About Us

Who We Are

This project is led by William Kolath, a senior Computer Science student at West Texas A&M University, under the supervision of Dr. Joshua Partheepan Associate Professor of Engineering and Power Systems at West Texas A&M University.

The Problem: Water Scarcity in the High Plains

The High Plains is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States. Stretching across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming, it feeds millions of people through crops like corn, cotton, wheat, and sorghum. But the lifeblood of this productivity is the Ogallala Aquifer — one of the largest underground freshwater reserves in the world.

Here’s the challenge: the Ogallala is a non-renewable resource on human timescales. In many parts of the Texas Panhandle, water is being pumped out far faster than it is being replenished by rainfall. According to U.S. Geological Survey estimates, some areas have already seen water levels drop by more than 100 feet since irrigation began in the mid-20th century. Entire counties now face the reality that irrigation — once the backbone of their agricultural system — may not be viable in the decades ahead.

This water crisis isn’t just about crops. It impacts:

• Farmers and ranchers: who must decide whether to irrigate, switch to dryland farming, or leave fields fallow.
• Local economies: where agriculture supports jobs, schools, and communities.
• Future generations: who risk inheriting land with drastically reduced productivity.

The stakes are high: without smarter water use, we face declining yields, shrinking profits, and weakened rural communities.

Our Mission

This project exists to address that challenge. Our mission is simple: give farmers accessible, data-driven tools to make the most of limited water while staying profitable.

We believe that technology should serve people, not replace them. Farmers know their land better than any computer ever could, but they deserve tools that make the decision-making process clearer and less risky. By combining field data, agronomic models, and optimization techniques, we provide a platform where producers can test scenarios before committing acres to the ground.

Our ultimate goal is not only to help individual farmers but to contribute to the long-term resilience of the High Plains. By making water use more efficient and profitable, we can extend the usable life of the Ogallala Aquifer, protect rural livelihoods, and create a pathway toward sustainability in one of America’s most important agricultural regions.