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Nominations

The National Wetlands Awards Program honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of our nation’s wetlands. Take time to recognize exceptional individual achievement in wetlands conservation by submitting a nomination for the National Wetlands Awards.

The call for nominations for the 2010 National Wetlands Awards has closed. If you would like to view the nomination form and guidelines, they are available as a plain pdf and a word doc.

The Awards are given in six categories:
Education and Outreach: This award is presented to a teacher, nonprofit staffer, state/local government employee, or reporter involved in hands-on wetland education. For example, an inspirational school teacher who has developed a wetland course that brings children into the field to learn about wetland ecology.

Science Research: This award is presented to an academic, consultant, or other individual leading scientific research on wetland values and functions, restoration, or enhancement. For example, an individual who has spearheaded groundbreaking or influential research on wetland restoration.

Conservation and Restoration: This award is given to an individual who has accomplished the conservation or restoration of significant wetland resources through the use of on-the-ground restoration, management, or conservation methods on public or private lands. For example, an individual who has used an innovative approach to restore a wetland ecosystem, or someone who has contributed to the protection of a regionally significant wetland area through the use of tried-and-true conservation methods.

Landowner Stewardship: This award is presented to a private landowner, who, while using his or her private land for farming, forestry activities, ranching, or development, voluntarily helps restore, protect, or minimize impacts to wetlands. For example, a farmer involved in wetland restoration or conservation on his or her land or enlisting nearby landowners in such efforts, or a residential developer who provides significant protection or restoration of wetlands associated with a subdivision.

Please note that this Award is presented to a private landowner who is using at least part of his or her land for farming, ranching, development, etc. (i.e. entire parcel is not enrolled in a conservation program such as WRP).

State, Tribal, and Local Program Development: This award is given to a state, tribal, or local government employee who has developed and administered an outstanding wetland program. For example, a state government employee who has developed a streamlined wetland regulatory program, or a local government employee who has developed a wetland registry.

Wetland Community Leader: This award is given to an individual who has devoted significant time and energy to wetland protection by mobilizing concerned citizens to protect a wetland or introducing and spearheading the passage of wetland legislation. For example, an individual who has led a coalition of citizens to work with the state transportation agency to protect a local wetland system, or a person who has spearheaded a campaign to pass state legislation protecting wetlands.

HINT: Nominees for this Award could work at the local, state, regional, or national level.

Nomination Guidelines

We encourage you to provide additional information that may be helpful to the selection committee, such as letters of support, related articles, and press coverage. However, the nomination package must be no more than 20 single-sided or 10 double-sided pages in total . All supporting materials must be easily duplicated in black and white (i.e., color pages and color pictures do not reproduce well). We encourage, but do not require, electronic submissions. Brief written descriptions, resumes, or bibliographies should be submitted in lieu of video or audio recordings, books, posters, lengthy articles and reports, or similar materials.

We encourage the nomination of individuals nominated in the past but not selected for an award. Nomination information submitted in prior years will be reviewed by the selection committee. Previously submitted supporting materials, such as newspaper clippings and letters, should not be resubmitted.

Nominations must be for individuals—not organizations or groups of individuals—whose programs or projects operate at the regional, state, or local level. Federal employees are not eligible. Projects not currently in compliance with the Clean Water Act or similar state or local statutes, as well as projects compelled by enforcement actions under those statutes, are not eligible.

Please visit http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org for additional nomination forms and profiles of past years’ award recipients.

Submission Process

Please submit this nomination form and all supporting materials to wetlandsawards@eli.org, or to National Wetlands Awards, Environmental Law Institute, 2000 L Street NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20036, or by fax to 202-939-3868. We encourage, but do not require, electronic submission. Nominations are due December 15th, 2009.

For questions or to request additional copies of this form, please contact Landon Yoder at 202-939-3829 or wetlandsawards@eli.org.

Selection Process

Awardees will be chosen by a committee of wetland experts representing the conservation and business communities, as well as federal, state, and local governments. ELI strives to assemble a selection committee that represents all geographic regions of the United States.

Hints from Previous Selection Committe Members

Be very clear about the specific accomplishments of the nominee. Differentiate between being part of a team or group effort, and leading an effort or accomplishing something single-handedly.
Provide a clear statement of the intended audience of the nominee’s work.
To the extent possible, quantify the nominee's successes (e.g. in years worked, acres restored, students reached, etc.)

We encourage, but do not require, submissions via email. Please view the 2010 nomination form and guidelines for more information (available as a plain pdf or word doc).