The 1999 National Earth Team Award goes to the Tulsa County Conservation District in Oklahoma. The district had 67 volunteers in 1998 who donated more than 2,200 hours. Volunteers helped with the Blue Thumb Program, a community education program focused on water quality. They met monthly in teams to perform habitat assessments and collect chemical, habitat, and biological data at 21 urban stream sites. They also help educate students, homeowners and others about water quality.
Volunteers also play a key role in the district's storm sewer stenciling program.
In addition, Earth Team members help the district and the NRCS office prepare for conferences, workshops and training sessions.