2025 Rise to the Future award winners

Collaborative/Integrated Aquatic Stewardship

Recognizes collaborative/integrated efforts in aquatic resource management or monitoring that resulted in or will result in meaningful changes in National Forest System aquatic resource condition:

• Three Creeks Grazing participants are recognized for the time commitment involved to see this effort through (20-plus years of collaboration); an impressive public-private partnership with 38 landowners and allotment managers. The collaboration integrates range management, watershed, fisheries and wildlife objectives, achieving a positive trajectory in improved riparian condition along streams. The project is an innovative, collaborative approach involving 38 ranchers and several federal, state and nonprofit organizations, as well as private entities. Replicating this kind of partnership has the potential to benefit hundreds of miles of degraded riparian habitat on allotments in the arid west.

Early Career Professional Excellence Award

Honors a Forest Service individual in the fisheries or watershed program with less than a decade of service who has made significant contributions to the field and who exemplifies outstanding Forest Service professionalism:

• Thomas "Tommy" Franklin has been the lead eDNA program coordinator at the Rocky Mountain Research Station's National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation since joining the Forest Service in 2019. Franklin's work has directly enhanced the Forest Service's ability to detect, manage and conserve aquatic resources, leading to improved decision-making and proactive conservation strategies. His contributions include guidance for designing and implementing over 350 eDNA projects, working with a team to develop cost-effective eDNA tools applicable to over 200 species, supervising the processing of over 50,000 eDNA samples which enabled broad-scale aquatic species monitoring, and authoring or co-authoring 18 peer-reviewed publications advancing freshwater science in the Forest Service. He exemplifies the qualities of an early-career professional who is shaping the future of fisheries and watershed management.

Field Soil Scientist

Honors an individual or a group of soil scientists, located on a field unit or research station, for exceptional effectiveness and creativity in applying soil and site information to maintain ecological integrity on national forests and grasslands:

• David Morley, Superior National Forest, is capable of leveraging funds and partnerships in order to accomplish significant projects in exemplary fashion. Morley is a national leader in supporting programs such as dynamic soil properties, terrestrial ecological unit inventory, the National Cooperative Soil Survey, and forest stewardship. He builds collaborations and community in his unit as well as across the region.

Fish Your National Forests

Recognizes significant endeavors in promoting aquatic resource awareness or management highlighting recreational fisheries. Emphasizes connecting people to the outdoors through fishing, boating and other aquatic activities while promoting the value and benefits of fish and aquatic resources. Honors the champions of fishing events for kids and families, removing barriers to fishing access and increasing angler visits to national forests:

• Scott Brandt and Chad Baconrind spearhead the "Trout in the Classroom" program for the Boise National Forest, working with local schools in Garden Valley and Emmett, Idaho, to build interest in fisheries biology, fishing and other aquatic activities with local youth. Through the process of rearing trout in local classrooms from egg all the way through release, Brandt and Baconrind help promote the value and benefits of sustainable fish populations, aquatic resources and responsible fishing practices. The Trout in the Classroom program provides lessons in fish rearing in the classroom, presentations on the biology of salmonids and other local fish species, dissections, casting lessons, fish identification, and fishing events for the kids. Brandt and Baconrind have engaged many colleagues from the Emmett and Lowman Ranger Districts, as well as partners from Idaho Department of Fish & Game, Trout Unlimited and local schools to assist with the program.

Friend of the Fish/Watershed

Internal recognition for individuals in non-fisheries/aquatic resource positions who have contributed significantly toward the protection, restoration or enhancement of fishery/aquatic and watershed resources:

• Tyler Jette, Brenna Schwert, Erich Kuster, Brad Quayle, members of the Aquatic Restoration Regulatory Reporting Systems (ARRRS) 2.0 Rebuild Team of the Washington Office, Geospatial Technologies and Applications Center are recognized for their outstanding team collaboration in building an innovative data tool that provides a solution relevant across Region 6, long-term dedication and technical trouble shooting. ARRRS is a one-of-a-kind online application, database and information hub used to store information associated with aquatic restoration projects and meet regulatory compliance with the Endangered Species Act and many other federal laws. ARRRS was first developed around 2010 to support the administration of the programmatic Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion, a regulatory permit that provides ESA coverage to allow a variety of newly developed and effective aquatic restoration actions to occur throughout Oregon and Washington. With a change in IT platforms, the team was forced to rebuild the internal tool architecture, and now the application is accessed by over 100 Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management field staff.

