrow, 1984 .............. Rt. 1, Wilson
Parmer County
Pat Kunselman, Secretary
C-y Hall, 323 North Street, Bovina
Wendal Christian, 1985 .............. Rt. 1, FarwellBlack Hole Discovered
Water Legislation Committee Named
Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby and
Speaker Gib Lewis announced their
appointments to the Joint Study Com-
mittee on Water. Membership consists
of Senator Tati Santiesteban, El Paso,
Chairman; John Sharp, Victoria; John
Montford, Lubbock; Bob Vale, San
Antonio; Representative Tom Craddick,
Midland, Vice Chairman; J. W. "Buck"
Buchanan, Dumas; Hill Kemp, Manvel;
and Rodney Tow, Conroe. Lewis Bee-
cherl, Jr., Chairman of the Texas WaterDevelopment Board is an ex-officio
member of the Committee.
The committee is to study the pro-
posed legislation that was introduced
last session as the "Water for Texas"
package.
That package included eight water-
related bills that included financing,
conservation, fresh water inflows to
bays and estuaries, and pollution con-
trol relative to oil and gas recovery.
(TWCA Water News, 8-83)Donnie B. Simpson, 1984 .. 292 SW 3rd St., Morton
Crosby County
Clifford Thompson, Secretary
2930 Avenue Q, Lubbock
Tom McGee, 1986 ............... Box 117, Lorenzo
Bobby Brown, 1986...... Rt. 1, Box 267C, Lorenzo
Tommy McCallister, 1984, 209 N. Van Buren, Lorenzo
Edward S. Smith, 1984 .. 102 N. Van Buren, Lorenzo
Pat Yoakum, 1984 ............... Box 146, Lorenzo
Deaf Smith County
B. F. Cain, Secretary
110 East Third, Hereford
J. F. Martin, 1985 ............. Box 1306, Hereford
Troy Sublett, 1985 ................ Rt. 1, Hereford
Virgil P. Walker, 1985 ........... Star Rt., Hereford
W. L. Davis, Jr., 1987 ........... Box 312, Hereford
R. D. Hicks, 1987 ................. Rt. 4, HerefordJohn Cook, 1985 .............. Box 506, Friona
Ronald Fi:tt, 1985 ............... Rt. 3, Muleshoe
Billy Lynn marshalll, 1987 .... 903 8th Street, Bovina
Jerry Lon1h: n, 1987 ........... 1210 Jackson, Friona
Potter County
Frank T. E-znar, 1985 ........... Box 41, Bushland
Ronnie Johnson, 1985 .......... Box 127, Bushland
Weldon Rea, 1985 ...................... Bushland
Sam D. Line, 1987 ............. Box 143, Bushland
Mark Mer-e, 1987 ........ Rt. 1, Box 476, Amarillo
Randall County
Mrs. Louise Tompkins, Secretary
Fan' Bureau, 1714 Fifth Ave., Canyon
Gary Wagner, 1985 ............. Box 219, Bushland
Jack Brandt, 1985 .......... Rt. 1, Box 280, Canyon
Johnny Sluder, 1985 ............. Box 56, Bushland
Roger B. Gist, I1l, 1987 ..........Rt. 1, Happy
Tom Payne, 1987 .......... Rt. 1, Box 306, CanyonNOTICE: Information regarding times and places of the monthly County Committee meeting can be secured
from the respective County Secretaries.
Applications for well permits can be secured at the address shown below the respective County
Secretary's name, except for Potter County; in this county contact Sam Line.Page 2
T HE CR O SS S EC T IO N
October, 1983
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High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (Tex.). The Cross Section, Volume 29, Number 10, October 1983, periodical, October 1983; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1533103/m1/2/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.