Concho Valley Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in San Angelo receives the Texas Rain Catcher Award

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (October 17, 2024) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced today the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, a rainwater harvesting competition and recognition program. The Concho Valley Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Tom Green 4-H Center in San Angelo, Texas, was recognized in the agricultural category.

The TWDB's Texas Rain Catcher Award recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas, promotes rainwater harvesting technology, and educates the public on this critical water-saving practice.

The Concho Valley Master Gardeners propagate over 6,000 well-adapted and drought-tolerant plants in greenhouses at the Tom Green 4-H Center to sell for their annual fundraiser. The rainwater harvesting system consists of three 3,000-gallon tanks, providing water to the greenhouse and demonstration garden beds. Other features include a rain garden, a 50-gallon wildlife guzzler, and a smaller collection system to divert water from the front awning into a second, plumbed wildlife dripper.

The rainwater harvesting system also serves as an educational feature, providing information and inspiration to interested homeowners to start their own rainwater harvesting systems which can help further the conservation of groundwater and surface water in the Concho Valley area.

The Texas Rain Catcher Award competition began in 2007 and is open to all individuals, companies, organizations, municipalities, and other local and state governmental entities in Texas. It recognizes entities and individuals in the rainwater harvesting community and beyond and establishes award recipients as dedicated water conservation leaders in Texas. The Concho Valley Master Gardener Demonstration Garden is one of six awardees being recognized statewide this year.

To learn more about previous Texas Rain Catcher Award winners, visit the TWDB website.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood mitigation, and agricultural water conservation projects.