The Ogallala Commons organization, which works across the Great Plains to raise awareness of aquifer conservation, has scheduled an excursion to the AO Ranch (home of Steve and Ellen Fowlkes) in Motley County for May 15. The event will involve a presentation on-site, lunch, and discussion— what organizers call “a relaxed and fun excursion” with a dozen to two dozen participants. Farmers, ranchers, Master Naturalists, agency personnel, educators, and the interested public are invited to attend.
Stewarding Our Aquifer (SOA) Field Day takes place Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1p.m.
The AO Ranch is located just east of State Hwy. 70, between Turkey and Matador, Texas. GPS Coordinates: 34.15507° N, 100.84741° W.
The purpose of this educational event is to provide information about large scale rainwater harvesting, that can help reduce groundwater depletion in the region, as well as assist in the transition from irrigated agriculture to rainfed agriculture.
“This field day serves as a follow-up to our recent Rainwater Harvesting Conference,” notes Dr. Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Deputy Director. “In 2017, the AO Ranch owner installed a rainwater collection system that provides 100% of their domestic potable water supply. The system has a collection area of 5,000 square feet, with two water storage tanks totaling 20,000 gallons. The installation has been operating for almost 8 years, and with a conservative capture ratio of 65%.”
Steve Fowlkes provided the following overview.
“By June 2017, the owner completed a DYI installation of a rainwater collection system on the ranch residence. The system provides 100% of the domestic potable water supply, there is no other water source for the house. The system has a collection area of 5,000 square feet, with two water storage tanks totaling 20,000 gallons. The system has been operating for almost 8 years, and with a conservative capture ratio of 65%, has had roughly 460,000 gallons run through it. The ranch owners look forward to discussing the system, its challenges, and most importantly mistakes made by the owner and things that could have been done better.”
After the site visit, the group will depart at 11:30 a.m. and drive to Turkey for lunch at the Hotel Turkey around noon (201 3rd St, Turkey, TX 79261). And as a further enticement, participants can enjoy downtown Turkey or the nearby Caprock Canyons State Park.
Registration is $25 per person (which includes the cost of lunch and snacks). To register and pay online, please click on this link: https://bit. ly/4an4fx4; or registration can be paid at the door. Precise directions to the AO Ranch will be sent to all registrants in advance of the Field Day.
The SOA Field Day is presented by Ogallala Commons with grant support from the High Plains Water District and the Dixon Water Foundation.
For more information: Contact Darryl Birkenfeld, deputy director, Ogallala Commons, at (806) 3361713; darryl@ogallalacommons. com
