soilWestchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced the recipients of the second annual Soil and Water Conservation Achievement Awards. The award recognizes activities and projects, completed within the past three years, which promote the conservation, management and restoration of soil and water resources in Westchester County.

"The successful and worthwhile efforts of the award recipients deserve to be recognized. Their good work on projects which conserve, restore and better manage Westchester's soil and water resources contribute to the terrific quality of life we enjoy here in Westchester," said Astorino.

The awards are sponsored by the County's Soil and Water Conservation District and Department of Planning. A five-member panel, representing the District's Board of Directors, reviewed the nominees and selected six winners for the achievement award and three for commendations. In addition, five Westchester high school students were selected to receive certificates of appreciation for their science research projects.

The winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony to be held on Tuesday, December 15 beginning at 2:30 p.m., at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains.

Recipients of the Soil and Water Conservation Achievement Award are:

  • Watershed Agricultural Council for Faraway Farm Compost Facility and Vegetated Treatment Area Project
  • Friends of Scarsdale Park for South Fox Meadow Brook Riparian Buffer Restoration and Conservation Project
  • City of Yonkers for Saw Mill River Daylighting and Restoration Project, Phases 1, 2 and 3
  • West Patent Elementary School, Bedford Central School District, for Sustainable Watering System for the Learning Garden
  • Village of Tuckahoe for Fisher Avenue Parking Lot Improvement and Stormwater Management Project
  • Westchester Land Trust for Habitat Enhancement Projects at the Westchester Wilderness Walk/Zofnass Family, Frederick P. Rose, Otter Creek and Hunter Brook Preserves

Commendations are awarded to:

  • Lewisboro Land Trust for Leon Levy Preserve Native Plant Garden
  • North Salem Open Land Foundation for Bloomerside Preserve Vernal Pool Restoration Project
  • Somers Land Trust for Reynolds Pond Habitat Restoration Project

Certificates of Appreciation are awarded to:

  • John Liptack, Alison Mann and Rebecca Marcus from Mamaroneck High School
  • Sarah Kahn from Edgemont High School, Greenburgh
  • Josephine Weidner from Dobbs Ferry High School

"The District addresses a wide range of concerns - such as improving water quality and applying best stormwater management practices to help control stormwater runoff, and advocates these issues through educational outreach. The science projects of the students awarded a Certificate of Appreciation have advanced these good practices of environmental resource conservation," said board chair Jan Blaire.

The Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District was created in 1967 to develop and carry out a conservation program for soil, water and other natural resources. Environmental professionals from the Westchester County Department of Planning provide support to the seven-member Board of Directors.

Questions about the awards can be directed to Robert Doscher, Soil and Water Conservation District Manager, at (914) 995-4423 or at .