May 20, 2009
UW-Stevens Point’s Lake Leaders Institute receives national recognition
The Lake Leaders Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been named a recipient of
the 2009 National Fish Habitat Award by a consortium of fish and wildlife conservation
agencies.
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) recognized the Institute and three other individuals and
organizations at the Jim Range National Casting Call in March in Washington DC. This was the second
year for the awards which bestow high honors for those raising awareness for fisheries and habitat
issues.
“The Lake Leaders Institute at Stevens Point is truly honored to accept this award,” said Becken.
“Community involvement and partnerships are key in making conservation initiatives work in the
Great Lakes region. This recognition displays the power of people putting their effort towards a
common goal in supporting education initiatives leading to success.”
Other award winners honored at the event were: Scientific Achievement Award - Stephen J. Jordan, Lisa
M. Smith, Janet A. Nestlerode of the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development;
Jim Range Conservation Vision Award - Yvon Chouinard (founder, Patagonia, Inc.); Extraordinary Action
Award - Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement).
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is a science-based investment strategy to conserve waterways and
make conservation dollars stretch farther by combining federal and privately raised funds to build
regional partnerships.
Since its genesis in the early 1970s, the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership located at UWSP has been recognized
as a national model of collaboration. Three groups form the core of this team: the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources supplies the technical expertise and regulatory authority; the University of
Wisconsin-Extension builds linkages among stakeholders and provides supporting educational materials
and programs; and local lake people are the third group, represented by the Wisconsin Association of
Lakes.
