2014 SOBA annual awards honor leaders in boating access
CHICAGO, Ill. — The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) presented its annual awards during the SOBA Conference on October 8, 2014 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The 2014 award recipients are as follows:
Outstanding Project Awards
The annual awards are presented to an agency, group, local government, or corporation for boating access projects, constructed in a SOBA member state, that are judged to be innovative, useful, of high quality, unique, and economical. Providing “on-the-ground/on-the-water” physical facilities is a major component of SOBA’s mission, and it is therefore important for SOBA to formally recognize quality boating access projects each year. Four (4) are presented annually at SOBA’s Annual Boating Access conference:
1. Small Access Category
Town of Three Lakes: Townline Lake Boat Landing and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, WI
2. Medium Access Category
City of Keizer, Keizer Rapids Boating Facility, Oregon
3. Large Access Category
Worchester County Department of Public Works: West Ocean City Harbor, Maryland
4. Marinas & Harbors Category
Whitehouse Cove Marina, Virginia
State Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program Excellence Award
Presented to a state agency that has primary responsibility for implementing the provisions of the Clean Vessel Act of 1992 and which has excelled over time and provided outstanding service to its residents and visitors to the state. This award recognizes leadership and public service: in the administration of the CVA, in the operation and maintenance of CVA facilities; and in developing innovative CVA programs and projects.
Recipient: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental for providing outstanding pump-out facilities, planning, education and partnerships.
State Boating Access Program Excellence Award
Presented to a state agency that has primary responsibility for boating access development and which has excelled over time and provided outstanding service to its residents and visitors to the state. This award recognizes leadership and public service: in providing boating access site development, operation and maintenance; in providing programs that educate and inform boaters about boating access in the state; and in providing programs that resulted in innovation in all aspects of boating access management including financing.
Recipient: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for the development of their “Grants to Localities for Public Boating Access Facilities Program”.
Special Recognition Award
Presented to an individual, group, organization or political sub-division in recognition of activities that are singularly illustrative or supportive of SOBA’s mission. These activities can take various forms ranging from providing organizational support to SOBA, completion of special assignments for SOBA, providing leadership within or on behalf of SOBA, and for general leadership in public boating access issues.
Recipient: Lisa Van Alstyne, US Fish and Wildlife Service in grateful appreciation and recognition of her leadership in fishing, boating and hunting programs that will endure into the future.
Outstanding Service Award
Presented to an individual or an agency who has made either a one-time or continuing contribution to provide improved access for boaters and anglers to our nation’s public waters. These contributions can relate to such activities as: obtaining funding at the national or a state level for boating access acquisition or improvement; enactment of legislation or policies that protects and improves the public’s right to access the nation’s waters; and similar activities.
Recipient: Steven Miller, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for his commitment to boating access, and his exceptional leadership of the boating community.
William H. Ivers Award
Presented to an individual who has significantly contributed over at least 15 years to the design, construction, management or administration of boating access facilities or programs. The nominee’s contributions will exemplify high standards of professionalism and outstanding achievement.
Recipient: Terry Boyd, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for his commitment to managing the clean-up and boating access rebuilding efforts for the State of Alabama after Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina; In grateful recognition of steadfast service to recreational boating and with thanks for dedication to boating access design and construction; For his participation on the SOBA Executive Board, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; For Chairing SOBA’s Design and Construction publications, and being a SOBA Conference Chair and an avid supporter of SOBA conferences. And, finally, for lifelong commitment and advocacy on behalf of SOBA with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the US Access Board.
