NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Mountain-Prairie Region
134 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
March 20, 2012
Vanessa Kauffman 703-358-2138
vanessa_kauffman@fws.gov
Diane Katzenberger 303-236-4578
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Endangered Species
Recovery Champion Awards
Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Coordinator Receives Award
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced recipients of the 2011 Recovery Champion award honoring Service staff members and their partners-in-mission for conserving endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Eight teams account for 57 award-winners, and 8 more individual award-winners bring the total to 65—a record number. Species range from the polar bear in Alaska to the Appalachian elktoe mussel and spotfin chub in North Carolina.
“Recovery Champions are helping listed species get to the point at which they are secure in the wild and no longer need Federal protection,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “I salute these leaders for their work in keeping intact the web of life on which all living things depend. Endangered and threatened species tell us that there’s something that we need to fix—and Recovery Champions are doing what needs to be done.”
From the bull trout in Washington, Oregon, and Montana to the red-cockaded woodpecker in Florida, Alabama and Texas, Recovery Champions are taking action to benefit these species. Service employees and partners, including federal and state conservation agencies, tribes, universities, conservation organizations, private landowners, and zoos and botanic gardens, are making a difference through activities such as removing dams so that anadromous fish can reach their spawning grounds to restoring longleaf pine forests and reintroducing an endangered bird species into its historical range.
Greg Neudecker, Assistant State Coordinator for the Service’s Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program received a Recovery Champion award for his work to conserve grizzly bear and bull trout habitat in Montana’s Crown of the Continent Ecosystem.
“Greg’s tireless dedication to finding win-win conservation solutions in the Blackfoot Valley, Swan Valley, and Rocky Mountain Front has resulted in impressive habitat restoration and protection to benefit some of Montana’s iconic native species including grizzly bear, gray wolf, wolverine and lynx,” said Steve Guertin, the Service’s Director of the Mountain-Prairie Region. “He has forged a strong alliance between communities, State and Federal agencies, and other partners to link landscape conservation objectives with community socio-economic objectives.”
The Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) is being recognized for its work in endangered species recovery programs over several decades. Numerous species across multiple states have greatly benefitted from TESF’s continued support over the years and are on the road to recovery thanks in large part to these efforts, such as the black-footed ferret, red-cockaded woodpecker, Chiricahua leopard frog, Northern Aplomado falcon, blowout penstemon. Notably, the TESF has been active and supportive in wolf recovery in the United States, both in the Northern Rocky Mountains and in the Southwest. Since 1997, the Ladder Ranch Wolf Management Facility, located on R.E. Turner’s Ladder Ranch in south-central New Mexico and operated by TESF is one of the Program’s two primary captive pre-release facilities and has been instrumental in housing and selectively breeding Mexican wolves for release to the wild.
Also this year, National Wildlife Refuges from Maine through Virginia are being honored for conserving more than 250 breeding pairs of piping plovers on refuge, state, municipal, and private lands. In the West, the Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative, comprised of more than 22 organizations, after creating a strategy for needed actions such as best management practices for oil and gas development, is working with the industry to implement the practices. In an unusual accomplishment, a team of biologists, avian husbandry experts and veterinarians captured wild Nihoa millerbirds, insect-eating songbirds, on the Hawaiian island of Nihoa, and translocated them to Laysan Island, restoring Millerbirds to the island after an absence of 100 years.
Restoring streams, releasing listed species into their historical ranges, and conducting field surveys and monitoring programs are among the diversity of initiatives by this year’s Recovery Champions. What began in Fiscal Year 2002 as a one-time award for Service staff members for achievements in conserving listed species was reactivated in 2007 and expanded to honor Service partners-in-mission, recognizing their essential role in recovery.
For information about the 2011 recovery champions, please visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-champions/index.html.
Photos available on the FWS Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/sets/72157629226365714/
America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To learn more about the Service’s Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
-FWS-
2011 Recovery Champions
Region 1:
Team:
Brad Goehring
Mount Hood National Forest
bull trout
Chris Allen
Portland, Oregon
bull trout
Dan Shively
Portland, Oregon
bull trout
Jason Dunham, Ph.D.
U. S. Geological Survey
bull trout
Jeff Boechler
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Bull trout
Team:
Brian Winter, Ph.D.
Olympic National Park
bull trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead
Superintendent Karen Gustin
Olympic National Park
bull trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead
Pat Crain
Olympic National Park
bull trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead
Sam Brenkman
Olympic National Park
bull trout, Chinook salmon and steelhead
Team:
Walterbea Aldeguer
Waianae, Hawai'i
Nihoa Millerbird
Fred Amidon
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Nihoa Millerbird
Superintendent Tom Edgerton
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
Nihoa Millerbird
Chris Farmer, Ph.D.
American Bird Conservancy
Nihoa Millerbird
Holly Freifeld, Ph.D.
