Calvert Soil Conservation District Rakes in the Awards
Calvert Soil Conservation District is one of the 24 soil conservation districts in the state of Maryland. The District's mission is to help landowners and farmers install conservation practices on their land to help control soil erosion and reduce sedimentation. Each summer, Maryland's soil conservation districts meet to discuss local and regional conservation problems and to award districts for their outstanding contribution in helping to preserve farmland and water quality within the state.
This year the meeting was held in Solomons, where Calvert SCD earned three major awards. The District received the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts' Environmental Conservation Education Award for its work in developing conservation programs for school students and for establishing the Calvert Environmental Trust for Youth, which has given out $66,000 in grant funds over the last ten years to youth organizations within Calvert County to do environmental projects.
The District also received first place in the MidAtlantic Farm Credit Outstanding District Award for 2005. This prestigious award was presented to Calvert SCD for its hard work in creating soil conservation and water quality plans, for implementation of federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and the states agricultural Cost-Share programs. The District was very honored to receive this award.
Calvert SCD district staff is directed by a board of Supervisors consisting of Calvert County farmers who give freely their time to direct district policy for the goal of soil conservation and good water quality. The 2005 Attendance Award was also presented to Calvert SCD as its Supervisors attended the most local, state, and regional meetings, demonstrating their commitment to the preservation of our natural resources.
Pictured are the five supervisors of Calvert SCD (left to right): Gilbert Chaney; Leonard Ogden; Walt Wells,; J. Robert Frazee, President, MidAtlantic Farm Credit; Tommy Briscoe, Calvert SCD Chairman; and David Cox. Not pictured is Phillip Jones, Associate Supervisor.