Commissioner Cook and Garry Brown, her executive assistant, toured a number of nature preserves in the care of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) with Gary Boyd, environmental coordinator for the WCCF, which was established in December 2002, to provide conservation of endangered species in the county while helping to promote responsible development. Williamson County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, and that rapid growth necessitates a regional approach to balancing development needs with those of conservation.