Row damming was the most effective alternative in reducing dependence on groundwater. Row damming in dryland grain sorghum and dryland cotton decreased groundwater pumpage and increased net returns above the base by 6.7 million dollars without land clearing and 18.6, 30.3, and 32.9 million dollars with the respective land clearing alternatives. Carrizo Aquifer groundwater pumpage was significantly reduced in each of the four alternatives and Edwards pumpage was reduced in all but the heavy brush clearing alternative. Carrizo Aquifer groundwater pumpage was greater under restricted than in the projected groundwater scenarios. The Winter Garden Region of Texas is an important agricultural region with both livestock and crop production.
Irrigation is predominately from groundwater.
The Edwards Aquifer and Carrizo Aquifer are the major sources of groundwater for the Winter Garden. In 1979, total groundwater pumpage in the Winter Garden was estimated at about 317,000 acre feet. Given an effective recharge in the neighborhood of 110,000 acre feet and a discharge of about 300,000 acre feet, together these aquifers are experiencing overdrafting of about 190,000 acre feet of groundwater annually. Water limitations are even more striking when irrigated land is compared with estimated irrigable acres. With water a major limiting factor in the Winter Garden Region and cost of pumping increasing as groundwater levels decline and energy prices rise, serious questions as to the outlook for the agricultural sector emerge.