Eight outstanding wetlands educators, activists, scientists, and conservationists were selected as recipients of the 2003 National Wetlands Awards for their exemplary contributions to the conservation and restoration of our nation’s wetlands. The award winners will be honored at a ceremony on May 20 on Capitol Hill.
The National Wetlands Awards Program honors exceptional individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary effort, innovation, and excellence in wetlands conservation through programs or projects at the regional, state, or local level. “Wetlands are complex and extraordinary ecosystems that perform vital environmental functions,” said Dale N. Bosworth, Chief of the USDA Forest Service. “They improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediment, provide wildlife habitat, and absorb rainfall to reduce flooding. The work of these award recipients to protect and restore our critical wetland resources is truly commendable.”
This year’s winners include: John Beal (Washington), David Carter (Iowa), Bryce and Brad Evans (Missouri), Paul Scott Hausmann (Wisconsin), Maggy Hurchalla (Florida), Neil Johnston (Alabama), and Graeme Lockaby (Alabama).
“I would like to congratulate the winners from across the U.S. who are working to preserve our nation’s wetlands,” said G. Tracy Mehan, III, Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “I look forward to meeting them when they are honored here in Washington, D.C.”
“We are proud to support the National Wetlands Awards recognizing these individuals for their contributions to society and the aquatic environment,” said Dr. Bill Hogarth, Director for the National Marine Fisheries Service. “Healthy wetlands and ecosystems are vital to our nation’s recreational and commercial fish and shellfish fisheries, and other living marine resources.”
Program co-sponsors — the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service — believe that recognizing these individuals for their efforts will help ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy high quality wetlands, biological diversity, and clean water. “When wetlands disappear, essential habitats for hundreds of species of wildlife and plants also disappear,” said Steve Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “For people, wetland losses mean declines in water quality and increased flood risk.”
The 2003 Award recipients were chosen by a high-level selection committee including Connie Cahanap (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Nancy Derey (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Abby Friedman (National Association of Counties), Bill Haglan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Eric Hutchins (NOAA Fisheries), Martha Joseph (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service), Jim King (California Coastal Conservancy), Moira McDonald (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), Leah Miller (Izaak Walton League of America), Bill Patrick (Louisiana State University), Karen Solari (USDA Forest Service), Bill Streever (BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.), Mark Sudol (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and Gene Whitaker (Farm Bill Network).
For more information on the National Wetlands Awards winners or for information on the ceremony, please contact Erica Pencak at the Environmental Law Institute at (202) 939-3822 or wetlandsawards@eli.org. You can visit the National Wetlands Awards Web site at http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org/index.htm.
2003 NATIONAL WETLANDS AWARDS WINNERS
Education and Outreach
Neil Johnston, Alabama
For the past 20 years, Johnston, an Alabama attorney and director of Project CATE (Conservation Action Through Education) Foundation Inc., has emphasized the importance of conservation education by developing and conducting professional seminars, speaking to local schools, and pro