Coastal Steward of the Year

Dr. George F. Crozier, Executive Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Dr. Crozier is being honored for his long and tireless dedication and commitment to the preservation and management of coastal resources in Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico. State and federal officials, corporations, the news media and public know him as a true champion of coastal stewardship.

His contributions range from providing strong leadership in the scientific community for specific projects to playing a key role in the success of permanent institutions such as the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the Mobile Bay Estuarium which have become centers of research and education for thousands of scientists, students and members of the public. The estuarium, open since 1998, has given over 85,000 visitors a greater understanding of Alabama's coastal environment.

Dr. Crozier is not only an expert on the technical and scientific matters, he's also somewhat of an expert on people. His leadership and consensus building skills have been a keystone in the success of many advisory boards, commissions, and panels of which he has been a welcome member. A recipient of many professional awards and honors throughout his career, Dr. Crozier is adept at explaining complex issues in ways that are easy to understand for the public, policy makers, and other scientists. His enthusiasm and ability to connect with others makes him a much sought after speaker and an excellent ambassador of coastal stewardship. As an Alabama state environmental official said of Dr. Crozier, "The protection of Alabama coastal resources has had no greater champion, nor the integration of education, research, and management no greater mentor."

Excellence in Local Government

Cameron Parish Police Jury, Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

The Cameron Parish Police Jury, Louisiana's equivalent of a county board, literally leads the state's coastal parishes in preservation and management of coastal and ocean resources. Cameron Parish played a key role in establishing the "Coalition of Coastal Parishes" to help develop and disseminate information about the state's coastal restoration efforts and to give the parishes a forum to discuss and coordinate their work regarding the management of vegetated wetlands, flooding, drainage, sewage, and other matters.

The parish's local coastal program is seen as a model for balancing the competing uses of the coastal zone for the long-term economic growth and conservation of resources. The Cameron Parish Police Jury has been a key partner in the development of the state's "Coast 2050 Plan," a major planning effort designed to guide coastal restoration efforts through the 21st century.

The Cameron Parish Police Jury galvanizes citizens, industry, and all levels of government into a cohesive local coastal management team that develops and implements effective plans to protect and preserve fragile coastal and ocean resources.

Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study

Daniel Hudgens, Boston, Massachusetts, for studies at the Department of Environmental Coastal and Ocean Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Mr. Hudgens is recognized as an exemplary graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sciences program. His thesis, "The Implications of Sea Level Rise for the Coastal Flood Protection Regime" is cited as a particularly outstanding work. He successfully captured and blended key environmental, social, legal and economic concerns and issues in a coherent and useful document which has been selected for publication in the journal Coastal Management this Fall under the title, "Adapting the National Flood Insurance Program to Relative Sea Level Rise."

Some estimates on the potential cost of coastal flooding due to sea level rise over the next century range into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Mr. Hudgen's research and analysis of the effects of sea level rise is a valuable contribution to coastal and ocean policy decision makers who must manage current and future coastal hazard mitigation plans and programs.

David H. Shull, Boston, Massachusetts, for studies at the Department of Environmental Coastal and Ocean Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Mr. Shull's work has contributed to the Federal State "Boston Harbor Navigation Improvement Project," and port and coastal managers around the nation are following his progress. His investigations into the mixing of marine sediments, their impacts on marine animals, and management of dredged materials have had a significant impact on the science and management of dredging in Boston Harbor.

His Ph.D. dissertation, "Mechanistic modeling of particle mixture in marine sediments," and other studies he has led analyzed the effectiveness of "sand caps" placed over contaminated dredge material pits. The studies found the original "sand caps" to be ineffective or missing altogether.

Mr. Shull's work, in union with his colleagues, directly resulted in improvements in sand capping of dredged materials. For example, a model he produced as part of his dissertation, "Predicting Dredged Material Cap Thickness from Data on Benthic Community Structure," will help coastal managers around the nation deal more effectively with dredging issues. His dedication to coastal stewardship is reflected not only in the quality of his work, but also in the mud and muck often found on his diving gear following his arduous and sometimes dangerous field work.

Catherine M. Wannamaker, Raleigh, North Carolina, for studies at the North Carolina Sea Grant/North Carolina State University.

A real understanding of what's behind the blaring headlines about "Dead Zones" and other problems in the coastal areas requires hard work and solid scientific study like that of Catherine Wannamaker. Her thesis, "Effects of Hypoxia on Movements and Behavior of Estuarine Species" focuses on one of the most important and immediate problems connected with the growing problem of oxygen depletion in our coastal waters.

Ms. Wannamaker's work in this field resulted in an outstanding data set on fish responses to hypoxia that is already in use by several other researchers and institutions. During her work she has immersed herself not only in rigorous scientific and environmental studies but also into world of marine and coastal policy issues. This combination of dedication to understand what's actually happening in coastal waters -- coupled with a drive to inform decision makers to help them make wise choices about what happens to coastal waters -- is a cornerstone of coastal stewardship and vital to the health of our coastal environment.

