1998 Conservation Achievement Awards

The 1998 Conservation Achievement Awards for the various categories are as follows:

Conservation Educator of the Year:
Kathleen Timko

Kathleen teaches the 4th grade at McGill Elementary School. She has promoted environmental awareness among her students and has set an example by serving her community. Kathleen has taken the time to become knowledgeable on conservation issues so she could better instruct her students.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Youth Conservationist of the Year:
Ben Johnson

Ben is the president of the Galena High School Ecology Club which was organized through his efforts. Ben is also past president of the Pine Middle School's Ecology Club whose main focus was on recycling. Through recycling and other fund raisers, the club raised $170 which was donated to Animal Ark, a wildlife refuge for injured animals. He has not only become involved in conservation himself, but has encouraged other young people and adults to become involved. Ben has learned that one person can make a difference.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Conservation Communicator of the Year:
Environmental Education Committee - Friends of Red Rock Canyon

The Education Committee developed a Resource Guide for the Children's Discovery Trail at Lost Creek to help the over 14,000 students who visit the trail each year. In addition, they developed a formal workshop which allows educators to familiarize themselves with the trail and to acquire the Resource Guide. The program also includes explicit information on how to protect these resources and why it is important for participants to stay on established trails, not collect specimens, and how to teach students just how fragile the desert ecology is. To date, they have reached over 300 teachers. Accepting for the Education Committee was Jay Bartos.

Award Sponsor: Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association

Water Conservationist of the Year:
Las Vegas Valley Water District's Desert Demonstration Gardens

The Las Vegas Valley Water District owns and operates the Demonstration Garden, a 2.5 acre garden designed to educate residents of southern Nevada on water conservation and xeroscape principals of efficient water use and landscaping. Since much of the municipal water use in Las Vegas goes into residential landscaping, the Demonstration Garden provides a model to teach conservation styles that are more water efficient. Accepting for the Desert Demonstration Gardens was Pete Dumcomb, the Desert Garden Administrator.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Native Plant Conservationist of the Year:
Master Gardeners, Red Rock Volunteers

The Master Gardeners volunteers landscaped the Visitor Center at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, landscaped the Bureau of Land Management's District Office, and designed and installed the landscaping for the Tortoise Habitat Exhibit at the Visitors Center. The Tortoise Habitat encompasses 3/4 of an acre and hold ten desert tortoises. Master Gardeners volunteers have donated more than 2,000 hours over the past three years in landscaping and maintenance. In addition, volunteers assist visitors and school groups answering questions about adaptive plants and wildlife. Clara Hatz accepted for Master Gardeners.

Award Sponsor: Friends of Red Rock Canyon

Wildlife Conservationist of the Year:
George Stoecklin, DVM

Dr. George Stoecklin has served on the Board of Directors for Wild Wing, Inc., a non-profit avian conservation organization based in Las Vegas. With Dr. Stoecklin's help and the hard work of many dedicated volunteers, Wild Wing, Inc. has treated on average between 2-3,000 birds per year, enjoying a 70-80% success rate for birds rehabilitated through their program. Dr. Stoecklin is also a Vice President of The Tortoise Group, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of free-living Desert Tortoises.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Conservation Organization of the Year:
Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is involved in waterfowl and wetlands conservation. Ducks Unlimited initiated the Matching Aid to Restore States' Habitat (MARSH) to provide funding for and support wetland habitat projects. To-date, there have been 18 wetland habitat projects completed in Nevada. These projects include restoring water delivery capabilities to the Carson Sink Wildlife Area, securing 6,000 acres associated with the Franklin Lakebed, and restoring water flow to the 10,000 acre Humboldt Lake in Churchill County. These projects have a combined total value of over $1.5 million dollars, including more than $500,000 of Ducks Unlimited MARSH funds.   Accepting the award for Ducks Unlimited was Virgil Aramini.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Soil Conservationist of the Year:
Gerald Miller

Gerald Miller has used his knowledge to further soil conservation in White Pine County. With Gerald's help, local farmers have reduced the amount of time bare ground is exposed to level a 40 acre field from 3 months to 1 month, which reduces the amount of time bare ground is exposed to wind erosion. Gerald also works with local ranchers to devise grazing management systems that incorporate a period of rest to allow pants to grow undisturbed by livestock. These practices not only help restore the vegetation, but also help decrease soil erosion and improve soil health.

Award Sponsor: Nevada Wildlife Federation

Conservationist of the Year:
Marjorie Sill

Marjorie Sill was honored as the Conservationist of the Year for her lifetime of work as a conservationist in Nevada. She was instrumental in the establishment of Great Basin National Park and she played a major role in obtaining Congressional designation of 14 wilderness areas in Nevada's National Forests. Marjorie's work continues as she works to secure wilderness designation for the current BLM wilderness study areas in Nevada. She coordinates and leads trips into BLM wilderness study areas in order to build public support for a BLM wilderness bill in Nevada.

Award Sponsor: K.C. DenDooven