Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program

Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program is sponsored by Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). This program offers grants for projects that support agricultural irrigation conservation strategies aligned with the state water plan. Projects must demonstrate agricultural water conservation best management practices.

Examples include irrigation system improvements, demonstrations, technology transfer, and equipment cost share.

Agriculture Water Conservation Grants | Texas Water Development Board Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program The Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program offers grants for projects that support agricultural irrigation conservation strategies in alignment with the state water plan and demonstrate agricultural water conservation best management practices.

Projects that receive grants must adhere to the Texas Administrative Code Title 31 Section 367. Each year, applications are solicited to address specific topics, based on current issue areas in Texas agricultural water conservation.

Some examples of previously awarded grants include the following water saving approaches : Irrigation systems improvements Demonstrations and technology transfer The Agricultural Water Conservation Grants Program has funded hundreds of projects since its inception in 1985 that has saved thousands of acre-feet of water.

an agricultural water conservation technical assistance program; a research, demonstration, technology transfer, or educational program relating to agricultural water use and conservation; and a water conservation program administered by a state agency or political subdivision to provide loans to persons for conservation projects.

improves the efficiency of water delivery to and application on existing irrigation systems; prepares irrigated land for conversion to dry land conditions; prepares dry land for more efficient use of natural precipitation; purchases and installs on public or private property devices designed to indicate the amount of water withdrawn for irrigation purposes; or prepares and maintains land to be used for brush control activities in areas of the state where those activities, in the TWDB's judgment, would be most effective.

Fiscal Year 2026 Information The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) accepted applications for Fiscal Year 2026 Agricultural Water Conservation Grants through Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 2:00 p. m. The application period is now closed.

For those qualified entities interested in applying, the TWDB publishes the Request for Applications (RFA) on this site, in the Texas Register , and the Electronic State Business Daily . The Agricultural Water Conservation Fund's governing rules and guidelines are outlined in Title 31, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 367, and application instructions are available upon request.

Download an overview of the Agricultural Grants Program Where can I get more information? Water Conservation Best Management Practices Texas Administrative Code Title 31 Section 367 Article III Section 52 and Article XVI Section 59 of the Texas Constitution Chapter 17 of the Texas Water Code Contact Agricultural Conservation staff at agconservation@twdb. texas.

gov , for more information regarding any of the above. Grant Contract Management Resources Irrigation meter data reporting spreadsheet Meter data calculation example Agricultural Grants Projects The following table includes details on all Agricultural Water Conservation Grants funded by TWDB since 2004. Where available, a PDF of the final report is provided.

The University of Texas at Austin Research and Demonstration Texas Irrigation Watch Program United Irrigation District SCADA System at Pump Station E458 Agricultural Production Meter Project Irrigation Canal Phase 2 Headgate Edwards Aquifer Authority Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency Program Delta Lake Irrigation District J-22 Canal Conversion to Pipeline Project Cameron County Irrigation District#6 Aquatic Harvester to Conserve Water, Improve Irrigation Efficiency, and Soil Health Cost share reimbursement of irrigation meters Cost share reimbursement of irrigation meters Cost share reimbursement of irrigation meters Managed Aquifer Recharge Project Research and Demonstration Integrated sustainable agriculture practices Research and Demonstration Sensored sub-surface drip irrigation to conventional flood irrigation comparison study Texas A&M Lower Rio Grande Research and Demonstration Deficit irrigation, plastic mulching, and biostimulants to reduce water consumption while maintaining crop yield and quality Research and Demonstration Sensor-based irrigation management technologies Edwards Aquifer Authority Irrigation System Improvements Irrigation efficiency cost share program Research and Demonstration Funding of the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation program Cost share of irrigation meters Cost share of irrigation meters Dragon fruit water use study Research and Demonstration Study on soil-plant water effeiency to reduce water use in Texas vineyards Installation of three sonar beam flow devices to measure water being applied to crawfish/ rice field Installation of 5 meters to control and monitor flows along the main canal system Replacement of an old irrigation pumpt University of Texas at San Antonio Using in-situ sensor observation, remote sensing data, and weather forecasts to improve short term dry condition forecasts Edwards Aquifer Authority Irrigation Efficiency Improvement Grant Program Irrigation System Improvements Riverside Canal Sediment Control Project Agriculture Water Conservation Program through metering Meter Reimbursement Program for 400 meters Remote monitoring Systems project intiative for farmers to switch to RMS Biochar study the benefits and risks of its use in citrus groves Water conservation using cover crops, crop rotations, and irrigation technology to improve soil health United Irrigation District Design and construcution of pump station E458 Water Conservation through Soil Health Improvement -continuation of Texas Alliance for Water Conservation Agricultural Production Metering Edwards Aquifer Authority Irrigation Efficiency Improvement Grant Program Irrigation System Improvements Menard Irrigation Canal Project Advancing Water Conservation in Management Zone 1 Master Irrigator Program Cost Share Santa Cruz Irrigation District Irrigation System Improvements Installation of telemetry system, including metering, monitoring, and weather station devices.

