The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has announced the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, recognizing excellence in rainwater harvesting systems. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, located in Livingston, Texas, was honored in the governmental category.

The award aims to promote rainwater harvesting technology and educate the public on this important water-saving practice. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe's system captures and stores 65,000 gallons of rainwater for wildfire mitigation, community garden irrigation, and dust control. This initiative reduces reliance on local water resources by using rainwater instead of drawing from lakes and wells.

Additionally, the project included outreach events that demonstrated smaller-scale systems for household use. It sparked interest among other tribes in Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Louisiana.

Since its inception in 2007, the Texas Rain Catcher Award has been open to individuals and entities across Texas. It recognizes leaders in water conservation efforts statewide. This year, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is one of six recipients.

For more information about past winners of the Texas Rain Catcher Award, visit the TWDB website.

The TWDB is responsible for collecting water-related data and assisting with regional planning. It also provides financial assistance for projects related to water supply, wastewater treatment, flood mitigation, and agricultural conservation.