CU 07-16

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Honors Iowa’s Joe McGovern With Recovery Champion Award – Congressional Notification

Joe McGovern, the director of land stewardship for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, was awarded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion Award for his work with the endangered Topeka shiner, a rare fish.  McGovern received the award today at Foundation board meeting in Decorah.

Service Director H. Dale Hall recently named McGovern as one of 16 national recipients of the award, which recognizes outstanding contributions toward efforts aimed at recovering threatened and endangered species in the United States.

“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 honored for his work engaging landowners and partners in efforts to restore habitat for the Topeka shiner in west central Iowa.  McGovern’s efforts brought together a broad group of stakeholders that included agricultural commodity organizations, federal and state natural resource agencies, as well as a number of partner organizations to help design, construct, and fund the habitat projects that are currently in place.

“Joe’s work with the Topeka shiner is producing on-the-ground results for this endangered species,” said Service Midwest Regional Director Robyn Thorson.  “He is directly responsible for expanding habitat for the shiner, which is now occupying a number of restoration sites.   Without a doubt, Joe’s work has helped move the Topeka shiner down the road toward recovery.”