2005 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards

The following awards were presented at the 2005 National Refuge Friends Conference, February 5, 2005, in Washington, DC:

Volunteer of the year: Ervin Davis, National Bison Range
Friends Group of the year: Friends of Black Bayou

The following awards were presented at the 70th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, March 17, 2005, in Arlington, VA:

Refuge Manager of the year (Kroegel award): Roy W. Lowe, Oregon Coast NWRC
Employee of the year: Laura Brandt, A. R. M. Loxahatchee NWR

NWRS 2005 Volunteer of the Year Award

This award was established to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of volunteers. Each year volunteers make up a critical work force that contributes over 1.5 million hours to the operation and management of the Refuge System.

Ervin Davis began volunteering at the National Bison Range in 1983, participating in the two-day Annual Bison Roundup. Over the years, he has expanded his volunteering to year-round involvement. His work monitoring bluebird nesting habits produced data documenting the first known case of breeding western bluebirds at the Bison Range. His ongoing efforts involve students and others with the goal of increasing public appreciation for the needs of mountain and western bluebirds. Ervin also participates in duck banding projects and the annual Big Game Census, and continues to operate a corral gate at the Annual Bison Roundup, as well as sharing his computer skills with the refuge staff and knowledge of Bison Range wildlife with visitors. From wildlife observation and management to visitor services, from office administration and maintenance to public outreach, Ervin contributes to the effective operation of the National Bison Range and a quality educational experience for the visiting public.

NWRS 2005 Friends Group of the Year Award

This award recognizes a Friends group that has shown outstanding leadership as a voice of the community and as an advocate for the protection, conservation, and enhancement of local refuges and the National Wildlife Refuge System overall.

The Friends of Black Bayou has been working non-stop ever since the group was established to make Black Bayou Lake NWR in Louisiana a recognized and valued part of the community and to promote public appreciation and connection with the Refuge. The Friends group hosts an annual Fall Celebration, as well as special educational programs throughout the year, and have been exceptionally successful in fund-raising to support major refuge improvement projects and then pitching in to provide essential labor and expertise. They have transformed a dilapidated 19th century planter's home into a Visitor Center and are currently promoting the construction of a fully-equipped Wetlands Learning Center. When challenged in 2004 to raise $50,000 in 3 months to qualify for a matching Federal grant of $150,000 to start construction of the Learning Center, the group raised $250,000 in 6 weeks. In whatever project the Friends of Black Bayou takes on, the group seeks to involve the entire community, including scouting and civic groups, state and local government, corporations, educational institutions, and local media.

NWRS 2005 Employee of the Year Award

The Employee of the Year Award is presented each year to an individual whose career has shown a commitment to the conservation of our natural resources and superior effectiveness in advancing the cause of wildlife conservation.

As Senior Wildlife Biologist at Loxahatchee NWR, Laura Brandt is active in multiple forums working for restoration the Greater Everglades ecosystem. Her enthusiasm and dedication have led to valuable collaborations with partnership agencies such as the USGS and academic institutions. She has streamlined and strengthened the refuge's biology program and organized the refuge's first science workshop focused on the linkage of management needs and science, which resulted in the development of a list of refuge science needs and strategies. As a herpetologist with particular expertise in crocodilians, Laura's appreciation for alligators and crocodiles is infectious. She conducts and provides expert support for research projects in the Everglades, throughout the region, and even in Mexico. She is widely known and respected as a scientist who recognizes the importance of using the best known resource management techniques and who can facilitate communication and understanding between scientific and management priorities. Her demonstrated ability to combine her scientific expertise with the considerations of effectively managing wildlife resources has reached beyond Loxahatchee to benefit the entire Everglades region.

Paul Kroegel - Refuge Manager of the Year Award

The award is given in honor and memory of Paul Kroegel, the first manager of the first refuge established in 1903 on Pelican Island, Florida. His dedication and effectiveness set a high standard for those who followed.

Roy Lowe began his FWS career as an Ecological Services biologist and is now manager of the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. During his service there, the complex has grown from four to six refuges spread along a 300-mile coastline and from a staff of one manager to a staff of seven employees, four Friends groups and numerous partnerships with a wide diversity of local communities. Roy has worked effectively with land conservancy groups, private landowners and Indian tribes to add crucial acres of rare and essential habitat to the refuge complex, overcoming initial resistance by fostering effective communication and building mutually productive relationships. At each refuge, Roy has developed partnerships and nurtured collaborative projects with local organizations and volunteers based on the unique needs and background of each area and the wildlife resources it protects. His commitment to public outreach, research, and education has proven invaluable in projects such as the acquisition and restoration of Coquille Point and the preservation of the archeological and cultural significance of the Ni-les'tun Unit of the Brandon Marsh NWR.

These award recipients have contributed greatly to the National Wildlife Refuge System and we commend their accomplishments. Their efforts have truly gone beyond the call of duty and should serve as an inspiration to us all. They richly deserve this recognition.