Nominations now open for Devils Lake Basin Water Stewardship Award

Nominations for the 2019 ‘Devils Lake Basin Water Stewardship Award’ are being accepted by the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board until Thursday, Oct. 31.

The award was established in December 2002 to recognize individuals, groups, organizations and projects that have demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for the Devils Lake Basin community through their efforts to improve land and water stewardship in the Devils Lake Basin.

Recent winners include Huck Krueger in 2014 for his contribution to the education of the Devils Lake flooding situation through his aerial photographs. In 2016 the award went to two individuals: Paul Becker for his 20+ Years as a Ramsey County Water Resource Board Member & Kevin Bonham, a retired journalist with Forum Communications who covered the Devils Lake Basin for over 20 years. Arne Berg received the award in 2017 for his many contributions to the residents of the Devils Lake Basin, first as a Ramsey County Commissioner during the height of the flooding and the rise of the waters within the basin and then a State Water Commissioner. Last year the award was presented to the Nelson County Water Resource Board for their efforts on the Michigan Spillway/Flood Reduction Project.

Board Chairman Albin Jallo stated, “Nominations will be accepted from any individual, organization or governmental body in the Devils Lake Basin which includes Cavalier, Eddy, Nelson, Pierce, Ramsey, Towner and Walsh Counties.”

Nomination information will be furnished to County Commissions, Extension Agents, Soil Conservation Districts and Water Boards in the seven counties according to Jallo. Nomination information is also available from any Board member, contacting the Joint Board office in the Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake or at http://www.dlbasin.com.

“All nominations will be judged by an independent panel of Basin residents familiar with the four areas of the Devils Lake Basin Water Management Plan: Agriculture, Recreation, Wildlife & Fisheries and Economic Development. All of these areas play a vital role in the future of the Basin Community” Jallo added.

The award will be presented at the Annual Water Conference Award Banquet in Bismarck on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Ramkota Hotel.