On March 22, 2007, a Congressional Update about the Service honoring Midwest biologists as Recovery Champions was sent to eight local Congressional offices in Iowa and Wisconsin.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Honors Midwest Biologists as Recovery Champions – Congressional Notification

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall today announced the 16 recipients of the Service’s 2006 National Recovery Champion award. The Recovery Champion award recognizes outstanding contributions of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and their partners toward efforts aimed at recovering threatened and endangered species in the United States.

Midwest award winners were Joe McGovern, Director of Land Stewardship at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Roger Gordon, Assistant Hatchery Manager at the Service’s Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Wisconsin.

“The Recovery Champion award not only recognizes the exceptional conservation accomplishments of the honorees, it also provides the public with a unique opportunity to learn about endangered species conservation,” said Hall.  “These Recovery Champions are extraordinary conservationists dedicated to protecting and restoring our nation’s wildlife and ensuring that future generations of Americans enjoy the natural treasures we experience today.”

McGovern was recognized for his efforts toward recovery of the Topeka shiner, a small, endangered fish found in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.  McGovern coordinated projects to restore habitat for the Topeka shiner, bringing together a partnership of federal and state agencies, agricultural interests and other stakeholders.  The projects were successful in expanding habitat for the shiner in Greene County, Iowa, and have become models for similar habitat restoration projects.

Gordon was honored for his work with two endangered freshwater mussels, the Higgins eye pearlymussel and the winged mapleleaf mussel.  Gordon was cited as the driving force behind mussel conservation at Genoa National Fish Hatchery, where under his guidance, Higgins eye pearlymussels and winged mapleleaf mussels are produced for relocation in rivers and streams in the Upper Mississippi River System.  These efforts are helping restore rare mussels to an ecosystem where they once flourished.

“Joe McGovern and Roger Gordon are true heroes of conservation,” said Robyn Thorson, the Service’s Midwest Regional Director.  “Their partnership approach to solving tough problems is an  example for resource stewards around the country who are looking for ways to make positive steps to recover endangered species.”

The 2006 Recovery Champion honorees’ contributions to the conservation of natural heritage benefit a broad range of endangered and threatened plants and animals.  From manatees to mussels, Service employees and their partners have been working to recover our nation’s most imperiled wildlife.  Habitat protection, public awareness campaigns, and the development of cutting-edge technology to achieve captive breeding success are just a few examples of this year’s Recovery Champion honorees’ efforts.

For additional information please visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion website at:  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/champions/index.html