This article was written and posted on INHF's website in March 2007.
A national wildlife protection award winner says Greene County landowners deserve a big share of the credit.
Joe McGovern, the director of land stewardship for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, has been awarded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion Award for his work with the endangered Topeka shiner, a rare fish. McGovern, the USFWS and other partners worked with six Greene County landowners to enhance Topeka shiner habitat on Buttrick Creek and Cedar Creek.
Service Director H. Dale Hall recently named McGovern as one of 16 national recipients of the award, which recognizes outstanding contributions toward efforts aimed at recovering threatened and endangered species in the United States.
“The Recovery Champion award not only recognizes the exceptional conservation accomplishments of the honorees, it also provides the public with a unique opportunity to learn about endangered species conservation,” said Hall. “These Recovery Champions are extraordinary conservationists dedicated to protecting and restoring our nation’s wildlife and ensuring that future generations of Americans enjoy the natural treasures we experience today.”
McGovern was honored for his work engaging landowners and partners in efforts to restore habitat for the Topeka shiner in west central Iowa. McGovern’s efforts brought together a broad group of stakeholders that included farmers, federal and state natural resource agencies, as well as a number of partner organizations to help design, construct, and fund the habitat projects that are currently in place.
“Joe’s work with the Topeka shiner is producing on-the-ground results for this endangered species,” said Service Midwest Regional Director Robyn Thorson. “He is directly responsible for expanding habitat for the shiner, which is now occupying a number of restoration sites. Without a doubt, Joe’s work has helped move the Topeka shiner down the road toward recovery.”
Several habitat restoration and enhancement projects were implemented through McGovern’s contacts with private landowners and conservation contractors in the North Raccoon River watershed where the majority of natural Topeka shiner populations occur in Iowa. These projects have also increased public awareness and improved landowner relations in the project area. Projects constructed on Buttrick Creek and Cedar Creek in Greene County, Iowa, have been used as examples of successful projects for other landowners, and to conduct workshops for fishery professionals.
“I’m flattered to receive this award, but I think a lot of credit should go to the six Greene County landowners who willingly let us improve Topeka shiner habitat on their land,” said McGovern. “They show how agriculture and conservation can work together.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit conservation group that protects Iowa’s land, water and wildlife.
For more information, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion website.