Portland, Oregon
Nihoa Millerbird
Lauren Greig
Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR
Nihoa Millerbird
“Robby” Kohley
American Bird Conservancy
Nihoa Millerbird
Michele Kuter
Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR
Nihoa Millerbird
Peter Luscomb
Kailua, Hawai'i
Nihoa Millerbird
Sheldon Plentovich
Seattle, Washington
Nihoa Millerbird
Rachel Rounds
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Nihoa Millerbird
Cameron Rutt
American Bird Conservancy
Nihoa Millerbird
Tawn Speetjens
Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR
Nihoa Millerbird
Matt Stelmach
Hawaiian and Pacific Islands NWR
Nihoa Millerbird
Daniel Tsukayama
American Bird Conservancy
Nihoa Millerbird
Eric VanderWerf, Ph.D.
Pacific Rim Conservation
Nihoa Millerbird
George E. Wallace, Ph.D.
American Bird Conservancy
Nihoa Millerbird
Thierry Work, D.V.M., M.P.V.M.
U.S. Geological Survey
Nihoa Millerbird
Lindsay Young, Ph.D.
Pacific Rim Conservation
Nihoa Millerbird
Region 2:
Team
Don Wilhelm
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Arlington, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Duane Lucia
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Arlington, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Steve Arey
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Arlington, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Catherine Yeargan
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Alpine, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Jeffrey Reid
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Lufkin, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Wade Harrell
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Austin, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Chris Harper
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Austin, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Aimee Roberson
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Alpine, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Tim Anderson
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Corpus Christi, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Chad Stinson
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Corpus Christi, Texas
golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, Attwater’s greater prairie-chicken Arkansas River shiner, least tern, Louisiana black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker, whooping crane, Houston toad
Regions 2, 4, and 6:
Ted Turner
Turner Endangered Species Fund
Bozeman, Montana
black-footed ferret, red-cockaded woodpecker, Chiricahua leopard frog, Northern Aplomado falcon, blowout penstemon, gray wolf, Mexican wolf
Mike Phillips
Turner Endangered Species Fund
Bozeman, Montana
black-footed ferret, red-cockaded woodpecker, Chiricahua leopard frog, Northern Aplomado falcon, blowout penstemon, gray wolf, Mexican wolf
Region 3:
Carol I. Bocetti, Ph.D.
California University of Pennsylvania
Kirtland’s warbler
Region 4:
Mark Cantrell
Asheville, North Carolina
Appalachian elktoe mussel, spotfin chub
David Lincicome
Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation
Nashville, Tennessee
Eggert’s sunflower, Tennessee purple coneflower, Pyne’s ground plum, leafy prairie-clover
Regions 4 and 5:
Christine Kelly
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Asheville, North Carolina
Carolina northern flying squirrel
Region 5:
Team
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
Maine
piping plover
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Massachusetts
piping plover
Eastern Massachusetts
National Wildlife Refuge Complex
piping plover
Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
piping plover
Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge
Connecticut
piping plover
Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
New York
piping plover
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
New Jersey
piping plover
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge
New Jersey
piping plover
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Virginia
piping plover
National Wildlife Refuge System
Northeast Region
piping plover
Region 6:
Greg Neudecker
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Ovando, Montana
bull trout, grizzly bear
Team
Betsy Neely
The Nature Conservancy
Boulder, Colorado
All 15 plant species listed in the state, including the parachute beardtongue, Knowlton’s cactus, Mancos milk-vetch, Ute ladies’ tresses, North Park phaecelia, Pagosa skyrocket
Brian Kurzel
Colorado Natural Areas Program
Denver, Colorado
All 15 plant species listed in the state, including the parachute beardtongue, Knowlton’s cactus, Mancos milk-vetch, Ute ladies’ tresses, North Park phaecelia, Pagosa skyrocket
Jennifer Neale
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver, Colorado
All 15 plant species listed in the state, including the parachute beardtongue, Knowlton’s cactus, Mancos milk-vetch, Ute ladies’ tresses, North Park phaecelia, Pagosa skyrocket
Susan Spackman-Panjabi
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
All 15 plant species listed in the state, including the parachute beardtongue, Knowlton’s cactus, Mancos milk-vetch, Ute ladies’ tresses, North Park phaecelia, Pagosa skyrocket
Region 7:
North Slope Borough
Barrow, Alaska
polar bear, Steller’s eider, spectacled eider
Team
Susi Miller
Marine Mammals Management
Anchorage, Alaska
polar bear
Jennifer Reed
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Fairbanks, Alaska
polar bear
Region 8:
David Imper
Arcata, California
Western lily and McDonald’s rock cress
Patrick Larkin
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
Claremont, California
Hidden Lake bluecurls, Ventura Marsh milk-vetch, Catalina Island mountain-mahogany, San Fernando Valley spineflower, and other California plant taxa
Region 9
Campbell B. Lanier, III
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Lanett, Alabama
red-cockaded woodpecker