Jack Adams Award

The Jack Adams Award is presented annually to a Forest Service wildlife biologist, fisheries biologist or botanist who exemplifies the characteristics and qualities of Jack Adams, wildlife biologist for the Forest Service (1961-1984):

• Brian Davidson has spent much of his career with the Mark Twain National Forest, collaborating behind the scenes with partners, taking on difficult projects and never seeking accolades. His work has made a significant impact on the Mark Twain National Forest and across the Ozarks, advancing collaborative projects that increased the pace and scale of natural community restoration. From coordinating the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodland Restoration Project, to developing a pioneering forest-wide plan to facilitate timely treatment of non-native invasive species and envisioning the first cooperative invasive species management association in Missouri (the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership), Davidson has tirelessly worked to conserve and restore Missouri's unique natural communities. His leadership to restore habitat for the Brown-Headed nuthatch, a species once extirpated, led to a successful reintroduction to the forest-truly a landmark achievement.

Jim Sedell Research Achievement

Honors science leadership, accomplishment and intellectual curiosity contributing to freshwater ecology, fisheries, and watershed management. Weaves new knowledge, discovery or synthesis into watershed research or management, more fully developing the story of why we should care about aquatic resources:

• Dr. Steven M. Wondzell's career represents all the Sedell Award criteria and exemplifies the outstanding level of scientific stature and impact that this award celebrates. His decades-long research contributions are at the nexus of hydrology, aquatic and riparian ecology, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry, a unique research portfolio within the Pacific Northwest Research Station and broader science and Forest Service communities. His work focuses on understanding how water moves through watersheds, hillslopes and river channels, the role of vegetation in modulating those fluxes, and the associated changes in stream temperature and water chemistry. Wondzell's work is distinguished by a keen understanding of underlying biophysical processes and mechanisms. Insights gleaned from this work have dramatically expanded our understanding of hyporheic flow and nutrient exchange in steep mountain rivers, vegetation effects on summer streamflow and temperature regimes, and the effectiveness of novel restoration strategies.

Lloyd W. Swift Sr. Award

This award is presented periodically to a current or past Forest Service employee in the field of wildlife, fisheries and rare plants who exemplifies the characteristics, accomplishments and qualities of Lloyd W. Swift Sr., a wildlife biologist for the Forest Service (1928-1963). As part of his long and illustrious career with the Forest Service, Lloyd served as the National Wildlife and Fisheries Director from 1944 through 1963:

• Lee Jacobson's 30-plus year career has touched the lives of many Forest Service employees, state and federal agencies, and the public through his steady leadership and mentoring in advancement of the agency's mission. From forest plan revision to ESA recovery actions and complicated consultations with regulatory agencies (e.g., Wildfire Crisis Strategy) on threatened and endangered species, Jacobson has earned the utmost respect from his peers (both internally and externally) as a national, regional and unit level resource. Jacobson is service driven; he truly views the field (the forests and districts) as his customers and takes pride in being able to serve them. As a founding member of the Threatened, Endangered Sensitive species forum and the Environmental and At-Risk Species and Endangered Species training cadre, Jacobson has contributed to the professional development of countless biologists and line officers from across the country over the years. A collaborator by nature, Jacobson takes time to understand other resource areas to use an integrated problem-solving approach with other programs (e.g., range program administration). This inclusive style has resulted in better conservation outcomes. Although Jacobson often works humbly behind the scenes, he leaves a long legacy through his contributions and commitment to the agency, his profession and the many natural resource professionals he has mentored over the years.

Partnership

Recognizes an external partner who has made outstanding contributions to or advanced the effectiveness of the Forest Service fisheries, aquatic resources or watershed stewardship programs:

• Brittany Swope, project manager of the Trout Unlimited Bighorn Basin Project in Wyoming, is recognized for her work helping the Shoshone National Forest and the Bighorn National Forest with stream restoration projects. The projects she works on range from Aquatic Organism Passage culvert replacements, and large wood installations to low-tech process-based methodologies - all with the goal of improving habitat for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout core conservation populations in north central Wyoming. Swope works on all aspects of the projects - planning, design, fundraising, logistics, construction, managing crews and public awareness. Her leadership in this role has leveraged funding, filled staff capacity gaps and launched the forests into restoration accomplishments that otherwise would not have been possible.

Paul Miller Air Resource Management Award

Recognizes singularly outstanding performance by an air quality specialist, manager, scientist or technician who displays excellence through initiative, skill, determination, commitment and/or achievement in furthering the stewardship of air resources on national forests and grasslands. The award honors the work of Dr. Paul Miller, a world-class Forest Service scientist who pioneered early studies of the effects of air pollution on forests:

• Melanie Pitrolo, Southern Region Regional Office, demonstrates excellence through her technical skills, active engagement with Forest Service units and through her commitment to provide high quality products and support to the agency. Pitrolo has developed several tools and training resources for Region 8 staff related to smoke modeling. She also manages a team of specialists that successfully supports agency initiatives. Through Pitrolo's guidance and direction, the Region 8 Air Program has significantly increased the number of air quality sensors on forests. Moreover, she regularly contributes to the Air Program nationally and collaborates with a wide range of external partners.

