By Stephanie Weagley, Carlsbad FWO
Jack Fancher, Coastal Program Coordinator for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, retired on November 24, 2007, after more than 30 years of dedication to conserving natural resources in California.

After starting his Federal Civil Service career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jack joined the Service in 1977 as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the agency’s office in Laguna Niguel, California – the Laguna Niguel office was relocated to Carlsbad, California in 1992 and is now known as the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office.   

During his time with the Service, Jack was a strong advocate for the conservation and restoration of southern California's precious wetland resources.  Throughout his career Jack’s efforts to protect wetland resources were recognized by those within the agency as well outside agencies and local communities.  During his tenure with the Service, Jack was honored by the Department of the Interior, including receiving the Secretary’s 4-Cs Award, and most recently, recognition by the White House Council on Environmental Quality's Coastal America 2007 Partnership/Spirit Award for his work on the restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach, California (see Journal Story on November 29, 2007).  Jack was also selected as a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region IX Environmental Award, and the City of Huntington Beach, California’s Environmental Board Award.

Although the Bolsa Chica project was by the far the most complex  restoration Jack worked on his influence is reflected in numerous coastal wetlands projects in southern California including:

Anaheim Bay

Upper Newport Bay

Newport Slough

Batiquitos Lagoon

San Dieguito Lagoon

Port of Los Angeles

South San Diego Bay (Salt works)

Establishment of Sweetwater Marsh NWR (now part of South San Diego Bay NWR).

Tijuana Estuary

At the time of his retirement Jack was in early phases of working on the restoration of the Buena Vista Lagoon in Oceanside, California.

The Service is deeply appreciative of Jack’s leadership and commitment to the management and protection of our valuable fish, wildlife, plant and habitat resources.  His efforts have greatly enhanced southern California’s natural resources for the benefit of future generations.