2005 West Eugene Wetlands Recoginition Award Recipients

Sabine Dutoit
Sabine Dutoit is an active member of several local natural history and conservation organizations including the Nature Conservancy, the Native Plant Society of Oregon, and the North American Butterfly Association.  She has been actively involved in the West Eugene Wetlands for almost three years, volunteering at Willow Creek Natural Area as o­ne of The Nature Conservancy's most active volunteers during that time.  As well as being a regular participant in TNC's volunteer work parties, Sabine has also contributed many hours collecting seeds for Fender's Blue butterfly habitat restoration, and taken o­n several projects for independent work including maintaining native fescue grow-out plots and pulling Scotch broom from critical habitat.  Sabine is a very active hiker, combining her love of wildflowers, butterflies and the outdoors o­n weekly excursions around the state of Oregon throughout the year.  She has been a huge help to TNC at Willow Creek, and she is a great example of a citizen conservationist, walking the walk of conservation in the Willamette Valley.

Nancy Nathanson
During her 12-year tenure (three, 4-year terms) o­n the Eugene City Council, Nancy was a strong supporter of the West Eugene Wetlands Plan, the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership, and other city park projects.  As a representative of Ward 8, which includes The Nature Conservancy's Willow Creek Preserve and many other West Eugene Wetlands sites, Nancy had the opportunity to demonstrate her support of the Wetlands Plan and Partnership o­n many occassions.  For example, when Kathleen Clarke, Director of the BLM, visited in September, 2003, Nancy generously donated her time to help welcome the Director and articulate the local elected official support for the West Eugene Wetlands Program. 
In addition to her support for the wetlands, she has been a strong supporter of Parks and Open Spaces throughout the entire City.  For example, she served as chair of the Parks and Open Space Committee during 1997-2000.  This Committee ultimately developed and recommended $25.3 million bond measure that the City overwhelmingly passed in 1988.  This money has helped fund land acquisition (including open space, especially in the South Hills, including the headwaters of Willow Creek), new park development, and park renovations to meet a broad spectrum of community needs.  In addition, during the past two years, she served as Chair of the Mayor's "Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Committee". This group assisted and collaborated with staff and consultants in developing a Comprehensive Plan for Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces for the City of Eugene.  Councilor Nathanson's leadership was instrumental in moving the Committee's work forward. 

WBGS Architecture and Planning and Satre and Associates
WBGS Architecture and Planning and Satre Associates have been instrumental as the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership has moved forward with its vision for an Education Center.  Bill Seider, AIA and principal at WBGS was an enthusiastic supporter from the start when he committed substantial resources in 2000 to get this project o­n paper.  Rick Satre also showed considerable faith in us when he matched WBGS's commitment. 
It is because of this demonstration of commitment, we have been successful in attracting funding to the project, including an early grant from the Department of Education to prepare a vision document, architectural model and further the planning effort.   The West Eugene Wetlands Partnership wants to not o­nly recognize the individual and collective commitments of WBGS Architcture and Satre Associates as our design team, but their patience, solid technical skills, creativity, and the true collaborative spirit they demonstrate as they work with us. 

Mark V. Wilson
Mark V. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. Working with his colleagues, graduate students, and resource agencies over the past two decades, Mark has made significant contributions to the knowledge base of the ecology, conservation, and management of native prairies in the Willamette Valley. His research topics have ranged from the effects of fire o­n native upland and wet prairie plant communities to flood tolerance of rare plants. Mark is considered o­ne of the regional experts o­n Willamette Valley prairies, listed plants including Nelson's checker-mallow and Kincaid's lupine, and the endangered Fender's blue butterfly. He has served o­n regional oversight panels and review committees related to management of prairie habitat, as well as an active participant developing a recovery plan for all listed Willamette Valley prairie species. Through his research and study of Willamette Valley prairie species, Mark has provided invaluable advice and direction to public agencies working to restore and manage native prairies.  
In consideration for his years of service and contributions that have helped ensure the past and future success of the West Eugene Wetland Project, Mark V. Wilson is nominated for the 2004 Wetlands Appreciation Award.