ARIZONA - Russell Davis (Lake Havasu City, AZ): Russell Davis started working on the Lake Havasu Fisheries Improvement Program in 1991 through his volunteer activities with the Boy Scouts. He now volunteers 40 hours a week to this effort, which is the largest warmwater fisheries project in the world. Over the last 5 years, Russell has constructed and installed a number of fish friendly habitats including an estimated 5,200 crappie condos, 3,300 fish-n-trees, 530 bass bungalows, 270 catfish houses, 390 brush bundles, and 400 super condos. His work on the fisheries project is valued at over $110,000.
CALIFORNIA - Gordon Nelson (Bishop, California): Eight years ago, Gordon Nelson "adopted" California's 36,000-acre Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and the large Volcanic Tableland surrounding the ACEC as his volunteer project. Weekly, if not daily, Gordon visits the Tableland and marshlands to monitor conditions, remove trash, rake-out unauthorized off road vehicle tracks, etc. He routinely organizes volunteer work groups to help maintain the area and photograph and monitor sensitive archaeological sites within the ACEC.
EASTERN STATES - Peggy Hodges-Pitcher (Laceys Spring, Alabama): Peggy has volunteered with the BLM Jackson Field Office (Mississippi) for over 5 years. After adopting her first wild mustang in 1991, Peggy became involved with the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption program. Since that time, she has spent countless hours assisting in adoption events by talking with adopters, inspecting trailers, participating in educational seminars, etc. Almost single-handedly, Peggy designed the poster, "Mustangs . . . More than just a living legend," which is used as an educational and promotional tool for the program. The poster is now in its 8th printing.
MONTANA - Glenn Stockdale (Helena, Montana): According to the BLM's Headwaters Resource Area in Montana, the Canyon Ferry Bald Eagle Program is a success today because of volunteer services of Glenn Stockdale. The program is a unique partnership involving federal, state, utility and educational organizations, and volunteers. Glenn became a self-taught expert on eagle ecology and developed an educational presentation for school children. He has contributed over 1,000 hours to this educational outreach effort, lecturing to about 10,500 school children on the value of working together to conserve our lands and resources for the benefit of all wildlife. Please note that Glenn is 81 years young.
NEVADA - Lissa Davis (Carson City, Nevada): Lissa Davis of the Washoe Valley (Nevada) Service Volunteers group has organized numerous community projects on BLM land near Washoe Valley to remove trash and help maintain a sensitive riparian/recreation area located in the Historic Comstock Mining District below Virginia City, Nevada. She is an active participant in other public work projects in the District, including last year's National Public Lands Day trail building project. Her efforts have contributed hundreds of hours to improving public lands in the Carson City District.
UTAH - Scott Greenwood (Moab, Utah): For about 4 years, Scott Greenwood has been a volunteer campground host at three campgrounds managed by the BLM Moab Field Office along the Colorado Riverway: Big Bend, Hal Canyon, and Oak Grove. Twelve months a year, Scott--and his dog, Sadie--are on duty, walking through the campgrounds to greet campers, sharing BLM's minimal impact message, and performing light maintenance work. His presence and friendly manner have resulted in nearly 100-percent compliance and reduced vandalism at the sites.
UTAH - Louise Murch (Vernal, Utah): Four years ago, Louise Murch organized the Vernal (Utah) Junior High Escape Club, a group of about 25 students who participate in many activities in the BLM Vernal Field Office. Louise, as Faculty Advisor, and her students have packed rocks up clay hills to outline the Fantasy Canyon Trail; participated in the 1997 Musket Shot Springs Public Lands Day project; adopted the interagency Dry Fork Trail project as a multi-year Club project; and have many 1998 projects planned. Through Louise's dedication, her students are developing an appreciation and respect for our nation's natural and cultural resources.
WYOMING - Tommy and Penny Rogers (Kingston, Tennessee): Penny and Tommy Rogers happened to stop by the then little-known, seldom-used Warren Bridge Campground in BLM's Pinedale Resource Area, Wyoming, in 1985. They have now been volunteer campground hosts at Warren Bridge for 13 seasons, turning the area into a popular facility. In addition to their campground chores, they have expanded their services to the other recreation sites in the Resource Area, establishing and maintaining a garbage collection program, maintaining facilities, replacing and maintaining signs, and clearing and maintaining trails in the Scab Creek Wilderness Study Area.