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FALL NATIVE MIX WILDFLOWER SEED IS NOW AVAILABLE
Collin County Wins Statewide
Texas Conservation Awards Program Contest
TEMPLE – Each year the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts recognize and celebrate individuals that dedicate themselves to the conservation and management of renewable natural resources. These outstanding conservationists were recognized during an awards luncheon on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.
The Texas Conservation Awards Program began in the late 1970s to recognize the state’s conservationists and the vital role they play in managing Texas’ natural resources. The program’s purpose is to acknowledge, recognize, and honor individuals that dedicate their time and efforts to the conservation of renewable natural resources.
The program provides an opportunity for competition and incentives to expand and improve conservation efforts and natural resource development, as well as the wise utilization of renewable natural resources. Categories recognized through the Conservation Awards Program are: Conservation Farmer, Conservation Rancher, Conservation Teacher, Friend of Conservation, Poster Contest, Outstanding Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Wildlife Conservationist, Junior Essay Contest, and Senior Essay Contest.
Collin County SWCD #535 was recognized as the 2022 Outstanding SWCD. Located in the Blackland Prairie region, just north of the Dallas Metroplex, Collin County SWCD works diligently to ensure that local natural resources are properly managed and protected. They work diligently to educate and assist landowners with putting conservation efforts on the ground. Collin County SWCD works continuously with engineering firms and developers to ensure the integrity of 99 local floodwater retarding structures are maintained for the safety of its citizens, as well as the infrastructure of the county. The SWCD also has an active EPA 319 grant from the TSSWCB, which has allowed the implementation of over 2,500 Water Quality Management Plans within the Lavon Lake Watershed.
Collin County SWCD Board of Directors:
Ben L. Scholz - Chairman
Bill Stelzer - Vice Chairman
James C Foster - Secretary
Heather Strait - Member
Rick Foster - Member
Pictured in photo left to right: Barry Mahler (TSSWCB board member), Jilane Carper (Collin County SWCD employee), Bill Stelzer (Collin County SWCD director), Ben Scholz (Collin County SWCD director), James Foster (Collin County SWCD director), Donovan Moxley (Collin County SWCD employee), Don Brandenberger (TSSWCB past staff member), JC Mathiews (Association of Texas SWCDs board member)
Pictured L to R: SWCD Director Rick Foster, Collin County Judge Chris Hill, and SWCD Chairman Ben Scholz
Judge Hill Proclaims Soil & Water Stewardship Week
McKinney, Texas – Collin County Judge, Chris Hill, signed a proclamation declaring the week of April 24 through May 1, 2022, as Soil & Water Stewardship Week throughout the county. Ben Scholz, Chairman, and Director Rick Foster of the Collin County Soil & Water Conservation District met with Judge Hill to officially sign the proclamation. The Collin County Soil & Water Conservation District has partnered with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Texas Wildlife Association, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association to highlight Soil and Water Stewardship Week and the importance of voluntary land stewardship in Texas. The statewide campaign’s focus this year is “Healthy Soils, Healthy Life.”
The basis of our lives all starts with the soil beneath our feet. Soil provides the food on our plates, the clothes on our backs, the foundation for our homes and offices, the luscious grass that the children play in and the trees we need to breathe. It all starts with soil…healthy soil, healthy life.
Healthy soil gives us life through providing clean air and water, ample crops and forests, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Soil does all this by performing five essential functions: water management, sustaining plant and animal life, filtering and buffering potential pollutants, cycling nutrients as well as providing physical stability and support for everything above ground.
Since 1939, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) across Texas have been working to encourage the wise and productive use of natural resources. It is our goal to ensure the availability of those resources for future generations, so that all Texans’ present and future needs can be met in a manner that promotes a clean, healthy environment and strong economic growth.
Your local SWCD can work with you to develop a conservation plan for your farm or ranch to improve soil health and provide resources on responsible natural resource management. Conservation plans can be tailored to the needs of each individual landowner including crop rotation, wildlife habitat enhancement, forest management, nutrient management, pest management, irrigation system efficiency and erosion control measures.
As the population of the state continues to increase, maintaining the productivity of our soil and water resources becomes increasingly vital in meeting the food, fiber and resource needs for all Texans. TSSWCB and SWCDs are committed to working with farmers, ranchers, and private landowners to conserve and protect natural resources of Texas.
This campaign aims to bring more awareness and support to voluntary land stewardship because the way we manage our resources on private lands directly impacts our natural resources. Collin County SWCD is proud to collaborate with conservation partners across Texas to promote the importance of land stewardship.
For more information on “Healthy Soils, Healthy Life”, please visit www.tsswcb.texas.gov.
Directors during the timeframe for the activities that were judged (FY 2021) were (L-R) Bill Stelzer, James Foster, Ben Scholz, the late Butch Aycock, State Board Rep Don Brandenberger, and Rick Foster. Mr. Aycock's daughter, Heather Strait, has replaced him to represent District 1 within the SWCD.
Directors during the timeframe for the activities that were judged (FY 2021) were (L-R) Bill Stelzer, James Foster, Ben Scholz, the late Butch Aycock, State Board Rep Don Brandenberger, and Rick Foster. Mr. Aycock's daughter, Heather Strait, has replaced him to represent District 1 within the SWCD.
In Loving Memory of R. E. "Butch" Aycock
In Loving Memory of R. E. "Butch" Aycock
1952-2021
1952-2021
CCSWCD Chairman 1999-2021
CCSWCD Chairman 1999-2021
CCSWCD Named Outstanding District for Area 5
March 2022
Collin County, Texas -- Collin County Soil & Water Conservation District #535, headquartered in McKinney, Texas, was recently named the Outstanding Conservation District for Area 5 in Texas. This award recognizes the District’s local innovative projects and program activities, as well as its involvement with the community, including public outreach programs and youth education and participation related to natural resources conservation.
The District will be honored for outstanding contributions to the Texas soil and water conservation program at a Conservation Awards Banquet for Area 5 on May 3, 2022. The banquet will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Dublin High School in Dublin, Texas. Area 5 consists of over 50 counties in North Central Texas.
Categories in which awards will be presented include Outstanding Conservation District; Conservation Rancher; Conservation Farmer; Friend of Conservation; Conservation Teacher; and Wildlife Conservationist. Awards will also be presented to area youth winners of the poster and essay contests.
The purpose of the Conservation Awards Program is to recognize and honor Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and individuals who have dedicated their time, efforts and talents to making wise use of renewable natural resources.
Sponsors of the Area Conservation Awards Program are the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the 216 SWCDs in Texas.
Pictured above from left to right: SWCD Director Bill Stelzer, Kathy Wells Power, Sarah Wells Macias, Galen Roberts, Marianne Wells, SWCD Technician Ryann Cline, and SWCD Director Rick Foster.
March 3, 2020
The Collin County Soil & Water Conservation District #535 is pleased to announce the winner of our John D. Wells Conservation Awards Program "Friend of Conservation" award is Galen Roberts with North Texas Municipal Water District. Galen was instrumental in the development of the Lavon Lake Watershed Protection Plan. Through this plan, the Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board received a 319 (h) Federal Clean Water Act grant to address non-point source pollution in the watershed. Through this grant, the Collin County SWCD received funds to hire a district technician and provide cost-share incentives to develop Water Quality Management Plans throughout the watershed. This is a voluntary program to implement best management practices on private, agriculture land.
As the local winner, Galen's entry as a "Friend of Conservation" advanced to the Area 5 contest. We have recently been notified that this entry won the area contest, and Galen and the CCSWCD will be recognized at the Area 5 banquet on May 5 in Dublin, TX.
The CCSWCD's Conservation awards program is named after former Director and Chairman, John D. Wells, who was a champion of conservation and agriculture in Collin County for many years. Galen was presented the award at the Texas Watershed Stewardship workshop at Myers Park on March 3, 2020. We were honored to have three of Mr. Wells' daughters attend to recognize Galen and honor the program named after their father.
For more information on a WQMP, contact our office, 972-542-0081 ext. 3.
Pictured above from left to right: Adhesh Naveen and SWCD Director Rick Foster.
March 3, 2020
The Collin County Soil & Water Conservation District #535 is pleased to announce the winner of our Conservation Poster is Adhesh Naveen! Adhesh is 5 years old and a kindergarten student from Plano ISD.
The theme of this year's contest was "Where would we BEE without Pollinators?"
Congratulations Adhesh!
February 25 & 26, 2020
TEMPLE – On February 25 and 26, two employees of the Collin County Soil and Water Conservation District and one Soil and Water Conservation District Director attended the Annual Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Leadership Development Workshop recently held in Temple. The workshop, hosted by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD), is primarily structured for new SWCD directors and employees as well as new USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) District Conservationists.
The workshop focused on the history and responsibilities of the Soil and Water Conservation District Program in Texas along with the powers and duties of the SWCD directors.
In addition, the workshop focused on the partnership of state, federal and local entities of government working together to deliver financial and technical assistance to the 216 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Texas.
Participants also learned about state and federal soil and water conservation programs administered by the TSSWCB and the USDA-NRCS to help landowners with a voluntary program to implement soil and water conservation practices on their land.
As leadership and conservation practices continue to change it is essential the stewards of the natural resources in Texas stay abreast of the latest trends. TSSWCB recognizes the importance of education and outreach efforts and strives to provide learning opportunities.
For more information on the workshop, please visit https://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/programs/public-information-and-education/soil-and-water-conservation-district-leadership
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