Cay Goude, Asst. Field Supervisor at Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (USFWS Photo )

Al Donner, Sacramento FWO

Cay Goude, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Field Supervisor in the Sacramento FWO,  is the 2007 recipient of the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS) “Agency Staff Person of the Year Award”.  The award was presented to Ms. Goude during CNPS’s Celebration for Vernal Pools in Mather, Calif., November 3, 2007.

Ms. Goude was given this award in recognition of her persistence and perseverance in facilitating regular meetings with environmental organizations, regulatory agencies and the University of California Merced in order to develop a conservation footprint for the proposed university campus and community in Merced County, California.  CNPS believes that without Ms Goude’s support this unique and difficult negotiation process would have failed.

Ms. Goude is a senior biologist in the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office.  She is responsible for Ecological Services' matters in portions of 30 Central and Northern California counties, including the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sierra Nevada and the foothills. 

Ms. Goude is widely known as a facilitator with exceptional talent for bringing opposing parties together in successful face-to-face negotiations.  The UC Merced process began six years ago with the filing of a permit application with the Corps of Engineers to fill 121 acres of wetlands.  Through the ensuing years Goude worked with all parties to facilitate an agreement that reduces the wetlands impact by one-third and provides full mitigation on other lands.

CNPS is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and understanding of California native flora.  As a volunteer driven organization, CNPS recognizes the need to acknowledge individuals, both inside and outside the organization, who make outstanding contributions to their mission and goals.