Date: April 8, 2010
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363
Rocky Mountain National Park Superintendent Vaughn Baker announced that the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is the recipient of the 2009 Rocky Mountain National Park Stewardship Award. The National Park Service proudly presents the Stewardship Award to outstanding individuals and organizations that contribute significantly to the stewardship of the park and the surrounding environment. CDOW was selected for this award in recognition of their cooperative efforts advancing the long term protection of Rocky Mountain National Park.
The National Park Service and Colorado Division of Wildlife have worked collaboratively over the years to address a variety of issues facing the park. This successful collaboration has produced numerous benefits for park wildlife and habitat. The issues include elk and vegetation management, management of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk populations, boreal toad reintroduction, and education of school children about wildlife and the outdoors. In addition, regular consultation and cooperation at the field level have helped to manage a variety of other species including greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado River cutthroat trout, lynx, wolverine, bear, moose, bighorn sheep and pika.
The award was presented to Tom Remington, Director, Steve Yamashita, Regional Manager, and Larry Rogstad, Area Wildlife Manager at Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday and today at the Wildlife Commission Meeting in Pueblo.
Past recipients of the park’s stewardship award include:
- Karl Cordova, Karen Battle-Sanborn and Jim Freeman in recognition of their leadership in the settlement claim of the Grand River Ditch breach, the largest natural resource damage payment in the history of the Park System Resource Protection Act (19jj).
- The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Air Pollution Control Division, the Environmental Protection Agency – Region 8, and the National Park Service – Air Resources Division, in recognition of their collaborative support in advancing the long-term protection of the park by assisting in preparing the Rocky Mountain National Park – Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan.
- The Towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, for support in advancing the long-term protection of Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Bureau of Land Management – Kremmling Field Office, for coordinating a complicated land exchange that enabled the park to preserve and protect a particular tract of land in its undisturbed state for wildlife habitat.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation, for the protection of The McGraw Ranch Historic District and other historic resources in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- The Rocky Mountain Nature Association, for preserving natural and cultural resources and contributing greatly to the education of millions of people who visit the park and for its lasting and outstanding contributions to the mission of the park.
- The Estes Valley Land Trust, for preserving open space in the Estes Valley and for adding to the park through protecting adjacent lands.
- The Estes Park Chapter, League of Women Voters, for its critical role in achieving a ban on commercial tour overflights above Rocky Mountain National Park.
- James Disney, former Larimer County Commissioner, for his advocacy of protecting and preserving Colorado’s public lands, particularly Rocky Mountain National Park.
- John Fielder, in recognition of his two-year long project of photographically recording all of Rocky Mountain National Park’s lakes, and for his many years of advocacy for America’s wild places.
- The Shining Mountain Group of the Colorado Mountain Club for its years of volunteer work including removing trash from the park, trimming back vegetation along park roads and trails, assisting with a parkwide visitor use survey and removing barbed wire fencing that posed danger to park wildlife and visitors.
- Two co-recipients – (1) Pieter Hondius, Estes Park businessman and developer, for his efforts in establishing the Estes Valley Land Trust, an organization that encourages land donations by private citizens to help preserve open spaces in the area; and (2) Lurline Curran, Kremmling resident and Grand County (CO) planner, for her work in promoting development on private lands adjacent to the park that is compatible with the national park’s scenic grandeur.
- Stephen W. Gillette, Estes Park businessman and recycling proponent, for his efforts as the principle mover behind the Larimer County project SOAR (Save Our Area Resources).
- Jean Weaver, Estes Park resident, for her work over the years in establishing a viable recycling program in the Estes Park area.
