The Ditch Water Discovery Center Awarded SITES Gold Certification
“By transforming this landscape, we’re helping our community understand the vital role groundwater plays in our daily lives and why its sustainability matters—not just for us, but for generations to come.”
– Frank Volleman, Director of Comanche County
August 26, 2025
Designed to support the mission of the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, THE DITCH demonstrates how thoughtful design can protect groundwater resources while fostering meaningful community education. As a proud recipient of the SITES Gold certification, this innovative center exemplifies a deep commitment to ecological integrity, resource efficiency, and community engagement.
Conceived as part of the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District’s mission, the new center in Stephenville, Texas is a distinguished example of sustainable design and environmental stewardship.
Along winding trails, visitors encounter installations that bring these systems to life, from a rammed-earth wall revealing the geology of the Trinity Aquifer to native plant displays that highlight drought resilience to a mural embedded with stainless steel tubes that represent the density of groundwater wells.
The landscape integrates bioswales, rain gardens, native vegetation, and a rainwater capture system that manages nearly two inches of rainfall on-site, dramatically reducing runoff and achieving a 97% reduction in potable water use. Powered entirely by renewable energy, the site also incorporates reclaimed and recycled materials, along with a net-zero energy outdoor classroom designed for deconstruction and reuse.
As both an educational destination and a living model of regenerative design, THE DITCH embodies the future of environmental stewardship—immersive, innovative, and deeply connected to place.