Dixon Water Foundation

Promoting healthy watersheds through sustainable land management

View the Audubon Texas webinar (recording) with Dixon Water Foundation discussing Conservation Ranching

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A recording of the webinar can be found here

Join the discussion with Texas landowners on their experience in the Audubon Conservation Ranching program – Bird Friendly Webinar.

The majority of grassland birds – whose populations have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 50 years – inhabit privately owned land. Audubon Conservation Ranching works with voluntary landowners to stabilize the declining grassland bird populations.

Audubon Conservation Ranching staff and the Dixon Water Foundation from Texas will share how they strive to meet requirements centering on habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare to earn the Audubon bird-friendly land certification.

Nationwide, more than 100 ranches and nearly 3 million acres that have earned status as Audubon Certified bird-friendly land. Together we can protect the 60% of grasslands and prairie ecosystems in Texas. Learn more by joining in on the conversation.

When: Thursday, March 7th at 11:00AM

What: Bird Friendly Webinar – Audubon Conservation Ranching in Texas

Who: Speakers include:Casey Wade, President and CEO, Dixon Water FoundationPhilip Boyd, VP Science and Research, Dixon Water FoundationThomas Schroeder, Audubon Conservation Ranching Partnerships Manager, Audubon TexasAnita Hoskins, Senior Coordinator, Private Lands, Audubon Texas

Support Producers Impacted by the Texas Panhandle Wildfires

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Producers across the Texas Panhandle are experiencing the largest wildfire in Texas History. 

The National Center for Appropriate Technology has had the privilege to work with outstanding farmers and ranchers across this region to regenerate the land, and now they have lost everything to the fires. 

Please donate to any of the organizations below and or others across your networks.  

Animal Supply Points through AgriLife To donate hay, feed, fencing materials, or equipment contact: 

Marcus Preuniger at 806-669-8033 or 325-728-0477
Clyde Carruth Pavilion, 301 Bull Barn Drive, Pampa, TX 79065

Andy Holloway at 806-323-9114
Canadian AH&N Ranch Supply, 100 Hackberry St., Canadian, TX 79014

Hanna Conner at 806-878-4026 or 806-395-7005
Hutchinson County Airport, 1608 Airport Road, Borger, TX 79007

General questions about donations or relief efforts
– please call 806.354.5800 

Other Donations Facebook Group: Panhandle Wildfire Recovery & Resources

Facebook Group: Panhandle Wildfire Recovery & Resources https://www.facebook.com/groups/379423138053394
First Baptist Canadian:http://fbccanadian.org/firehelp/
HF&C Feeds Lubbock:donations at store or via phone 806-866-9801
High Cotton Relief Fund:venmo @HighCottonRelief
Texas Department of Ag STAR Fund:https://www.texasagriculture.gov/Home/Production-Agriculture/Disaster-Assistance/STAR-Fund
Additional Texas AgriLife Resources:https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/2024-panhandle-wildfires/  

If you are in crisis, please see attra.ncat.org/farmer-well-being/ for a list of crisis hotlines and additional resources.This information was compiled and shared by the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Growing Sustainability: UNT Event shares collaborative ways to shape more resilient communities, businesses

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The University of North Texas recently hosted a sustainability conference with student presenters and panelists from various industry sectors, including Dixon Water Foundation. Follow this link for a recap of the event:

https://research.unt.edu/news/growing-sustainability-event-shares-collaborative-ways-shape-more-resilient-communities

UNT Environmental, Social, and Governance Conference October 13, 2023

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“Through its work as an interdisciplinary research center of excellence, the Advanced Environmental Research Institute (AERI) supports initiatives that address our region’s most pressing environmental issues. As the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues its unprecedented economic growth, AERI aims to deepen collaborations with industry and local partners to foster innovations and workforce training initiatives for a sustainable and resilient North Texas region.”

Dixon Water Foundation will be participating in a panel discussion. Programming also features “two keynote speakers, panels with industry and government leaders, industry networking, and a showcase of research initiatives. Don’t miss this chance to be an active participant in shaping the future of environmental sustainability!”.

For more information, please see the link below

https://aeri.unt.edu/news/esg-conference

New Report Testing Novel Phenology Monitoring Approach to Help Inform Graze Planning

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In the spring and summer of 2022, Dixon Water Foundation helped sponsor and host a project that utilized novel imaging technology to track prairie plant phenology. Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate, plant and animal life. As phenology relates to plants, it refers to flowering and seeding.

This project, conducted by the Bontanical Research Institute of Texas, explored the use of time-lapse cameras and community science protocols to observe and analyze pollinator abundance and plant phenology within various pastures of Dixon’s Leo Unit in North Texas. By understanding when and where pollinators and resources important to pollinators were on the landscape throughout the year and considering this information when making a grazing plan, ranchers may be able to promote conservation of essential species and native prairie functionality.

See the results of the pilot study in the report linked here.

Dixon Water Foundation Selects Casey Wade as New President and CEO

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Decatur, Texas (March 10, 2023) – Dixon Water Foundation, a Texas-based non-profit organization that promotes healthy watersheds through good land management, is announcing the selection of Casey Wade as new President and CEO.  Wade has been with the Foundation for 12 years, first serving as West Texas ranch manager before being promoted to Vice President of Ranching Operations.  Wade was selected by the Foundation’s Board in early February 2023.  Wade will immediately begin to succeed out-going President and CEO Robert Potts who is retiring March 16, 2023 while still serving as Chairman of the Board for the Foundation.  Potts has served as President and CEO since 2007.

“I am pleased that the board chose Casey Wade, our current VP for Ranching Operations, to be my successor,” states Potts. “He is an excellent choice and will lead the Foundation to the next level of effectiveness.”

Wade’s selection as President and CEO follows years of commitment to the management of the Foundation’s ranches, communication of the Foundation’s mission and guiding principles, and role as a valuable advocate of regenerative agriculture and watershed health. 

“I’m really honored to have been chosen by the Board of Directors to serve as the new President and CEO of Dixon Water Foundation.  Robert has done an amazing job of establishing the Foundation as a leader in watershed and ecological health.  I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Robert as he serves as Chairman of the Board.” states Wade. “Looking ahead, I see so many great opportunities for the Dixon Water Foundation.  We have an amazing staff, really talented people, who are very knowledgeable and care deeply about our mission.  It’s such a pleasure to get to work with them and be part of guiding the Foundation into the future.”

Wade is a husband and a father of three young sons.  He has a love of the land and has enjoyed caring for wildlife and livestock for many years.  He is a graduate of Hardin Simmons University and has spent most of his career managing hunting and wildlife operations as well as livestock ranches.

After a two year stay in Kenya, Africa, Casey was introduced to holistic land management while working with a wildlife management consulting firm.  He was drawn to the idea of using livestock to improve degraded landscapes.  At that point Casey began searching out further education and eventually a career in regenerative land management through ranching. Dixon Water Foundation strives to achieve its mission through its research and demonstration ranches in Presidio County, near Marfa, Texas, and Cooke and Wise Counties, near Decatur, Texas.  The Foundation hosts education events, supports research, awards grants and partners with organizations in line with their mission. 

NORTH TEXAS OFFICE

4528 County Road 398
Decatur, TX 76234

WEST TEXAS OFFICE

P.O. Box 177
Marfa, TX 79843

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