It is with regret that we inform you that as of September 1, 2010 the Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration (TXHPET) Network, North Plains ET (NPET) Network and South Plains ET (SPET) Network will no longer provide meteorological, reference ET and crop ET data. This applies to data currently made available through the websites http://txhighplainset.tamu.edu, http://amarillo2.tamu.edu/nppet/index.php, http://amarillo2.tamu.edu/nppet/listserv, and http://lubbock.tamu.edu/irrigate/weatherdata, as well as through fax, the e-mail listserv and through direct contact with TXHPET network personnel.
The TXHPET network team truly appreciates the support of our stakeholders and sponsors which have made it possible for us to provide this service. The ET network data have been used to support hundreds of multi-agency research and extension projects and documented to reduce water use, promote water conservation and underpin regional water planning efforts since its inception. Despite continued efforts on the part of the operations and management (O&M) and development network teams, we have been unable to secure stable, ongoing funding for O&M and staffing including technical support personnel for the required quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). Without ongoing support, we cannot retain the necessary qualified employees to ensure reliable acquisition and delivery of quality data, which includes maintaining integrity of network equipment and instrumented sites to ensure appropriate representation, applicability and security.
We understand and regret that the loss of this information resource will cause inconvenience and negative water use consequences for our stakeholders and users. Please note that we have come to this decision only after extensive and serious deliberation and with exhaustive efforts regarding sustainable support. Our projected agency budget shortfalls only exacerbate the funding situation and this decision.
If you have comments or questions, please contact Dana Porter at d-porter@tamu.edu or Thomas Marek at TMarek@ag.tamu.edu, with copy to j-sweeten@tamu.edu.