David A. Hart, Madison, Wisconsin, for studies at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute and Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility.

Mr. Hart's work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application to coastal hazard mitigation in Wisconsin is seen by many as charting the course for the future of work in this field. His work has become a valuable hazard mitigation tool for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and others charged with the management and protection of Wisconsin's coastal resources.

Mr. Hart developed new and innovative applications for GIS technology that have proved useful for predicting and managing coastal problems ranging from non-point source pollution to erosion. He freely shares his ideas by developing and presenting training courses to federal, state, local, tribal, and non-governmental organizations involved with coastal zone management.

His work not only applies to the big-picture realm of protecting coastal property and resources, but it is also useful to emergency response agencies to save lives. Mr. Hart's GIS applications help officials forecast floods, erosion and other potentially life threatening events and plan ways to avoid deaths and injuries. His work to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of Wisconsin through wise coastal management is a fine example of coastal stewardship.

David Robinette, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, for studies at North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill.

Isolating and identifying polypeptide antibiotics in skin as a defense against disease may not seem important -- unless you are a channel catfish. In fact, the discovery of such antibiotics in many species of fish has now been made thanks to the work of Mr. Robinette.

As part of his research into the molecular immunology of nonspecific defenses in fish, Mr. Robinette opened a new line of research into what his colleagues are calling "histone-like proteins" or HLPs, that could prove vital to management of both natural fish species and the aquaculture industry. Measuring the levels of natural defenses in fish, such as those discovered by Mr. Robinette, may help predict or even prevent problems from toxins, infections, or other threats to fish. Experts believe his work will lead to the development of an easy, accurate field test for assessing the health of fish and improved monitoring of the aquatic ecosystem.

Jill Fegley, Orono, Maine, for studies at the University of Maine.

Ms. Fegley's studies of the effects of rockweed harvesting in the ecology of intertidal areas on the coast of Maine are helping to fill gaps in our understanding of marine ecology and provide coastal resource managers with information they need. Rockweed is an important commercially harvested seaweed that also supports myriad other species such as fish that are also ecologically and economically important.

Prior to Ms. Fegley's research in this field regulatory agencies and coastal resource managers sometimes found it difficult to manage rockweed harvesting. A relatively recent increase in rockweed harvesting made the need for scientifically sound information crucial to the long-term environmental and economic health of the region. Ms. Fegley, a member of the Maine Seaweed Council, is considered an authoritative spokesperson on rockweed and co-authored a report outlining recommendations for seaweed harvesting based on her studies. Her contributions are expected to provide the basis of the State's seaweed management plan.

She has shared her ideas and knowledge with others by giving lectures to undergraduates at the University of Maine and Maine Maritime Academy, participating in workshops, and presenting information at symposia. Her ability to provide information that is immediately useful to resource managers and her dedication to study and wise management of coastal and ocean resources make Ms. Fegley a respected and welcome member of the coastal stewardship family.

Christopher Nietch, Columbia, South Carolina, for studies at the University of South Carolina.

Mr. Nietch has done extensive research into differences between the estuaries and wetlands of various watersheds to determine the natural and human impacts on coastal resources. By focusing on the nutrient and carbon biogeochemistry of different tidal marshes, he has helped resource managers determine the effects of land use and other variables on coastal wetlands. His work serves as a benchmark for future studies related to watershed size, land-use, and the fertility and productivity of estuaries.

Mr. Nietch used unique methods and helped create new equipment to accurately, effectively, and economically make the measurements necessary to study some 15 different marsh sites within four separate estuaries in South Carolina. He has circulated widely within the coastal stewardship community to make his findings available to other researchers, coastal resource managers, and policy makers alike. His work has contributed to both a greater public awareness of the issues that impact sensitive coastal wetlands and to the long-term management of these valuable resources.

Excellence in Local Government

Cameron Parish Police Jury, Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

The Cameron Parish Police Jury, Louisiana's equivalent of a county board, literally leads the state's coastal parishes in preservation and management of coastal and ocean resources. Cameron Parish played a key role in establishing the "Coalition of Coastal Parishes" to help develop and disseminate information about the state's coastal restoration efforts and to give the parishes a forum to discuss and coordinate their work regarding the management of vegetated wetlands, flooding, drainage, sewage, and other matters.

The parish's local coastal program is seen as a model for balancing the competing uses of the coastal zone for the long-term economic growth and conservation of resources. The Cameron Parish Police Jury has been a key partner in the development of the state's "Coast 2050 Plan," a major planning effort designed to guide coastal restoration efforts through the 21st century.

