Every year the Union SWCD selects a recipient for the Good Steward Award that is presented at the Union County Farmer Merchant Banquet.

The Good Steward Award is sponsored by the Union SWCD and presented to individuals or groups that have promoted conservation and land stewardship in coordination with agricultural operations. For agriculture to be successful over the long term, it is necessary to be good stewards of the land we manage. The Union SWCD selects a recipient that manages property for agricultural use within the District boundary, considering:

• Partnerships with the District to complete projects or manage land for the purpose of conserving natural resources and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• The amount or intensity of conservation practices implemented.
• Projects that provide significant support to conservation and restoration of natural resources.

The 2024 winners of the Good Steward Award:   Dora Boyd Cohen and Greg Williams

Miss Cohen and Mr. Williams were presented the award for their cooperation in completing the Little Creek Weaver and Israel-Ames Fish Passage Project. Miss Cohen owns the property at the Israel-Ames Diversion and Mr. Williams owns the property at the Weaver Diversion. Both landowners allowed the Union SWCD to complete construction of a new diversion structure, natural fish bypass channel, and installation of fish screens to allow migration access for fish and lamprey to the Little Creek Watershed and protect fish from getting in the irrigation ditch systems. The new dam structures allow natural flow in the winter and maintain access to irrigation water in the summer.