Delta Lake Irrigation District Planning and design for canal improvements - water conservation through canal to pipeline conversion. Designing improvements to the Riverside Canal for improved conveyance and conservation. Expanding the capacity of district telemetry systems to improve water management and conservation.

Comparison of Drip Irrigation to Flood and Center Pivot Irrigation Systems in Hudspeth County. Assistance in Irrigation Management (AIM) Program. Installation of flow meters on irrigation wells to enable accurate measurement of water use.

Cameron County Irrigation District No. 6 Irrigation System Improvements Bennett and Swan Nelson Canal Improvements. Irrigation System Improvements Franklin Feeder Canal Lining Project. Assistance in Irrigation Management (AIM) Program.

Lake Proctor Irrigation Authority Install an automated control system for a subsurface drip irrigation distribution system. Irrigation water use measurement. Bayview Irrigation District Irrigation System Improvements Main Canal Pipe Conversion Project.

Irrigation System Improvements Franklin Canal Lining Project Phase 2. Lower Colorado River Authority Irrigation System Improvements Garwood Gate Automation Project. Master Irrigator Program.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research Education Programs in South Texas. Chambers Liberty Counties Navigation District Cost-share of irrigation measurement equipment. Cost-share of irrigation measurement equipment.

Cost-share of irrigation measurement equipment. Efficient irrigation management via a fully integrated system. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Lower Rio Grande Valley irrigation education and outreach.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research On-farm irrigation strategies for water conservation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Feasibility study for a statewide evapotranspiration network. Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District Purchase and installation of flow measurement devices.

Edwards Aquifer Authority Voluntary automated meter reading project. Edwards Aquifer Authority Groundwater conservation grant program. Lower Colorado River Authority Gulf Coast Irrigation Division gate rehabilitation project.

Irrigation water use measurement. Irrigation conservation initiative to cost share equipment and irrigation management tools with participating agricultural producers. 50 percent cost-share of meters.

Irrigation conservation initiative to cost share equipment and irrigation management tools with participating agricultural producers. Harlingen Irrigation District Meter replacement project. Producer education and equipment deployment.

Lower Colorado River Authority Gulf Coast Irrigation Division gate rehabilitation project. Precision mobile drip irrigation demonstration. Groundwater irrigation meter cost share project.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Automated system for monitoring soil moisture and controlling irrigation using low-cost microcontrollers on a participating tree farm. Texas A&M University - Kingsville An alternative approach to irrigation for small scale citrus producers. 50 percent cost-share of meters.

50 percent cost-share of meters. 50 percent cost-share of meters. 50 percent cost-share of meters.

Lower Neches Valley Authority 50 percent cost-share of meters. Edwards Aquifer Authority 50 percent cost-share of meters. 50 percent cost-share of meters.

50 percent cost-share of meters. 50 percent cost-share of meters. 50 percent cost-share of meters.

Texas A&M University - Kingsville Irrigation System Improvements Demonstrations of improved water conserving irrigation techniques to educate citrus growers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Gulf Coast Water Authority Irrigation System Improvements Installation of real-time water use monitoring equipment and implementation of conservation pricing.

Cameron County Irrigation District No. 6 Irrigation System Improvements Open-canal to pipeline replacement project with an agricultural water conservation education seminar for producers. Texas Alliance for Water Conservation - $3.

6 million appropriated from existing Ag Funds during FY 14 & 15 for continuation of the agricultural demonstration project in the Texas High Plains Demonstrations of irrigation technologies and practices for growers in the Northern High Plains targeting 200 bushels of corn with 12 inches of irrigation water Santa Cruz Irrigation District Irrigation System Improvements Canal-lining to reduce water loss Irrigation System Improvements Canal-lining to reduce water loss Cost-share funding for the purchase of irrigation meters Cost-share funding for the purchase of irrigation meters Cost-share funding for the purchase of irrigation meters Cost-share funding for the purchase of irrigation meters Cost-share funding for the purchase of irrigation meters UT - Bureau of Economic Geology Feasibility and assessment of remote sensing technologies to assist with estimating irrigation water use in Texas Lower Neches Valley Authority Irrigation measurement - purchase and installation of metering equipment in the Devers Canal System Lower Colorado River Authority Irrigation System Improvements Installation and automation of canal check gate structures in the LCRA Gulf Coast Irrigation Division Harlingen Irrigation District Irrigation System Improvements Efficiency improvements to the irrigation conveyance system, including replacement of concrete laterals with pipelines Agriculture Water Conservation Grant for metering.

Agriculture Water Conservation Grant for metering. Panhandle Regional Planning Commission Educational outreach and training for targeted users of the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration Network for use in irrigation scheduling. Texas A&M University - Kingsville Demonstration of improved water conserving irrigation techniques to educate citrus growers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District Agriculture Water Conservation Grant for metering Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District Agriculture Water Conservation Grant for metering Demonstrations of irrigation efficiency improvements North Plains Groundwater Conservation District Demonstrations of irrigation efficiency improvements El Paso County WCID No. 1 Delivery of flow and soil water content measurements to farmers for improved irrigation water management.

Irrigation Water Use Metering Irrigation Water Use Metering Irrigation Water Use Metering Conservation Education and Public Awareness Youth education on rainwater harvesting and agricultural irrigation training for small acreage landowners. Estimation of irrigated land use using time-integrated remotely sensed data. The 4 pilot projects have been identified.

Educational enhancements to the TX High Plains Evapo-transpiration Network. Economic impacts of the 50/50 management standard for use of Ogallala Aquifer. Addendum Lower Colorado River Authority Garwood Irrigation Division volumetric measurement equipment.

Harlingen Irrigation District Designed, developed, and demonstrated innovative technologies including automatic gates and a soil moisture sensor telemetry system. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Assessment of Texas Evapotranspiration (ET) Networks include site visits and sensor degradation analyses. Purchased and installed 159 flow meters and 27 telemetry devices.

Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board Supplemented statewide technical assistance to implement agricultural water conservation Best Management Practices. Purchased and installed 112 flow meters. Purchased and installed 23 flow meters, 16 dataloggers and 1 portable flowmeter and construction of 3 monitoring wells.

Texas Cooperative Extension AgriPartners Program employed 5 farm demonstration assistants to monitor irrigation water use from 44 field demonstration sites. Producer-to-producer education was disseminated. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Precision Irrigation Network (II) in Wintergarden and Texas High Plains.

A total of 45 field demonstration sites were developed to promote deficit irrigation methods and validate CropMan model. Texas Cooperative Extension Irrigation Training Program for agricultural producers. Two versions of training curriculum were developed and 6 training events were conducted.

Over 200 producers and governmental staff attended training. Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board Supplemented technical assistance for statewide irrigation water conservation practices. 199 Soil and Water Conservation Districts participated in the program.

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Precision Irrigation Network in the Wintergarden and Texas High Plains. Field demonstrations sites were established with drip systems and soil moisture sensors. A Decision Support System was developed for enhancing the use of evapo-transpiration tools by the cooperating producers.

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station High yielding, short season, and stress tolerant varieties of corn were tested. Research showed that irrigation water use could be reduced without yield reduction for Texas High Plains. Purchased and utilized a portable flow meter with thickness gauge to measure unmetered irrigation wells.

Drip irrigation system on cotton in Yoakum County. Demonstrated that 34. 75 acre feet of water could be saved and also increase production.

Purchased and utilized a portable flow meter with thickness gauge to measure unmetered irrigation wells. Lower Neches Valley Authority Purchased and installed laser levelling and metering equipment.

Texas Alliance for Water Conservation - agricultural water conservation demonstration project in the Texas High Plains Harlingen Irrigation District Texas Project for Ag Water Efficiency - agricultural water conservation demonstration project in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Purchased and installed 62 flow meters. Texas Cooperative Extension Nursery industry water use and utilization of Best Management Practices.

A survey of water use data from the nursery/floral industry and field days were conducted. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Demonstration of drip irrigation systems at Uvalde Research & Extension Center. Drip Irrigation system for forage crops, vegetable crops, and for Bermuda grass were installed and demonstrated to producers.

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Statewide competitive small grants program for demonstrating agricultural water conservation Best Management Practices. Texas Water Resources Institute administered the award to 10 recipients and supervised their research activities. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Operational support and technological upgrades for the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration (ET) Network.

A new database was developed and a listserv mechanism was established to disseminate ET data to users. Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board Supplement of the statewide technical assistance program to agricultural producers. A total of 197 Soil and Water Conservation Districts participated in the program and identified areas of potential water savings.

Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 Purchased and installed 11 pressure transducers, 11 gates, and a telemetry system to monitor gates. Purchased and installed 15 flowmeters. Installation and research on 2 weighing Lysimeters at Uvalde Research & Extension Center.

Crop coefficients were developed for corn, spinach, onions, cotton, and wheat. La Feria Irrigation District Purchased & installed an open channel device to calibrate flow meters and includes telemetry system. Drip Irrigation system installed in 60 acres for watermelons.

Demonstrated that 54 acre feet of water could be potentially saved as compared with sprinkler irrigation system. Procured and installed a new center pivot system with dual nozzling options for research and demonstration.