A Renville County, Minn., farmer, an Illinois conservation organization and a Wisconsin Native American tribe are among individuals and groups selected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to receive National Wetlands Conservation Awards (NWCA) to the Private Sector.
Daniel Rauenhorst, a rural Olivia farmer from Renville County, Minn., was selected as the NWCAs national runner-up in the individual category for his deliberate, voluntary efforts restoring drained wetlands and enhancing associated grassland habitats in Renville and Kandiyohi counties.
Rauenhorst, nominated by the Services Litchfield Wetland Management District, has restored approximately 245 acres of wetlands on his properties. Hes also restored, enhanced and protected another 430 acres of associated grasslands.
Regional group winner for the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region was the Migratory Waterfowl Hunters, Inc., an Illinois organization. The regional group runner-up was the Ho-Chunk Nation from Wisconsin.
The national winner of the NWCA individual award was Peter D. Stent, recognizing his involvement with the restoration of 1,379 acres of wetlands and three miles of riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat on private land in California.
The national group winner was the Conservation Fund for wetland conservation activities in Alaska. The national group runner-up was the New England Forestry Foundation.
A ceremony to recognize the national award winners was conducted July 1, during the Federal Duck Stamp First Day of Sale event honoring Joe Hautman, the Plymouth, Minn., wildlife artist who designed the 2002-2003 federal duck stamp. The ceremony was at the Smithsonian Institutions National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.
The three winners selected from the upper Midwest will be recognized during ceremonies within their communities, according to Bill Hartwig, regional director of the Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region.
"The ceremonies are one way to recognize the winners from our region and to show our appreciation for their significant accomplishments related to wetland conservation and also to habitat conservation in general," said Hartwig. "We are proud of our regional winners and their achievements. Its their commitment and passion to wetland conservation that sets them apart and has influence far beyond the local areas where they are committed to the stewardship of our natural resources."
Regional Winners Background Info
- Daniel Rauenhorst resides west of Olivia, Minn., with his wife, Cheryl, and two daughters, Krystal and Kelsie. Individually, Rauenhorst has restored approximately 245 acres of wetlands in Renville and Kandiyohi counties. He also restored, enhanced and protected approximately 430 acres of associated grasslands. Rauenhorst is a local spokesman for soil and water conservation in an area of extensive agricultural activity in west-central Minnesota. There the Rauenhorst name is recognized in the seed-corn industry. The Litchfield Wetland Management District, through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program, has provided technical and financial support to assist Rauenhorst during his numerous conservation projects. In addition to participating in PFW, he has restored properties enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and Reinvest in Minnesota program.
- Migratory Waterfowl Hunters (MWH), Inc., is a private, pro-hunting conservation organization with interests and an active past in restoring and protecting waterfowl habitats in Illinois. The MWH and its member volunteers were specifically recognized with the regional award for enhancing and protecting wetlands on the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge. By taking this positive action, the organization indirectly protects an estimated 9,000 acres of wetlands throughout the refuge.
- The Ho-Chunk Nation near Black River Falls, Wis., became involved with wetland conservation through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program conducted from the Wisconsin Private Lands Office and Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, who have provided funds and technical assistance to the tribe. During 2001, the Nation responded to habitat conservation by restoring 75 acres of wetlands and 185 acres of native grasslands on tribal lands in Juneau County.
The National Wetland Conservation Awards to the Private Sector are presented annually by the Service. All national and regional winners receive a framed and matted certificate and signed and framed Federal Duck Stamp print. All regional runners-up receive a framed certificate and a signed and framed 2002-2003 Federal Duck Stamp poster donated to the NWCA program by Hautman, a two-time Federal Duck Stamp artist.
The NWCA was established by the Service in 1990. This annual program is conducted by the Service to honor individuals and groups or corporations for significant contributions to the restoration, enhancement and protection of wetlands in the United States.
The awards are presented on the national level and within the Services geographic regions.