Professional Excellence in Fish Management

Recognizes sustained high performance fostering technically sound fish/aquatic resource management or innovative approaches with lasting impact in any aspect of aquatic resource management, monitoring or mentoring:

• Yvette Paroz is recognized for her outstanding scope of assistance, strong testimonials from internal and external colleagues, inspiring dedication, and an impressive suite of accomplishments during her 11 years at the Southwestern Regional Office. She demonstrates strong support of the national forests, strong leadership in restoration, monitoring, partnerships and significant benefits to ESA-listed fish like Apache trout, Rio Grande Cutthroat trout and Loach minnow. She is recognized for her steadfast support of Aquatic Organism Passage across the region, engagement in Burned Area Emergency Restoration work and leadership in updating the regional riparian strategy. She collaborates with many federal, state, tribal, NGO partners and leads or serves on many species or interagency work groups.

• Katie Serres is recognized for her long career in developing and supporting the Pacific Northwest fisheries program, surveys, Aquatic Surveys Database, the Region 6 habitat model, her significant conservation impact and the number of people she has touched and mentored since 2000. Her contributions include a diverse portfolio of projects, program and data system development. She also expertly managed a $5 million river relocation project on South Fork Stillaguamish as well as the Snoquero Aquatic Organism Passage projects. Her leadership in co-managing with tribes to promote and develop restoration projects across the forest and in working with federal highways to implement AOP projects under the Emergency Relief of Federally Owned Roads Process to benefit aquatic habitat is exemplary and impactful.

Public Awareness

Recognizes significant contributions in communicating the aquatic resource or watershed stewardship management story:

• Andrea Rogers, Region 2 regional hydrologist and watershed partnership coordinator, is recognized for her work raising awareness of the Forest Service watershed program to internal leadership and external stakeholders. Her leadership in the stewarding of aquatic and watershed resources in the region has significantly elevated the profile of the program while simultaneously producing real results on-the-ground in acres of land treated and miles of streams restored. Rogers is a shining example of the best ways the Forest Service watershed programs can engage with internal staff and external partners in the collective stewardship of our critically important water resources.

• Herman Wanningen, founder of the World Fish Migration Foundation, is recognized for his work in raising awareness of the importance of restoring free-flowing rivers around the world to save migratory fish. Through Herman's imagination and skill to partner and execute, he has created dozens of educational trainings, global online webinars, films, scientific reports, multiple publications and 10 bi-annual World Fish Migration Day celebrations in 104 countries. This sustained and diverse public awareness campaign has effectively raised global consciousness and support for reconnecting aquatic habitat to benefit migratory fish and the communities that depend on these fish. Partnering with Wanningen has provided opportunities for the Forest Service Aquatics Program to raise awareness of its work in restoring aquatic organism passage and flood resiliency to audiences across the country and in Europe.

Tribal Accomplishment

Recognizes exemplary or innovative "on-the-ground" accomplishments that benefit National Forest System lands, accomplished by federally recognized, as well as non-recognized tribes, or Non-Government Organizations working with tribes:

• Cowlitz Indian Tribe Habitat Restoration and Conservation Program, including Justin Isle, Pete Barber, Katie Fielding, Dalton Fry, Eli Asher and Rudy Salakory, are recognized for their unwavering commitment and expertise in advancing the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's goal to improving watershed function and habitat for culturally important steelhead, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon on the forest. Specifically, the Cowlitz Tribe has played a pivotal role in advancing the Cispus River-Yellow Jacket Creek restoration partnership, successfully completing three out of five planned phases, including designing and successfully installing 45 engineered log jams using 12,000 trees to improve spawning and juvenile habitat, improving floodplain and riparian habitat and restoring wetlands along on 2.5 miles of river.

"Wagon Wheel Gap" Hydrology

Recognizes a high level of performance by hydrologists and hydrologic technicians that are engaged in watershed management on the nation's forests and grasslands or in delivery of hydrologic services to domestic or overseas partners as part of their normal duties. This award, named in honor of the first watershed experiments in the United States at the Wagon Wheel Gap Experimental Forest on the Rio Grande National Forest:

• Traci Sylte is recognized for her unwavering commitment to the protection and restoration of aquatic resources and the advancement of land management-focused hydrologic and restoration science on the Lolo National Forest. Her leadership has directly resulted in substantial improvements in watershed conditions and aquatic habitat for ESA-listed Bull trout and other native species throughout Montana and the West. Sylte's accomplishments are even more impressive considering much of this work was done with millions of dollars she secured from outside partnerships. Sylte has also contributed to restoration guidance documents and training materials that are used throughout the agency, the country and around the world.