Booth receives legislative award from Delaware Association of Conservation Districts

The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts recently presented former State Sen. Joseph Booth with its annual Legislative Award that is given to a legislator for outstanding service, loyalty and devotion to conservation efforts in Delaware.

Booth began his legislative career as a state representative in 2002 and was later elected as state senator in 2009, serving until 2012. He was a member of the Senate agriculture, public safety, small business, and veterans affairs committees. During those years, Booth was a great supporter of Conservation District programs.

Booth was a big proponent of the district’s Sediment and Stormwater Program as well as the Tax Ditch Program, and was instrumental in bringing the drainage issues challenging Sussex County to the forefront. As an elected official, he supported many drainage improvement projects through the use of Community Transportation Funds. He also supported increased cover crop funding through the Bond Bill, which brought an additional $425,000 to Delaware’s conservation districts.

In 2011, Booth co-sponsored Senate Bill 117, which was an act to facilitate the acquisition and the preservation of agricultural lands by young farmers. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Flood Plain and Drainage Advisory Committee in an effort to develop minimum drainage standards and specifications throughout the state.

“I’m honored to have presented Senator Booth with the DACD Legislative Award on behalf of our association,” DACD President Wendy O. Baker said. “Ongoing commitment and support of our legislators affords Delaware’s three conservation districts the opportunity to continue their efforts in conjunction with their partners and landowners to conserve Delaware’s precious natural resources.”

“I am humbled by this award,” said Booth. “I have long respected what the conservation districts do with the little they get. Legislators would do well by keeping themselves informed about their local conservation district.”

Past recipients of the DACD Legislative Award include senators David McBride, Thurman Adams Jr., Nancy Cook, Gary Simpson, and Robert Venables Sr., as well as representatives Bobby Quillen (deceased), George Carey, Robert Gilligan and Pam Thornburg-Bakerian.

The DACD is a statewide organization for the supervisors of Delaware’s three conservation districts. DACD is a voluntary, non-profit alliance which provides a forum for discussion and coordination among the state’s Conservation Districts as they work to ensure the wise use and treatment of our natural resources.

For more information about the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts, call 302-739-9921.