OKEECHOBEE — The Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District (OSWCD), in partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is celebrating the 68th Annual Stewardship Week from April 30 – May 7, 2023. This year’s Stewardship Week theme is “One Water.”

OSWCD, led by Audrey Kuipers, District Administrator, is a member of NACD, which oversees the annual Stewardship Week program, one of the largest national annual programs that promotes conservation.

“No matter where you live, clean water is a critical resource,” said NACD President Kim LaFleur. “This year’s Stewardship Week recognizes the importance of effective conservation practices to maintain healthy watersheds and emphasizes the interconnectedness of waterways across the country.”

OSWCD is a vital resource to those interested in expanding awareness about the importance of water as a resource for our communities and ecosystems. We rely on water for drinking, cleaning, boating, growing our food, and so much more. People, animals, and plants all need healthy watersheds to survive. Lake Okeechobee and its wetlands are at the center of a much larger watershed, the Greater Everglades, that stretches from the Kissimmee River through the Everglades and finally into Florida Bay. As such, Lake Okeechobee is a key component of South Florida’s water supply.

The Okeechobee Soil and Water Conservation District was formed in 1951 to assist the people of our community with implementing conservation programs and promoting efforts that protect and improve natural resources. The OSWCD Board of Supervisors includes Chairman Mariano Corona, Treasurer Glynn Rutledge, and members Nicki Smith, Don Sellers, Jr., and Douglas Burnham.