Last year, 101 volunteers contributed the equivalent of four full-time employees to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge ? 11,283 hours of time. In April, refuge manager Glenn Carowan and the Friends of Blackwater honored those volunteers at an awards dinner hosted by the Friends. Outdoor recreation planner Maggie Briggs gave a presentation highlighting work the volunteers did for the refuge in 2003.

Volunteer Bill Reybold was recognized as Environmentalist of the Year for assisting with construction of a tide gate for waterfowl impoundments and for work on developing a paddling guide and three new canoe trails.

Beverly Waggoner and Rose Mary McDermott were named co-volunteers of the year for contributed an outstanding amount of time and service to the refuge.

Terry Allen and Harry Armistead were honored for 21 years of service leading bird walks for the public.

Service biologist Roger Stone presented awards to those who assisted with frog surveys, blue bird box checks, shorebird counts, a marsh grass survey, data entry and many other projects.

An additional 95 people received awards for their hours of volunteering.

The volunteer program, which started in 1983, has enabled the visitor center (and for most of 2003, the temporary visitor information station), to remain open for the public when it would have been closed because of staff shortages. Volunteers have also assisted with interpretive programs and other public use activities, maintenance, tree planting, and marsh restoration.

NORTHEAST REGION, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE -- Conserving the Nature of the Northeast