DNR Announces 2003 Award Winners For Employee, Farmer, And Conservationist Of The Year
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Wildlife and Heritage Service (WHS) of Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced this year’s award winners for employee, farmer, and conservationist of the year.
“It is my distinct pleasure to recognize this year’s winners,” said Paul A. Peditto, WHS director. “I am sincerely appreciative of the extraordinary dedication, enthusiasm, and passion that each of the recipients has put forth to help us make Maryland a better place for wildlife.”
The Wildlife Advisory Commission, established by law to advise DNR’s Secretary on wildlife matters, annually selects recipients from a nominee list assembled the previous calendar year. The list invariably includes many highly qualified and deserving individuals and organizations.
“We always receive many exceptional nominations for each category, and I am grateful for the hard work of the commission in conducting their difficult deliberations,” Peditto said.
The WHS Employee of the Year Award went to Christy L. Felker, administrative specialist. The quality of her customer service is unsurpassed, as is her commitment to providing support to DNR staff. She is hard working, thorough, conscientious, enthusiastic, and unfailingly friendly and pleasant, even under trying circumstances.
“Anyone who has contacted Christy Felker in our Cumberland office is familiar with her absolute professionalism and tireless efforts to provide excellent customer service,” said Peter Jayne, associate director for WHS regional operations. “Her contributions to the world of wildlife management in western Maryland are legendary.” Pete added, “Any organization would be lucky to have her as an employee.”
Laureen McLeer, resident of Cecil County, received the Farmer of the Year Award. McLeer has been an outstanding steward of her farm for many years. On her 339-acre farm along Herring Creek in Chesapeake City, she has implemented a variety of best-management practices that continue to benefit her cropping system, the environment, and wildlife habitat.
On her property, McLeer manages the wildlife habitat for diversity by planting warm-season grasses and cold-season grass filter strips. She has restored and created acres of wetlands and upland habitat. While taking measures to control the deer population, she has continually added or improved acres of habitat for wild turkey, other game birds, and songbirds, and their populations have consequently risen. McLeer's farm is enrolled in a Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation District, and she serves on the board of directors for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.
Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage (CWH), founded in 1980 and headquartered in Easton, was chosen as the Conservationist of the Year. CWH is dedicated to the creation, restoration, and protection of wildlife habitat through cooperation with private and public landowners and by means of direct action, education, and research. CWH manages five core programs.
· The Chesapeake Care Program builds and restores wetlands and upland buffers on previously converted farmland. Besides providing nesting and migratory habitat for a variety of wildlife, restored wetlands filter nutrients and sediments from surface water, thus preventing them from reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
· The Sustainable Agriculture Program works to integrate wildlife habitat and agriculture on the Delmarva Peninsula. By implementing sustainable farming techniques, CWH demonstrates that wildlife and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive.
· The Wildlife Nesting Structure Program builds and installs nesting boxes in appropriate habitats for many bird species, such as bluebirds, wood ducks, purple martins, ospreys, and owls. For example, more than 8,000 wood duck nesting boxes have been installed on rivers and creeks throughout the Chesapeake watershed through the CWH Wood Duck Box Program, the largest such effort in the Mid-Atlantic region.
· The Education and Outreach Program has two parts. The Backyard Habitat portion advises property owners on habitat projects that are suitable for smaller sized properties. The Education portion works with schools, community organizations, and residential and commercial development interests to promote habitat restoration and protection.
· The Landowner Services Program is a consultation service for landowners interested in preserving land and restoring wildlife habitat while achieving maximum financial benefit from long-term disposition plans. The Conservation Buyer Program matches environmentally sensitive land for sale with buyers interested in permanently protecting it.
In addition to these programs, CWH helps to control noxious weeds through its phragmites-spraying program. With DNR, CWH also implements the Waterfowl Festival Goose Sanctuary Program on 18 farms to provide food and shelter for wintering migratory geese.
Call Chris Pupke, CWH director of development, at 410-822-5100, or visit CWH’s website at www.cheswildlife.org to learn more about the organization and its activities.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov