LWV/RSC RIVER AWARD WINNERS

2003-TO THE PRESENT

 

2003 Award Winners

Billerica

Kevin Gilligan, founding member, Concord River Environmental Stream Team

Conservation Award

Joann Giovino, member of the Billerica Conservation Commission

Carlisle

River Steward Award

Greg Peterson, leader of the Carlisle Land Trust

Concord

River Steward Award

Mill Brook Task Force

Conservation Award

Musketaquid Arts and Environment Program

Lincoln

Conservation Award

Ann Gannett, State Representative and Chair of the State Water Supply Citizen Advisory Committee, the posthumous award given for her leadership and commitment

Sudbury

Conservation Award

Frank and Ursula Lyons for their work with the Hop Brook Association

Wayland

River Steward Award

Sally Newbury, for her service on the committee, to establish the Wild and Scenic River Designation

Conservation Award

Lewis Russell, Russell’s Garden Center, for environmentally sensitive advocacy for water conservation

2003 Award Winners

 

Billerica

Ellen Rawlings, Billerica Selectman, whose tenure has been marked by numerous strong stands for the environment and development of a Recreation and Open Space Plan

Carlisle

Vivian Chaput, the posthumous award given for her commitment to land planning and protection through 17 years of service on the Planning Board and 8 years on the Board of Selectman

Concord

CCHS students Emma Schumacher, Elena Coleman, and Katie Lebling for 5 years of enthusiastic participation in the Organization for the Assabet River Clean Up project

Lincoln

Anna Rollins, Rural Land Foundation, and Jane Leyton, Conservation Commission,as leaders of the Lincoln Green Fair Initiative, an innovative, educational, and fun approach to living in an environmentally friendly way

Maynard 

Jennifer Steel, Conservation Commission, and Paul Boothroyd, Historical Society, for their efforts to restore Ice House Landing, a brownfield site redeveloped as a public park on the banks of the Assabet River

Sudbury

The Sudbury Earth Decade Committee, for their education, advocacy, and passion to minimize the use of toxic pesticides in the environment at a local and state level

OUTSTANDING RIVER STEWARD AWARD

2005 AWARD WINNERS

Acton

Mary Michelman and the Acton Stream Awareness Project

Billerica

Margaret Hannon-Rizza, Assistant Director, Recreation Department, Town of Billerica, for implementation of the Open Space-Recreation Plan

Carlisle

Louise Hara and the Carlisle Trails Committee for creating the River Trail Boardwalk that encourages awareness and enjoyment

Concord

C.C. King, co-founder of the Musketaquid Arts and Environment Program for her leadership in organizing the Musketaquid Earth Floats and Earth Day program

Lincoln

Jen James, The Food Project, for leadership in development of Sustainable Agriculture and Workshop

Sudbury

Grove Wadman, for passionate involvement in the SuAsCo Fisheries Restoration Program and Assabet River Refuge Clean Up

Wayland

George Lewis, founder of the Sudbury Valley Trustees and conservation visionary

Westborough

Chris Rogers and Stephanie Garrett, Mill Pond School’s Everyday Heroes

2006 AWARD WINNERS

Acton

Jim Snyder-Grant and the Acton Land Stewardship Committee who made Acton’s 1,650 acres of conservation land and associated waters accessible to the public, yet protective of their resources

Bedford

Dave Ranney, Bedford Trails Committee, who brings the public to enjoy and appreciate Bedford’s portion of the Concord River

Billerica

Betsy Gallagher for many years of service as the Concord River’s ambassador in Billerica, generously guiding many visitors on her pontoon boat

Carlisle

Lynn Knight, for her six years as a volunteer monitoring water quality for the Organization for the Assabet River

Concord

Bob LeMaire, a beloved teacher at the Thoreau School, for implementation of the River Schools project for all 5th graders due to his energy and commitment

Southborough

Freddie Gillespie, founder of the Sudbury River Watershed Organization in response to the Sudbury River running dry in 1999

Sudbury

Karen and Ron Riggert who are models of local community involvement in watershed protection 

Wayland

Ken Moon, posthumous award in honor of his tireless commitment to conservation efforts in Wayland, in the watershed, and in the State

2007 AWARD WINNERS

Carlisle

Peter Burn, Carlisle Conservation Commission, and SuAsCo Watershed Association

Concord

Susan Erickson, teacher, and her 4th grade class, Thoreau School

Framingham

Michele Grzenda, Conservation Agent

Sudbury

Mike and Anne Meixsell, co-founder, Hop Brook Protection Association, lifelong environmental activists and mentors

Wayland

Brian M. Donahue, Professor, and Director of the Environmental Studies Program, Brandeis University, author and local expert on the great meadows of the Sudbury River valley

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

2008 AWARD WINNERS

Bedford

Libby Herland, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the driving force in blazing trails and expanding the Concord River Walk

Billerica

Chris Landers, producer of a slideshow called “Cruising the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers” and tour guide for Riverfest, for his vast knowledge of the Concord River

Carlisle

Thomas and D’ann Brownrigg, for their long-term commitment to wildlife diversity in the Concord River as well as raising public awareness of the area

Concord

Thoreau School Riverwalk Committee, (along with 2007 awardee Susan Erickson) for providing a handicapped-accessible trail to the Assabet River for children

Joanne Bissetta, Concord’s Water Conservation Coordinator, for her innovative programs to encourage wise use of water resources, including Community Conservation Challenge, healthy lawn initiatives, audits, rebates, and workshops

Maynard

Liz Lingener and Mike Stevens, Fowler Junior High School, for raising environmental awareness.

Sudbury

Susan Crane, Esq. for serving on the Board of Sudbury Valley Trustees, helping to protect Hop Brook, and promoting the Community Preservation Act in Sudbury.

Wayland

Sudbury Valley Photographers for capturing the beauty of our rivers

2009 AWARD WINNERS

Bedford

Bob Slechta, Dennis Warner, Peggy Hobbs, Susan Russo, and Don Corey for their work to restore and enhance the Two Brothers Rock site.

Billerica

Ralph Bacon for a lifetime of working, studying, and advocating for the rivers in his community.

Carlisle

Dr. Sally A. Zeilinski for her work to protect Britton’s Violet, a threatened wildflower found along the Concord River.

Concord

Sally Farrow for her work to create and implement river-based educational programs for youth across the SUASCO watershed for the past 10 years.

Lincoln

Joan C. Kimball, Director of the Massachusetts Riverways Program, for over 20 years of devotion to her home watershed, the SUASCO.

Maynard

A Vernal Pool Named Grace, an environmental science project created by the Grade 2 teachers at the Green Meadow School.

Sudbury

Debbie Dineer, Conservation Coordinator in Sudbury, for her work to protect the health of the Sudbury and Assabet watershed.

Wayland

Chris Devany and Cliff Kolovson, for creating Wayland Cleans Up!, a town-wide cleanup effort. 

2010 AWARD WINNERS

Bedford

Alan Bragg, for his trail maintenance work in Bedford and at the Concord Impoundments of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

Concord

Dr. Bryan Windmiller, for creating the Headstarting Program for Blanding Turtles and sharing it with students in Concord, Carlisle, and Sudbury.

Nathanial Marden, for fighting the invasive Water Chestnut plant on his own time and as the property manager for the Concord Land Conservation Trust.

Lowell

Jane Calvin, Executive Director of Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, for her work to preserve and restore the Concord River in Lowell and for creating the Concord River Greenway in Lowell.

Maynard

Mary Ann and Paul Scheiner, for their environmental stewardship with youth and their work with frog populations at the Assabet River, Great Meadows, and Oxbow National Wildlife Refuges.

Sudbury

Laury Hammel, for his commitment to running his business, the Longfellow Clubs, in an environmentally responsible way, thereby having a positive impact on the river

Wayland

The Wayland Conservation, including members Roger Blackman, Barbara Howell, J. Andrew Irwin, Robert Goldsmith, John Sullivan, and Joy Viola, for their tireless work on reviewing the Wayland Town Center project to assure appropriate impact on the riverfront area, wetlands, and related habitat.

2011 AWARD WINNERS

Acton

Al Pierce, also known as SuAsCo Al, for his tireless commitment to cleaning up the rivers as he paddles, blogging about his adventures, and sharing his experiences and setting a great example for students from the Thoreau School.

Bedford

Andrew Colgan, an Eagle Scout, who undertook the entire Bog Bridge Project utilizing his great leadership skills to complete a continuous corridor reaching through Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge to Minute Man National Historical Park.

Carlisle

Dr. Peter Burn, member of the Conservation Commission and River Stewardship Council and a founding member of the SUASCO Watershed Community Council, for his 25 plus years of commitment to and advocacy of the management and protection of the SUASCO rivers.

Lincoln

Kris Scopinich, for founding Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm’s RiverSchools program to provide opportunities for students to explore river habitats, do hands-on fieldwork, and share their knowledge with their communities, including using new technology. 

Stow, Hudson, Maynard, AND Sudbury

Neela de Zoysa, for her work to promote the newly created Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, including developing a website, producing maps, and reaching out to schools in the four towns to visit this new refuge.

Sudbury

The Ponds and Waterways Committee, including members David Blohm, Alan Basscom, Michael Dufault, Stephen Gabeler, Paul Greenspan, Rob Hershfield, Ted Klein, Mary Addonizio, and intern Mark Blohm, for their work to document the condition of all of Sudbury’s water resources and the creation of the watershed map used for public education. 

Wayland

The Trinitarian Congregational Church, for its commitment to the environment by installing and maintaining a porous pavement and driveway that protects river resources by allowing water to infiltrate back into the ground and replenish groundwater supplies.

2012 AWARD WINNERS

Acton, Concord, Sudbury, Wayland

Niki Tsongas, for her commitment to the rivers of the 5th Congressional District as highlighted by hosting an annual River Day to recognize the groups and individuals who make exceptional contributions to river protection efforts and her work on the Natural Resources Committee as our U.S. Representative.

Bedford

Adrienne St. John and Kristin Dowdy, for their efforts to bring Bedford into compliance with stormwater regulations through community education and identification of best management strategies to help protect the water quality of both the Concord and Shawsheen Rivers, culminating in Town Meeting approval of a stormwater bylaw.

Concord

Mrs. Erickson’s 5th Grade Class, for becoming effective advocates for the watershed by educating themselves and their community about endangered species through workshops, shared data, newspaper articles, presentations, and direct action.

Maynard

Dave Griffin, for his skillful leadership of the transition and expansion of OARS’ mission of advocacy, education, and scientific programming from one river to all three rivers in the watershed as well as his photography and presentations that bring the river to life.

Sudbury

Judy and Will Mack, for their volunteer stewardship of the SVT Gray Reservation in Sudbury.

Wayland

B. Patrick Conaway, for his commitment to leaving a small footprint on the earth by engaging neighbors, volunteers, and students in cleaning up local waterways and trails, promoting recycling, and creating a new generation of environmentalists and caretakers.

2013 AWARD WINNERS

Carlisle

Steve Tobin, Greg Peterson, Sally Swift, and Christa Collins for protecting Pagey’s Preserve, a magnificent piece of riverfront property within the Wild and Scenic segment of the Concord River.  These individuals and their respective organizations (Carlisle Conservation Foundation, Town of Carlisle, and Sudbury Valley Trustees) raised funds necessary for permanent protection.

Lowell

The Lowell Leaders in Stewardship (LLS) Class of 2013 for their exemplary work along the Concord River Greenway, including removing invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs, enhancing trail access, developing an outreach brochure, hosting a photo exhibit, and finally, sharing their expertise at a congressional River Day hosted by Rep. Niki Tsongas. 

Sudbury

Bill Place, Director of the Sudbury Public Works Department, for going above and beyond his job duties to support river protection efforts and local organizations (Hop Brook, SWEET, garden club) by providing his professional expertise as well as the resources of the Public Works Department, limiting the use of salt on town roads, and monitoring impacts of new development on wetlands.

Wayland

Wayland Wellhead Protection Committee (Sherre Greenbaum, Jennifer Riley, Tom Sciacca, Linda Segal, and Kurt Tramposch) for creating and implementing a plan to protect wellhead areas in Wayland.  The Committee undertook an extensive public outreach campaign, advised local committees and boards, co-sponsored town meeting articles, and always advocated for protection of water resources.  The Committee was recognized by EPA’s Watersense program for promoting conservation. 

2014 AWARD WINNERS

Acton

Bettina Abe, for her organization of water chestnut removal days from ponds feeding into the Assabet River and her stewardship of Acton’s Assabet River canoe launch.

Bedford

Mark Levine, Hal Ward, and Paul Marcus, for creating, blazing, and maintaining over 24 miles of trails and paths with access to the Concord River in Bedford.

Carlisle

Warren Lyman and Deborah Geltner, for installing and monitoring the first stream gauge in Carlisle on River Meadow Brook to gain information and help evaluate future water needs.

Sudbury

Ann Kirk, for organizing the first-hand pulls of water chestnuts clogging Stearns Mill Pond, with the help of the Hop Brook Protection Association, and improving the condition of the pond.

Wayland

Emily Norton, for initiating and overseeing the installation of a fence designed to keep turtles from crossing Route 27 with the result that turtle mortality has been nearly eliminated and her approach has been replicated along other roads in the state.

2015 AWARD WINNERS

Concord

Pam Rockwell, for her work in the cleanup efforts at the Starmet/Nuclear Metals superfund site, monitoring water quality for OARS for a decade and inspiring the next generation of river stewards.

Lowell

Teens Representing Environmental Excellency and Stewardship (TREES), a program of Lowell Leaders in Stewardship, for implementing all aspects of a campaign to encourage bottle and can recycling at their school and for learning about and advocating for the endangered American eel.

Sudbury

Michael Kossuth, for his Eagle Scout project to increase awareness of pollution carried by stormwater runoff and its impact on Hop Brook by identifying and marking drains that empty into Hop Brook and educating the public about stormwater pollution.

Anne Slugg, for her efforts to develop a map of family-friendly activities in the watershed and for organizing a traveling photographic exhibit of river photographs taken by the Sudbury Valley Nature Photographers in the watershed’s libraries.

2016 AWARD WINNERS

Concord

Cherrie Corey, for her work as a naturalist, writer, photographer, and educator, sharing her keen eye for the beauty and wonder of nature and bringing to life all the outstandingly remarkable resource values of the wild and scenic rivers.

Hopkinton and Framingham

Simon Vos and Jim Lagerbom, for sharing their love of the rivers with the public and inspiring others to experience the rivers in their own backyards by leading paddles to the rivers’ special places over many years.

Lincoln

Robin Stuart, for growing, sustaining, documenting, and funding the Mass Audubon RiverSchools Project, a community of teachers and schools dedicated to integrating the study of the rivers into their curriculum and building capacity of teacher and student naturalists.

Stow and Hudson

Allan Fierce and Dick Lawrence, for their invasive plant management by leading regular volunteer water chestnut control efforts on the Assabet River thus maintaining the biodiversity and recreational values of the river.

RIVER STEWARD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

2017 AWARD WINNERS

Bedford

Clem Larson, for his work completing a connection on an important Concord River Trail through public and private conservation trust land, including dealing with legal complications, building and installing bog bridges, placing signage, and maintaining this access to the river for all to enjoy into the future.

Framingham

Ron Chick, for his leadership and community engagement in tackling the problem of invasive Water Chestnut in the Sudbury River, bringing together residents; community partners; and town, state, and federal organizations to take action (pulling 400,000 plants) and developing a plan for ongoing maintenance.

Marlborough

Paul Goldman, for designing and teaching Water Wise Workshops on local lakes and ponds that reached approximately 1,000 children ages 6-10 in eight communities and for expanding their impact to libraries and beyond with energy, innovative thinking, and unbounded enthusiasm.

Sudbury

Eileen McGourty, for bringing her deep knowledge of wildlife biology, innovative methods, diligence, and perseverance to the control of invasive species in the SuAsCo watershed for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lowell

Teens Representing Environmental Excellency and Stewardship (TREES), for using knowledge gained from the Lowell High School “Environmental Adventures” program to coordinate a conference for teen environmental groups in the Merrimack and SuAsCo watersheds and empower students to take environmental action to protect our ecological resources.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

2018 AWARD WINNERS

Acton

Joseph Holmes, for his stewardship of the Acton Canoe Launch conservation parcel, leading volunteers to clean up trash; remove invasive species; develop trails; and improve habitat, parking, and visibility.

Billerica

Marlies Henderson, for her work preserving and publicizing the connection between the Middlesex Canal and nature by creating an exhibit (A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers), leading walks using Thoreau’s words, and inspiring the town to take ownership of the project.

Framingham

Kimberly Burlingame, for her work to develop, implement and monitor a five-year plan to improve the stretch of the Sudbury River in Saxonville from the infestation of invasive species that covered 95 percent of the surface, welcoming input from river abutters and encouraging community support.

Sudbury

Susan Collins, for her work as coordinator of the harvesting of invasive algae and water chestnuts in ponds that feed Hop Brook, applying for funding, working with governmental agencies, recruiting volunteers, monitoring the harvesting, and handling payments.

Wayland

Thomas Largy, for his organization of a management program on Heard Pond that has removed millions of pounds of water chestnuts over 15 years through experimentation and persistence so that infestation can now be controlled by hand-pulling leaving the pond clear for recreational boating and fishing.

2019 AWARD WINNERS

Concord

Beth Baryiames, for rallying her neighbors to connect Cousins Park to the Assabet River by removing invasive species, installing benches, soliciting funds to purchase native plants, and continuing to maintain the area, under the guidance of the Natural Resources Department.

Nancy and Reinier Beeuwkes, for donating their 142-acre property situated on the Concord River to Mass Audubon. Once the homestead of its first president, William Brewster, the property, named Brewster’s Woods, joins more than 1,700 acres of contiguous protected land, including Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.