The South Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (STASWCD) is one of 13 Area Associations that are members of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Each Area Association is governed by their own by-laws. The 13 Area Associations are designed to develop leadership within each Area and to address regional conservation concerns. The Areas are also set up to strengthen the lines of communication between all areas of the state.

The purpose of the STASWCD shall be to further the conservation of soil, water, plant, wildlife and other renewable resources, to improve our total environment, to provide a better place to live, work and for recreation, and to improve the program of the local soil and water conservation district and their directors. The STASWCD includes 22 districts located in 24 counties in South Texas:

Atascosa County SWCD 307
Southmost SWCD 319
Dimmit County SWCD 320
Agua Poquita SWCD 321
Live Oak SWCD 323
San Patricio SWCD 324
Frio SWCD 325
Winter Garden SWCD 326
Loma Blanca SWCD 328
Copano Bay SWCD 32
Monte Mucho SWCD 331
Starr County SWCD 332
Zapata SWCD 335
Webb SWCD 337
Bee SWCD 344
Willacy SWCD 349
Hidalgo SWCD 350
McMullen County SWCD 353
LaSalle County SWCD 354
Jim Wells SWCD 355
Kleberg-Kenedy SWCD 356
Nueces SWCD 357

STASWCD By-Laws

2022 STASWCD By-Laws RevisionPDF • 136KB

STASWCD Meeting Minutes

2011 - 2019 STASWCD Meeting MinutesPDF • 1000KB

About 40 farmers, ranchers and others attended the semi-annual meeting of the STASWCD on February 23. Attendees toured the Coastal Bend Distilling Company before meeting at the Crossing Venue to hear speakers. Wildlife Services from Corpus discussed their Trap Loan Program to capture wild pigs in Nueces, San Patricio and Bee counties. TSSWCB board member Jose Dodier then gave an update on the Sunset Review process, the Carrizo Cane project, and fever tick issues along the Rio Grande from the last state meeting. TCAWS Consultant Todd Kercheval discussed hot topics concerning conservation around the state capital followed by ATSWCD Area III President Rick Schilling who reminded the group of the upcoming Area III Awards Banquet in Refugio on May 4th as well as the leadership training in Temple in April.

NRCS Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center Manager Shelly Maher provided an updated on the Center's projects followed by an update from Pedro Ramos, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations in Zone 3.

STASWCD President Leroy Wolff then conducted the business meeting to wrap up the very informative day. Several items were discussed including the by-laws which had been updated and the changes discussed. The next meeting is planned for September.

Arturo Gaitan

President

Bee Soil & Water Conservation District #344

David Escobar

Vice-President

Loma Blanca Soil & Water Conservation District #328

TBA

Secretary

Director Name

XXX SWCD #xxx

Mario Martinez

25 Years

Monte Mucho Soil and Water Conservation District #331

Sammy Morrow

25 Years

Southmost Soil and Water Conservation District #319

Roberto Elizondo

20 Years

Agua Poquita Soil and Water Conservation District #321

The STASWCD annual meeting was held on September 23, 2021 at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Artesia Wells. The WMA was started by the Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1969 and covers 15,200 acres. Two WMA biologists discussed wildlife on the management area including white-tailed deer, quail, dove, feral hogs and wart hogs that accidentally migrated onto the WMA from nearby ranches. They also discussed migratory song birds and reptiles, including the horned lizard, rabbits, tortoise and snakes. Cattle are grazed for about eight months through the 13 pastures to manipulate the habitat. Prescribed burns are also conducted to manage the habitat. The WMA offers various types of hunts; mostly drawn and youth hunts. Following the presentation and lunch, STASWCD President Leroy Wolff began the business meeting. Jose Dodier (TSSWCB), Rick Schilling (ATSWCD), and Charles Goeke (TCAWS), all gave their respective reports. Todd Kercheval (TCAWS Consultant) then discussed current legislative activities in Austin including census and redistricting. Ronnie Ramirez (TSSWCB) invited everyone to attend an upcoming field day on pastureland and hayland in the Valley. The minutes and financial reports were approved. Approval to purchase door prizes for the annual state meeting was made. President Wolff will take the lead on reviewing and presenting updated by-laws. Loma Blanca SWCD District Director David Escobar was appointed as Secretary. The meeting was adjourned.

See Gallery for pictures of the event!