The Cameron Parish Police Jury galvanizes citizens, industry, and all levels of government into a cohesive local coastal management team that develops and implements effective plans to protect and preserve fragile coastal and ocean resources.

Volunteer of the Year

Les Hodgson, Brownsville, Texas.

Les Hodgson is widely known and recognized in South Texas for his extensive work to protect endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles. Hodgson inspires volunteers, organizes community groups and conducts public education campaigns to protect the turtles. He recruited the National Fisheries Institute, the Texas Shrimp Association, and several companies to support sea turtle conservation projects.

Mr. Hodgson personally participates in beach patrols and other field work to insure turtle nests and hatchlings along Gulf Coast beaches in Texas and Mexico are not harmed or disturbed. He works closely with Rancho Nuevo, a bi-national public-private sea turtle conservation effort which includes organizing volunteers to patrol beaches during turtle hatches, and he personally oversaw the overhaul and upgrading of a fleet of all terrain vehicles crucial for conducting beach patrols in the region.

In 1985 there were only about 800 turtle nests at their principal nesting beach at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, but thanks to the efforts of Mr. Hodgson there are now more than 4,000.

Non-governmental Organization of the Year

The Galveston Bay Foundation, Galveston Texas.

The Galveston Bay Foundation has been a major force in reversing the decline of Galveston Bay, which has lost tens of thousands of acres of wetlands since the 1950s. The foundation has acquired over 2,000 acres of wetlands for protection and enhancement. The foundation mobilized over 400,000 hours of volunteer labor to clean up and restore the Galveston coastal area.

They mustered support to include the bay in the National Estuary Program by building partnerships among the fishing and other industries, government, and citizens. Galveston Bay Foundation helped fight the construction of a copper smelting facility that would have included direct discharges into the bay.

The foundation has organized volunteer planting of 1-million square feet of marsh and sea grasses to help restore living marine resources of the area. Much of the grass was supplied by the foundation's own nursery. It has also been a leader in coastal education. Among the many innovative programs is the Galveston Bay Ambassador's Speaker Bureau whose message has reached over 30,000 area residents.

The foundation's staff and volunteers are a model of cooperative action answering the call do the work necessary to protect the bay from organizing meetings, reviewing permits, offering solutions to environmental problems, and getting their hands dirty reclaiming precious wetlands.

Excellence in Promoting Diversity in Coastal or Ocean Resource Management

Leonard Kapahulehua, Kihei, Hawaii.

Mr. Kapahulehua, as president of the Kihei Canoe Club, is dedicated to enriching the lives of the children of Maui. He blends Native Hawaiian values about caring for the land and ocean into educational programs for the youth that actually help preserve Maui's coastal zone. He instills coastal stewardship through hands-on projects -- canoe paddling, growing and planting native Hawaiian coastal plants on sand dunes, and orchestrating beach cleanups. Children who attend his programs develop self-esteem, a sense of responsibility and respect for the environment.

He created and organizes the annual celebration of canoes festival at Lahaina that teaches young and old alike about the rich native Hawaiian culture.

Excellence in Business Leadership

Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, Houma Louisiana.

The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce has effectively advanced the goals of coastal zone management by educating local citizens of the need to preserve and protect dwindling coastal habitats while fully supporting existing business and industry. It's members have taken the bold and unique step of acknowledging their personal and organizational responsibility to educate themselves, the community and the nation about the critical loss of wetland habitat and degradation of water quality being experienced in the 4.2- million acre Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary.

In response to a rapid loss of wetlands in the area, the chamber established "Operation S.O.S., Save Our Soil" with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and public and private schools. Operation SOS generated over 14,000 letters from school children to federal and state officials asking for their help in combating coastal erosion and wetland loss. Since Operation S.O.S. began a national wetlands conference has been held, and public awareness of the plight of wetlands is at an all time high.

The chamber continues to be a pioneer in bringing the businesses and communities together to address coastal and ocean resource issues.

Excellence is Coastal Zone Management

Three California state agencies that are partners in the state-federal interagency San Francisco Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO): The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission; the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board; and the California State Lands Commission.

These state agencies have played a key role in protecting and preserving the environment, educating the public about environmental and economic issues related to dredging, fairly representing and coordinating the interests of myriad public, private, governmental, and industry groups impacted by dredging, and streamlining the dredging permit process.

The involvement of the three state agencies has allowed the DMMO to become the single point of contact for all dredging project applicants in the area making what was once a confusing and complicated process easier and more efficient.

In addition to increasing public awareness and involvement in dredging issues and streamlining the permit process, the state agencies' involvement in the DMMO has resulted in enhanced environmental review of dredge project proposals. The state agencies have been hailed by their federal partners as a model for using common sense and innovation to accomplish effective coastal and ocean resource management.

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