For the second year in a row, students from Crosbyton High School are winners of the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District’s H2YOU conservation awareness contest.

Team members Sean Gonzales, Tyriece Mooring, Noah Rubalcado, and Hunter Silva presented their urban water conservation campaign to a panel of judges at the HPWD office.   Sharon West and Ben Stokes of Crosbyton Independent School District are the students’ teacher and sponsor.

Judges were Vikram Baliga, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent for Horticulture-Lubbock County; Mary Jane Buerkle, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.; Stephanie Pruitt, Communications Director, Texas Corn Producers; and Aubrey Spear, P.E., Director of Utilities for the City of Lubbock.

Using the theme of “Waste Not…Want Not,” the group produced an urban water conservation proposal to help area residents be more informed about the ways they can reduce water use in their daily lives.

“Water conservation has been a touchy subject when it comes to Texas. Everyone knows we need water—but some do not want to make the changes necessary to protect our water for the future. If we, as a society, cannot learn to change and conserve water, we will be destined for consequences-such as harsh water restriction laws-and soon, no water at all,” the students wrote in their proposal.

The team concluded their presentation by saying “…we have provided 11 simple ways to help in the everyday struggle that is water conservation.  Follow the Proverb:  Waste Not…Want Not.”

One aspect of their campaign was to help youth teach other youth about water conservation.  This was accomplished by producing a video, featuring Crosbyton Elementary School students, which highlighted the 11 simple tips.

The Crosbyton High School students earned an all-expense paid trip to Austin, where they will present their urban water conservation campaign to their state representative and/or the Texas Water Development Board in late January.  They will also give their presentation to the five-member HPWD Board of Directors at their February 9th regular meeting.

Cash prizes were awarded to members of each of the top three teams.

Second place honors went to Emma Rich, Lillian Scheffel, Payton Tolbert, and Victoria Wright of Sudan High School.  Third place winners were McKenna Bush, Hannah Hawkins, and Bailey Hugnagle of Canyon High School.

“Our Board of Directors and staff commend the student teams from Crosbyton, Sudan, and Canyon for their hard work, insight, and dedication in addressing water conservation issues,” said HPWD Education and Outreach Coordinator Adeline Fox.

Created in 1951 by local residents and the State Legislature, the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 is charged with the responsibility of conserving, preserving, protecting, and preventing waste of groundwater within its 16-county service area. It is the first groundwater conservation district created in Texas and will mark its 65th anniversary in 2016.

(News release from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District)