Jerry Scarborough Named 2008 Conservation Partner

Former Suwannee River Water Management Executive Director District Jerry Scarborough was recently honored as the 2008 NRCS Conservation Partner of the Year at the NRCS State Technical Committee meeting in Gainesville.

A native of north central Florida and a University of Florida graduate, Scarborough retired in May after 18 years as executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District.  Prior to starting with the district in 1990, he served for 14 years as Suwannee County Clerk of the Court and is also former editor of the Suwannee Democrat newspaper.  Under Jerry’s leadership, the district initiated a number of innovative partnership programs to protect natural resources while promoting rural economic development.  These programs include the Suwannee River Partnership, the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, Quality Communities, and the Suwannee Basin Interagency Alliance.  Earlier this month Scarborough won his election to become Suwannee County Superintendent of Schools. 

Since 1999, when the partnership began, 99 percent of poultry farmers, 90 percent of dairies, and 70 percent (representing more than 100,000 acres) of crop farmers in the Suwannee watershed have agreed to use agricultural conservation best management practices in their fertilizations, irrigation, and waste utilization practices. Better managed fertilizer, animal waste, and irrigation equals cleaner water for everyone.  Over one billion gallons of water were saved last year per crop because of irrigation upgrades with the assistance of the partnership and NRCS.

Florida NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez cited Scarborough’s leadership of the Suwannee River Partnership as the basis for the award.  “Jerry Scarborough was a major player in the organization and success of the Suwannee River Partnership, of which NRCS is a partner.  We thank him for his outstanding leadership and his assistance to the NRCS mission of Helping People Help the Land.”
Your contact is NRCS public affairs specialist Gail Hendricks at 352-338-9560.