2024 Conservation Celebration Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's Conservation Celebration! This years event featured an two informational presentation about prescribed fire. Specifically, Dale Swedburg presented on how to use fire as a land management tool and and Colin Sternagel presented on how a local Prescribed Burn Association was established in Cascadia County.

Following the presentation Okanogan CD staff members shared program updates and highlighted current projects including information. We then celebrated exceptional landowners and partners for their conservation work this year! Read about the six award winners below.

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Conservation Celebration 2024 - Conservation Partner of the Year

The Okanogan CD awarded the City of Okanogan Public Works crew with the Conservation Partner award. This award recognized their outstanding teamwork and enduring commitment to natural resource conservation.

The Public Works crew are valuable partners of the Okanogan River Airshed Partnership, and helped the district host the largest chipping event to date in the City of Okanogan last spring. They help hundreds of residents chip woody materials, managing a higher than expected turnout, and working additional days. Their work aided the community and keeps our air clean.

Congratulations and thank you for your partnership, City of Okanogan Public Works!

This award was accepted by Okanogan Mayor Wayne L. Turner.

Conservation Celebration 2024 - Conservation Excellence Award

Anne Mac Donaugh & Cheryl McGinley were recently awarded the conservation excellence award for recognition of their partnership and support of natural resource conservation in extraordinary circumstances.

Anne and Cheryl have lived on their property along Lightning Creek since 1996 and have been fierce advocates for the conservation and post-fire recovery in the Okanogan Highlands. Even in the face hardship due to recent fires, they have actively worked with Okanogan CD to recover their land and hosted staff from other agencies hoping to learn more about the issues impacting their watershed.

Congratulations, Anne and Cheryl, and thank you for your work!

Conservation Celebration 2024 - Sustainability Star Award

The Methow Beaver Project has been selected as this year’s Sustainability Star for dedication and passion in restoring

sustainable landscapes. Their work has led to healthier streams, improved water storage, and the restoration of healthy riparian habitats in Okanogan County.

The Methow Beaver Project has fostered coexistence with beavers by providing solutions and resources to landowners, training practitioners in floodplain restoration, and offering educational programs for students of all ages. This includes providing hands-on experience through the installation of beaver dam analogs and other floodplain restoration projects, which help to visualize the information.

Congratulations, Methow Beaver Project!

Conservation Celebration 2024 - Cooperator of the Year award

This year, our Cooperator of the Year award recognized Nancy Strong and Michael Smart for their exemplary commitment to cooperative conservation and implementation of conservation practices.

In 2020, the Cold Springs Fire, led to damage to Nancy and Michaels property. Driven by a love for the land, they embarked on a riparian restoration project which included installation of over a hundred native plants to revitalize the riparian zone. Since then, they've diligently tended to the plants, ensuring their survival. Thanks to their hard work, their project is thriving, providing improved water quality and habitat for wildlife.

Thank you, Nancy and Michael, for your commitment to conservation!

Conservation Celebration 2024 - Conservation Teacher Award

Ton Rietveld was recently selected for the Conservation Teacher Award, recognizing his creative energy and action in educating young people in natural resource conservation.

Ton is the garden coordinator within the Tonasket School District where his notable work ethic and insight shines through. He works with students in the garden to find creative ways to help them blossom. Even students who might struggle with traditional schooling methods have become more comfortable, confident, and thrive in the garden space that he has cultivated. Additionally, Ton has also taken phenomenal incitive to apply for grants and expand his work.

We are so fortunate to partner with Ton Rietveld and Tonasket School Garden in outdoor education. Congratulations Ton!

Conservation Celebration 2024 - Norm McClure Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award

Dennis Papa was awarded the 2024 Norm McClure Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award. This honor recognizes his enduring commitment to the principles and practices of voluntary natural resources conservation.

Dennis has worked with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for 15 years. For more than a decade he has worked with Colville's Habitat Program where he performs a wide range of tasks such as measuring stream flow and manually removing noxious weeds from floodplain properties. Dennis has also played a major role in our local environmental education programs, helping to establish the Ecology of the Okanogan Program, and assisting with teaching ecology lessons to students, calmly and patiently leading hands-on activities to identify aquatic insects and data gathering. Dennis has invested the time and effort to understand the principles of conservation and remains excited about sharing that understanding and knowledge with others.

Congratulations, Dennis! Thank you for all you do.

Chris Fisher is attended the event to receive the award in Dennis' place.

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