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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The directors and staff of the North Plains |
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Groundwater Conservation District celebrated the 60th anniversary |
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of its establishment on January 21, 2015, and this significant |
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milestone offers a fitting opportunity to recognize the |
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contributions of the district to the northern Panhandle region; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1955, voters approved the State Board of Water |
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Engineers' creation of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation |
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District for the purpose of managing groundwater resources north of |
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the Canadian River; the district was originally composed of |
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Hartley, Moore, Sherman, Hansford, Hutchinson, and Ochiltree |
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Counties, and eventually Lipscomb and Dallam Counties joined the |
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region; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to confirming that rules and standards |
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are met, the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District |
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collects and maintains data, performs water quality analyses, |
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issues well permits, and creates educational opportunities for |
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stakeholders and area schools; for the past nine years, the |
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district has organized Save The Planet's Water Festivals, which |
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have helped more than 5,000 students and teachers learn about and |
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recognize their role in the stewardship of natural resources; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2010, the board of directors introduced the |
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200-12 Reduced Irrigation on Corn Demonstration Project to help |
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save irrigation water while maintaining crop yields; the 200-12 |
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Project has been recognized by the Texas Water Conservation |
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Advisory Council with the 2011 Blue Legacy Award for Agriculture |
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and by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Office |
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of the Governor with the 2012 Texas Environmental Excellence Award |
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for Agriculture; and |
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WHEREAS, Currently, the organization is led by general |
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manager Steve Walthour, and it further benefits from the dedicated |
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work of its staff and engineers, Jerry Green, Dale Hallmark, |
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Kristen Lane, Patsy Long, Karen Mannis, Leon New, Mike Pitts, |
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Pauletta Rhoades, Sherry Robinett, Curtis Schwertner, Paul Sigle, |
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Shari Stanford, Casey Tice, Odell Ward, Kirk Welch, and Laura West; |
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also deserving of acknowledgment are members of the district board, |
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Gene Born, Justin Crownover, Harold Grall, Mark Howard, Danny |
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Krienke, Zac Yoder, and Bob Zimmer, whose direction and oversight |
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have been invaluable to the district's operation; and |
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WHEREAS, For six decades, the North Plains Groundwater |
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Conservation District has worked to provide prudent and effective |
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administration of regional groundwater supplies, thereby ensuring |
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the availability of this precious resource for Texans today and for |
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generations to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the North |
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Plains Groundwater Conservation District and extend to the |
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district's manager, staff, engineers, and board members sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the district board and staff as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |