Bill Stransky of Houston was chosen as the Southwest Regions award winner. He has been a partner and an influential leader in a variety of large-scale wetlands restoration projects on both private and public lands along the Texas Gulf Coast. Stranksy has generated more than a million dollars in funding support over the last 10 years through a variety of partners -- federal and local governments, businesses, corporations, and conservation organizations -- for Texas wetlands. His efforts to obtain $42,000 in matching grant dollars in 1998 will result in the restoration of 600 acres of coastal wetlands on four sites. Those include the Myrtle Foester Whitmire Division of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, and two private properties. Resident and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and a wealth of other wildlife have benefited from his efforts.
"Its a privilege to honor Mr. Stransky for his overwhelming dedication to wetlands conservation," said Nancy Kaufman, Regional Director for the Services Southwest Region. "His tireless efforts have made a positive impact on Texas wetlands."
The runner-up for the regional conservation award is Gordon Latzko of Weatherford. Latzko, a participant in the Services Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, turned a degraded silt-choked stream on his property into a semi-permanent water source and restored an adjacent riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian area, making it an oasis for resident and migratory wildlife. Latzko cleaned up trash, shaped and stabilized stream banks, added native plantings to prevent erosion, and restored or constructed four off-channel ponds with nesting islands. His efforts resulted in a 12-acre showplace in an otherwise bleak landscape, ultimately benefiting the local ecosystem and his neighbors.
Latzko has become a role model for his neighbors, many of whom have recognized his efforts and cleaned up their properties as well. Visiting school children can now enjoy an outdoor classroom amidst ponds and riparian areas where an abundance of wildlife has taken up residence.
"Gordon Latzko is a model conservationist whose projects demonstrate true wetlands stewardship" said Kaufman. "It is my pleasure to recognize Mr. Latzko for his contributions to his community and the environment."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprising more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitats such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.
