Waters Champion - 2003
The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission honored outstanding contributions
to protecting Dane County waters with the 2003 Dane County Waters Champion Awards
on Friday, June 20 at the Madison Monona Terrace Hilton Hotel.
The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions Award is an
annual recognition of outstanding contributions to the protection and improvement
of our County’s lakes and streams at a ceremony on the Friday of Yahara Lakes Week
in June. The awards recognized individuals, businesses and organizations whose
commitment to Dane County’s water resources and whose work on their behalf has
made a positive difference in protecting and improving water quality as well
as the scenic, economic, recreational and environmental value of those lakes and streams.
Commission Chair Shary Bisgard presented the Awards to this year’s recipients:
Gordy Sussman
Kathleen Falk congratulates Gordy Sussman on receiving a 2003 Dane
County Waters Champion Award from the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission.
The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions Award is
an annual recognition of outstanding contributions to the protection and
improvement of our County’s lakes and streams at a ceremony on the Friday of Yahara Lakes Week in June.
Gordy Sussman is the former owner and founder of Rutabaga Paddling Sports
in Monona. Honored for his individual contributions, Mr. Sussman has
enthusiastically supported a myriad of environment and water quality
improvement projects including Paddle and Portage, Take a Stake in the
Lakes, the Lussier Family Heritage Center and Capitol City Water Trails. His
support of Capitol Water Trails has allowed that organization to organize
as a non-profit and make a positive difference in the Maunesha, Wingra Creek,
Sugar River and Token Creek watersheds. He has also supported projects along
the Yahara River near Upper Mud Lake and the Nine Spring E-Way. Mr. Sussman’s
generosity and love for the waters has brought thousands of citizens closer to
the resources with appreciation, education and outdoor recreation in mind.
The Heffron Company
The Heffron Company, a family-owned real estate development company, from
Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission Chair Shary Bisgard. The Dane
County Lakes and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions Award is an annual
recognition of outstanding contributions to the protection and improvement
of our County’s lakes and streams at a ceremony on the Friday of Yahara
Lakes Week in June.
The Heffron Company is a family-owned real estate development company with
over 25 years of experience in developing residential subdivisions in Sauk,
Dane and Columbia Counties. Under the leadership of president Daniel Heffron,
the Company, which is being recognized in the business category, has taken
the lead in promoting environmentally friendly approaches to development of
land with special emphasis on stormwater management techniques. The
Commission is recognizing the Company for its St. Francis Development,
directly adjacent to Brewery Creek in Cross Plains. Working closely with the
Dane County Land Conservation Department, The Heffron Company
enthusiastically helped initiate a groundbreaking research effort connected
with the project, aimed at determining in-stream water quality impacts on
the sensitive Brewery Creek ecosystem. In addition, the Company developed
and implemented stormwater and erosion control practices in the development
that have effectively protected the Creek and its creatures.
Dan Heffron accepts a 2003 Dane County Waters Champion Award on behalf
of The Heffron Company, a family-owned real estate development company,
from Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission Chair Shary Bisgard. The
Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions Award is an
annual recognition of outstanding contributions to the protection and
improvement of our County’s lakes and streams at a ceremony on the
Friday of Yahara Lakes Week in June.
Ken Johnson
Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission
Chair Shary Bisgard presents Ken Johnson, Lower Rock River Water Leader for
the Department of Natural Resources, with a 2003 Dane County Waters Champion
Award. The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions
Award is an annual recognition of outstanding contributions to the
protection and improvement of our County’s lakes and streams at a ceremony
on the Friday of Yahara Lakes Week in June.
Ken Johnson, being honored for his individual contributions, is the Lower
Rock River Water Leader for the Department of Natural Resources. Working out
of the South Central Regional DNR office, Mr. Johnson supervises five
different water programs for the Lower Rock River Basin. He has brought his
expertise and professionalism to numerous committees, work groups and
challenges including: serving as a key member of the teams of water experts
convened by County Executive Falk to recommend solutions to the water issues
related to the MGE West Campus Co-generation facility; convening the Yahara
Lakes Advisory Group to help with flooding issues within the Yahara River
system; serving on a variety of facilitated educational groups to address
water issues in Dane County, including the Upper Yahara River Study Group on
navigational issues; and providing funding and support for development of
Dane County's Thermal Urban Runoff Model, a key component of Dane County's
award-winning Stormwater Management Program.
The Madison Fishing Expo
Steve Hauge accepts a 2003 Dane County Waters Champion
Award on behalf of The Madison Fishing Expo, a conservation group that funds
a variety of educational and resource protection projects, from Dane County
Lakes and Watershed Commission Chair Shary Bisgard. The Dane County Lakes
and Watershed Commission’s Water Champions Award is an annual recognition of
outstanding contributions to the protection and improvement of our County’s
lakes and streams at a ceremony on the Friday of Yahara Lakes Week in June.
The Madison Fishing Expo began as an organization created by some
everyday citizens who loved to fish, in order to provide education and
information to anglers and to provide an opportunity to give back to the
water resources that have provided each of them countless hours of
enjoyment. Along the way, the Madison Fishing Expo has become one of the
most generous and influential conservation groups, providing educational
programs to consumers, programs for children, funds for resource protection,
physical improvements to facilities, fish habitat improvements, and
shoreline protection projects. Funds generated through the hugely successful
annual Madison Fishing Expo are invested back into the community and the
Expo has donated more than $425,000 and partnered with more than 50
different organizations on a wide variety of effective educational,
restoration, safety and habitat protection projects.
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