WETLANDS AWARDS PROGRAM
Wisconsin Wetlands Awards recognize individuals and groups whose work advances the tri-fold mission of the Wisconsin Wetland Association - the protection, restoration and enjoyment of Wisconsin’s wetlands and related ecosystems.

Our 2011 Wetlands Awards recipients are:

	Wetland Protection Award: Alison Peña There are few people in the state of Wisconsin who have done as much to protect wetlands as Alison Peña. As the Wisconsin program coordinator for the federal Natural Resource Conservation Services' Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Alison fought hard to protect wetland ecosystems throughout the state and helped Wisconsin's WRP program become a model for other states. Alison was actively involved in changing landowner compensation and other policies that limited WRP enrollment and was instrumental in assisting with one of the nation's only successful prosecutions of an individual for a WRP violation. WRP wetlands in Wisconsin and across the U.S. are better protected thanks to her professional dedication.
	Wetland Restoration Award: Ducks Unlimited, Wisconsin Chapter Ducks Unlimited is a world leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. Over the past 20 years, Ducks Unlimited has completed more than 1,800 wetland restoration and enhancement projects in Wisconsin and recently celebrated their 100,000th acre of habitat conserved in this state. Notable recent accomplishments include a 600 acre wetland enhancement project at Meadow Valley Wildlife Area and the Horicon Marsh Initiative, intended to raise $1.5m for land protection, restoration, and control of invasive species for this Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and WWA Wetland Gem. DU also has a long and growing list of successful initiatives to encourage enactment of wetland and wildlife-friendly policies in Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin.
	Wetland Enjoyment Award: Jim Reinartz As director of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station at Cedarburg Bog, Jim Reinartz has educated and inspired countless children and adults to marvel at the intricacies of wetland ecosystems. Jim has a unique ability to foster a love of the outdoors in people and acts to educate others as a means to achieve broad-scale wetlands advocacy and policy work. Throughout his career, Jim has educated and inspired many future wetland researchers, land stewards, and policy makers. Jim has also authored a wide variety of articles and research papers, including A Guide to the Natural History of the Cedarburg Bog.

EVENT PHOTOS
Photos courtesy of Karen Bassler and Rich Eggleston.

EVENT SPONSORS

WWA thanks the following sposnors for their support of this event:

Wisconsin Wetlands Association thanks the following businesses and people for donating food and other items to this event:

Becky Abel
Bloom Bake Shop
Copp's - Whitney Way
Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery
Henri and Kathy Dutilly
Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company
Madison Sourdough
Marigold Kitchen
Alexia Sabor and Scott Rouse
Trader Joe's
Whole Foods Market