84R9296 KSM-D
By: Price H.R. No. 498
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The directors and staff of the North Plains
Groundwater Conservation District celebrated the 60th anniversary
of its establishment on January 21, 2015, and this significant
milestone offers a fitting opportunity to recognize the
contributions of the district to the northern Panhandle region; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, voters approved the State Board of Water
Engineers' creation of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation
District for the purpose of managing groundwater resources north of
the Canadian River; the district was originally composed of
Hartley, Moore, Sherman, Hansford, Hutchinson, and Ochiltree
Counties, and eventually Lipscomb and Dallam Counties joined the
region; and
WHEREAS, In addition to confirming that rules and standards
are met, the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District
collects and maintains data, performs water quality analyses,
issues well permits, and creates educational opportunities for
stakeholders and area schools; for the past nine years, the
district has organized Save The Planet's Water Festivals, which
have helped more than 5,000 students and teachers learn about and
recognize their role in the stewardship of natural resources; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the board of directors introduced the
200-12 Reduced Irrigation on Corn Demonstration Project to help
save irrigation water while maintaining crop yields; the 200-12
Project has been recognized by the Texas Water Conservation
Advisory Council with the 2011 Blue Legacy Award for Agriculture
and by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Office
of the Governor with the 2012 Texas Environmental Excellence Award
for Agriculture; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the organization is led by general
manager Steve Walthour, and it further benefits from the dedicated
work of its staff and engineers, Jerry Green, Dale Hallmark,
Kristen Lane, Patsy Long, Karen Mannis, Leon New, Mike Pitts,
Pauletta Rhoades, Sherry Robinett, Curtis Schwertner, Paul Sigle,
Shari Stanford, Casey Tice, Odell Ward, Kirk Welch, and Laura West;
also deserving of acknowledgment are members of the district board,
Gene Born, Justin Crownover, Harold Grall, Mark Howard, Danny
Krienke, Zac Yoder, and Bob Zimmer, whose direction and oversight
have been invaluable to the district's operation; and
WHEREAS, For six decades, the North Plains Groundwater
Conservation District has worked to provide prudent and effective
administration of regional groundwater supplies, thereby ensuring
the availability of this precious resource for Texans today and for
generations to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the North
Plains Groundwater Conservation District and extend to the
district's manager, staff, engineers, and board members sincere
best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the district board and staff as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.