WETLANDS AWARDS CEREMONY
Wisconsin Wetlands Awards recognize individuals and groups whose work advances the tri-fold mission of the Wisconsin Wetland Association - the protection, restoration and enjoyment of Wisconsin’s wetlands and related ecosystems. Read about our inaugual awardees below.

	Wetland Restoration Award: Art Kitchen, USFWS Art Kitchen was nominated for this award by Jim Ruwaldt, Private Lands Coordinator in Wisconsin for the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Art has worked for the USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program in Wisconsin for more than 15 years. During that time, Art has helped many private landowners to restore more than 125 wetlands encompassing more than 900 acres. Art has also advanced the science of wetland restoration, served as a mentor for new restoration professionals, and helped to educate the public about the importance of wetlands. He is known for his ability to inspire a "conservation spark" in landowners as he works with them to restore wetlands on their own properties.
	Wetland Protection Award: Leland Christenson, Landowner Leland (Lee) Christenson of Eleva, WI was nominated for this award by Bruce Norton of the US Army Corps of Engineers, an agency that is involved in wetland regulation and interacts frequently with landowners. Bruce noted that in his 30 year career, he cannot think of a landowner more committed to restoring and protecting wetlands. Lee has dedicated significant personal sums to purchase and restore wetlands on his own property. A biologist and lover of wildlife, Lee has created many acres of wetlands and he has also worked hard to ensure that these are high quality wetland habitats for wildlife like turtles and waterfowl. Lee worked for years to transform eroding farmland into an oasis of wetlands and other wildlife habitats that support native birds, frogs, fish and mammals.
	Wetland Enjoyment Award: City of Madison Parks Division The City of Madison Parks Division was nominated for this award by the Friends of Cherokee Marsh, for their efforts to preserve and restore wetlands in the upper Yahara River at Cherokee Marsh. Under the leadership of Russ Hefty, Conservation Resources Supervisor, the Parks Division is working to restore 80 acres of wetlands along the shoreline of the upper Yahara by establishing native wetland plants that serve as a breakwater and prevent erosion as well as provide habitat along the shoreline. The Park Division’s work is exceptional because they have done a tremendous amount of work to involve the public. Russ has led tens of tours of the site over the years for public groups and he has recruited scores of volunteers to help install wetland plantings. Russ and his colleagues have used this project as a vehicle to get people out to enjoy wetlands up close as well as to educate the public about wetlands and why they matter.

Award Categories
Protection - Work that ensures the protection of specific wetland sites or wetlands statewide including: strengthening wetland policies and regulations; grassroots advocacy; land acquisition.
Restoration - On-the-ground wetland restoration work and efforts that promote wetland restoration including: private and public restoration projects; invasive species control projects; general wetland stewardship; research, programs or materials that encourage wetland restoration.
Enjoyment - Anything that improves public understanding and appreciation of wetlands including: outreach programs; curriculum development; field trip programming, representation of wetlands in the arts; programs that promote recreational, hunting and bird watching opportunities associated with wetlands.

EVENT PHOTOS
Photos courtesy of Tod Highsmith and Alexia Sabor.

EVENT SPONSORS
WWA thanks the following sposnors for their support of this event:

Wisconsin Wetlands Association thanks the following businesses, organizations and people for contributing to this event: