Marcia Meyer, MWA acting executive director and project coordinator, accepted the National Group Runnerup Award. Bruce Mountain, Wetlands for Iowa coordinator, accepted the INHF award. The INHF was one of eight Regional winners. The MWA and INHF received framed certificates and 1992 93 Federal Duck Stamp prints. The National Group Award went to the Business Park Wetlands Coalition of Anchorage, Alaska. Individual winner was Nancy DeLamar of Little Rock, Arkansas; runnerups were Geoff and Kathie Foote of Ovando, Montana. "The Minnesota Waterfowl Association and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation have long been partners with the Service and are highly regarded in professional circles for their accomplishments and contributions to wetland conservation," emphasized Marler. "Their support and contributions have helped the Service conduct wetland restoration programs in Iowa and Minnesota that didnt exist as early as 1987. The awards to these fine organizations were deserved and timely."
The MWA and INHF nominations were submitted by the Services Division of Private Lands from its Regional Office located in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Both nominations emphasized the contributions made by the MWA and INHF to Partners for Wildlife, a stewardship program sponsored by the Service that restores and protects wetlands and other essential habitats for migratory birds and endangered species. All Partners for Wildlife projects are on private lands and when completed remain in private ownership. The Service, state fish and wildlife agencies, other agencies and private organizations generally cost share project expenses.
The National Wetlands Conservation Award to the Private Sector recognizes the accomplishments of private organizations and individuals for restoring and conserving wetlands to benefit migratory waterfowl as well as resident fish and wildlife populations. Criteria the Service considers include:
Amount of wetland acreage protected, restored and/or enhanced.
Wetland types protected, restored and/or enhanced.
Benefits of wetland conservation projects; i.e., improving waterfowl and wildlife habitat, improving the quality of and recharging groundwater supplies, reducing flooding potential, reducing soil erosion, providing recreational opportunities and creating new economic opportunities for landowners and local communities.
Leadership and innovation; i.e., the use of volunteers and creativity in wetland conservation.
The MWA, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1992, has 5,000 members and 20 chapters throughout Minnesota. Since its inception, the MWA has assisted in the restoration of more than 46,000 Minnesota wetland acres through contributions valued at more than $550,000. Since 1988 alone, the MWA has contributed more than $80,000 to the Service to cost share projects that have restored over 2,000 wetland acres on private and public lands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices 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 habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
