Last modified: Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Awards presented to Division Of Wildlife Resources staff

SALT LAKE CITY — A number of Division of Wildlife Resources employees were honored recently for their dedicated service and commitment to Utah's wildlife.

They received their awards at a June 18 ceremony at the West Coast Hotel in Salt Lake City. Among the statewide awards presented were the prestigious Director's Award and the Director's Leadership Award.

2002 Director's Award

Anglers and others who appreciate the quality fishing streams and rivers in Northern Utah have Kent Summers to thank for many of them. An aquatic biologist in the Division of Wildlife Resources' Northern Region, Summers was presented the 2002 Director's Award, which is given annually to the Division's outstanding employee.

A resident of Hooper, Summers has more than 30 years experience with the DWR. "Kent was one of the first employees to complete all four of Rosgen's Stream Hydrology courses," said Kevin Conway, director of the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Armed with this knowledge, he enthusiastically set out to evaluate stream habitat in Northern Utah and design projects to restore and improve it."

Summer's expertise was quickly recognized by other agencies, including the Utah Department of Transportation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which invited him to national meetings to share his knowledge and concern for aquatic habitat. The NRCS also solicited his assistance in several pilot projects with private landowners in the Chalk Creek and Little Bear River drainages.

"Kent's easy going manner and understanding of private landowner problems allowed him to easily develop rapport with agricultural interests along Northern Utah streams," Conway said. "Private landowners began seeking out Kent for his expertise in restoring stream habitat and protecting their property from erosion."

Even before he gained this technical knowledge, Summers was hard at work helping Northern Utah streams. He spent many Saturdays working with Boy Scouts to place Christmas and cedar trees along eroding stream banks. "Kent begged and borrowed materials, from excess electrical cable to mining bolts, to hold the trees in position," Conway said. "This work became a family affair, with his wife Kay and his kids also helping out."

Summer's vast knowledge of Northern Region waters, which is often sought by fellow employees in their work, was also noted by Conway as a reason for him receiving the award.

2002 Director's Leadership Award

His work at helping sensitive aquatic species in Utah was among reasons Matthew Andersen was awarded the Division's first Director's Leadership Award. This new award will be presented annually to an employee who consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership skills in the performance of his or her job.

A resident of Salt Lake City, Andersen serves as the Division's native aquatic species coordinator.

Andersen took the lead in creating a professional working group, called the "FARM" team, which is in the process of conducting an intensive scientific review of fish, amphibians, reptiles and mollusks currently on the state Sensitive Species List.

"The FARM team will also develop and implement new criteria for determining the status of species," said Division of Wildlife Resources Director Kevin Conway. "This proactive strategy, aimed at documenting and providing scientific justification for the status of these animals — before their status is challenged — models the kind of new management strategies essential to assure the future of all wildlife in Utah."

Andersen was also recognized for preparing an annual budget that made effective use of funding from federal agencies and other sources, with less dependence on state general fund money.

"He encouraged employees to develop new projects to make more efficient use of available federal funding and state Endangered Species Mitigation Fund money," Conway said. "By doing so, it can safely be said that he not only saved the Division money, but also was responsible for saving jobs funded by general fund money, which would likely have been cut during recent rounds of budget cutting. And he did all this without adverse impacts on any of the programs for which he is responsible."

Additional statewide awards

In addition to statewide awards presented by the Division of Wildlife Resources, three organizations also presented Division staff with special recognition awards.

A fourth award, presented by Shikar Safari, was given in May at the annual meeting of the Division's Law Enforcement Section.

The Utah Wildlife Federation presented its yearly award to Justin Dolling, supervisor of the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. Dolling is a resident of Bountiful.

"The new visitor center and various public festivals regarding wildlife education and viewing which are hosted at Farmington Bay are examples of the leadership Justin has provided," said Bill Burbridge, chairman of the Utah Wildlife Federation. "Of course, none of this would be possible without the excellent management he has established at Farmington Bay, which attracts waterfowl and shorebirds from the entire continent. It's truly one the 'crown jewels' of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Network."

Don Paul, who recently retired as an avian biologist in the Division's Northern Region, was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Audubon Council of Utah.

Paul is a resident of Layton.

"Don was the unanimous choice of Audubon's four Utah chapters based on 34 years of professionalism and dedication to Utah's avian species and their habitat," said Audubon spokesperson Debbie Goodman. "Don not only approached every assignment with a high degree of interest and enthusiasm, but forged lasting friendships with numerous Audubon members over the years."

Dale Hepworth, aquatic manager in the Division's Southern Region, was honored by the Utah Angler's Coalition for his many years of service in southern Utah.

Hepworth is a resident of Cedar City.

"Dale has done a lot for the reestablishment of both Bonneville and Colorado River cutthroats and has worked relentlessly in developing quality fisheries, be they warm or cold water, in the Southern Region," said Wes Johnson of the Utah Angler's Coalition. "Especially noteworthy are his efforts at Minersville, Kolob, Manning Meadows, Quail Creek and many other reservoirs and streams. The two publications that Dale has put together on southern Utah's streams and reservoirs provide a wealth of information for both local and non-resident anglers."

At the Division's annual Law Enforcement Section meeting in May, Howard Jacquart was presented the 2001 International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award for Utah by Shikar Safari.

Jacquart serves as a conservation officer in the Division's Central Region, and also served part of 2001 as the region's investigator. He is a resident of Levan.

"Howard has been a tireless pursuer of wildlife law violators throughout his career and 2001 was no exception," his nomination letter read. "He was responsible for the adjudication of 139 wildlife violations. His hard work in Juab County and throughout the south end of the Central Region has resulted in increased compliance rates in both hunting and fishing activities in the area."

His mentoring of fellow officers, a good working relationship with other law enforcement agencies and the help he has provided fellow officers with firearms instruction were also cited as reasons for him receiving the award.