Bryce and Brad Evans, two landowners and leaders in wetlands restoration, have won the 2003 National Wetlands Award for Land Stewardship and Development. They will be honored at a ceremony on May 20th in the Senate Caucus Room in Washington, DC for their efforts to restore over 15,700 acres of wetland-upland habitat in Missouri and Kentucky.
The brothers began their restorations on 1,450 acres of bottomland, purchased in 1993. Currently, the brothers have 7,896 acres enrolled in the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), and are developing and personally funding an additional 7,804 acres on their own. "They have attacked the development of their wetland habitat projects with an enthusiasm and dedication that is unparalleled in the private sector and their reputations are legendary in the conservation community," said Michael Watkins, a wildlife biologist with the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.The brothers’ restoration efforts have improved flood control, increased feeding and rest areas for migrating waterfowl, created educational opportunities for thousands of Missouri schoolchildren, and created thousands of acres of wetlands habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and invertebrates.
"Bryce and Brad have dedicated their lives to improving the natural resources on the lands they own," said Kelly Hiesburger, of Grant Tech Consulting & Conservation Services, who nominated the brothers for the award. "Their passion for the outdoors and for traditional sporting opportunities related to healthy natural resources are their motivation. Their careful planning and astuteness has made a significant impact on wildlife populations and water quality. Their pioneering efforts and vision for the future will establish a model for other private landowners. The wildlife habitat they are creating today will become the heritage of future generations."
Since 1989, the National Wetlands Awards program has honored exceptional individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary effort, innovation, and excellence in wetland conservation, research, or education through programs or projects at the regional, state, or local level. The program is co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.
"Wetlands are complex and extraordinary ecosystems that perform vital environmental functions," said Dale N. Bosworth, Chief of the USDA Forest Service. "They improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediment, provide wildlife habitat, and absorb rainfall to reduce flooding. The work of these award recipients to protect and restore our critical wetland resources is truly commendable."
For more information on the National Wetlands Awards winners, or the ceremony, contact Erica Pencak at wetlandsawards@eli.org, http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org/index.htm or 202-939-3822.