FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2002

Who: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
What: Sixth Annual Stewardship Award Winners Announced
Contacts: Lee Yokel, Outreach Coordinator 431-6409
Available: Digital photo of recipients available upon request

Award Categories:

Government: USDA – NRCS Baldwin County District
Citizen Organization: Dog River Clearwater Revival
Citizen: Richard Coram
Business / Industry: J. S. Walton & Co., Inc
Special Award – Teacher Recognition: Pam Henson

Award Winner Contacts:

USDA – NRCS                               Larry Morris         937-7174
Dog River Clearwater Revival            Mimi Fearn          460-6381
Richard Coram Weeks Bay NERR                              928-9792
JS Walton & Co                              Norman Walton    344-8220
Pam Henson                                                             972-6863

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Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
2002 Stewardship Award Winners

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program announced their sixth annual Stewardship Award winners on Sunday, April 21, 2002 at Bay Area Earth Day in Fairhope.

Larry Morris on behalf of the USDA-NRCS Baldwin County District accepted this year’s government award. The office in Bay Minette works throughout Baldwin County on water quality conservation with agricultural producers, local governments, and landowners. Some of USDA-NRCS programs include working to educate people, implementing best management practices for livestock and streams, implementing gully restoration, and practicing conservation tillage just to name a few. Larry himself has devoted countless hours of his time as a volunteer to see these programs are accomplished. The USDA-NRCS Baldwin County District continues to work diligently with farmers and citizens groups toward the protection of water and habitat quality.

The Dog River Clearwater Revival have been nominated several times in the past for wise stewardship of our area’s resources in the Citizen Organization category. This timely award reflects their constant hard work, year after year, toward the protection and restoration of Dog River. This grassroots based, citizen driven organization administers a water quality program, works to educate people about the watershed, and participates in many public awareness programs. Their activities have brought them acclaim with Alabama Water Watch’s “Extra Mile Award”, the Outstanding Grassroots Group by the Alabama River’s Alliance, and recognized as a success story by the World Wildlife Fund. Currently the DRCR is installing educational signs, educating citizens on septic system design, and planning the First Annual Dog Paddle Canoe and Kayak race. They have no paid staff!

When Mr. Coram was nominated for the Citizen Award it was noted that he goes “above and beyond the call of duty.” As a volunteer for the Weeks Bay Watershed Project, Richard puts in at least 20 hours a week. His hands on, in-depth involvement includes a variety activities which include coordinating data management and volunteers of the local Alabama Water Watch Chapter, encouraging citizens to get and stay involved, developing and maintaining a water quality database, and fielding citizens concerns. Indeed it sounds as though he works harder than some of the paid staff!

Business and industry face a tough battle of minimizing environmental impact while providing vital services within our community. J. S. Walton & Co. Inc., is this year’s business / industry stewardship award winner. As a fourth generation company, J.S. Walton that takes great pride in their work and ability to be innovative with environmental solutions in the construction business. In addition to implementing the Best Management Practices (BMPs), J.S. Walton has developed innovative measures that are tailored for the extreme conditions found within South Alabama. They train their peers in construction and maintenance of BMPs that work to maintain pollutants while remaining cost effective. Their techniques go well above those required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for stormwater. Some of J.S. Walton’s achievements include phased construction activities that minimize impact and the development of a highly effective culvert construction or replacement system that minimally impacts streams. J.S. Walton won the Build Alabama Award in 2001 for construction of the Foley Beach Express by successful protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

This year the Mobile Bay NEP chose to recognize a teacher for outstanding contributions in science education. The accomplishments of Baldwin County science educator Pam Henson are far and wide. She has secured over one million dollars in grants for funding unique environmental program. Ms. Henson’s programs focus on environmental management and habitat protection. She has her students involved in GLOBE, Project SWEEP, Project PLANET, Project SEAS and gives much more to the community. Alabama is often thought of as being toward the bottom of national rankings for education and Ms. Henson is actually at the top.

Since 1997, the Mobile Bay NEP has recognized the role of citizens, citizen organization, businesses / industry, and local government as key factors in effective environmental management of the Mobile estuarine system. These awards honor individuals and entities for their accomplishments toward accomplishing actions within the Mobile Bay NEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.  In the words of one of our award recipients, “I am bit flustered to receive recognition for something that is so rewarding just in the doing.”

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