2024 Achievement Award Recipients

The North American Lake Management Society, NALMS, recognizes individuals, teams, and organizations for their efforts and contributions to enhance management of lakes and reservoirs. Each year NALMS receives nomination letters from members and supporters lifting up their peers – individuals and groups – worthy of receiving recognition for their dedication to NALMS’ mission and/or for strides made in leadership, education, and lake management. It is with great honor that we share these nomination letters, as well as the 2024 award recipients recognized at the NALMS 44th annual symposium, held this year in South Lake Tahoe, CA/NV.

Outgoing Officers & Directors

NALMS is a product of devoted individuals volunteering their time and efforts as officers and directors to advance the NALMS’ mission. Thank you outgoing officer and directors!

Officers

  • Kiyoko Yokota, Past President

Directors

  • Nicole White, Region 2
  • Amy Giannotti, Region 4
  • Lee Bryant, Region 6
  • Mark Rosenkranz, Region 10
  • Jay Toews, Region 12

The Secchi Disk Award

The Secchi Disk Award is given annually to recognize and honor the NALMS member who has made the most significant contributions to the goals and objectives of the society.

Matthew Scott
Nominated by Jeremy Deeds, Maine Department of Environmental Protection

We are pleased to nominate Matthew Scott for the NALMS Secchi Disk Award. Matt is a founding member and past president of NALMS. He is responsible for the creation of the lakes division at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and co-founded the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (now Lake Stewards of Maine) in 1971. Matt has always promoted the importance of information exchange as it relates to the protection and management of our lakes and watersheds. In 1976, Matt, along with Pete Nolan of the Environmental Protection Agency, initiated the New England Association of Environmental Biologists (NEAEB). NEAEB instituted an annual multi-day conference for states in the northeastern U.S. that continues today as the Northeast Aquatic Biologists (NAB) conference. At the 1980 EPA-sponsored Organization of Economic and Cooperative Development conference in Portland, ME, Matt was the organizing chair of the group that founded the North American Lake Management Society. Matt is a tireless advocate for lakes and their watersheds, always striving to keep lakes in the public discourse and emphasizing the importance of, as he says, “speaking up for the inarticulate organisms”. In 1971, Matt worked with professors at the University of Maine to create the Maine Volunteer Monitoring Program, the first of its kind in the country to partner with community scientists in the collection of valid, legally defensible data to help protect Maine lakes. The program has proven to be highly sustainable; there are currently ~1,200 certified monitors and over 1,000 more have received training over the last 50 years. These volunteers provide 90% of the data used to protect and manage Maine lakes. These monitors do more than take samples, they inform and educate their lake association, municipal officials, and even lobby state officials. Matt encouraged lake associations to organize around protecting their lake. This action resulted in greater awareness and actions to protect lakes throughout Maine. Matt still attends numerous lake association meetings through the summer to give pro bono talks on lake protection. Matt has served in many roles over his career, guiding many natural resource agencies on lake and watershed management. He served as Chief Biologist for ME DEP in 1970, when he started the Lakes Division. With his team of biologists, Matt developed an improved goal-oriented water quality classification and protection system that was made into law by the state legislature in 1985 and remains the water quality standard for Maine lakes today.

Matt has always had a progressive and innovative sense of how to prioritize lake ecology research and watershed management. He established important partnerships with universities and colleges, wastewater treatment plant operators, federal and state agencies, and whomever had the expertise he felt was necessary to make the best decisions for lake water quality. His research early on laid the groundwork for the understanding of lake and watershed management in Maine and beyond. Matt is a one-of-a-kind biologist and person, and the lakes of Maine are immeasurably better off for his prolific career and enthusiasm for protecting the “inarticulate organisms”.

Friends of NALMS Award

The Friends of NALMS Award is given annually to recognize and honor individuals or corporations making major contributions to NALMS. Recipients do not have to be NALMS members, and “contributions” extend beyond monetary donations.

Mussel Dogs
Nominated by Hailey Norman, Sonoma Water

Mussel Dogs is an incredible organization that has motivated numerous lake managers across California (and a couple in Texas) to implement prevention programs for quagga and zebra mussels. Bringing this important issue to the attention of our organization pushed us to contract mussel inspectors and they prevented live mussels from entering our watershed on two seperate occasions. If not for Mussel Dogs our lake would look much different today. Can’t say enough great things about this business!

Jim Flynn Outstanding Corporation Award

The Jim Flynn Outstanding Corporation Award is given annually to recognize and honor the corporation considered to have made the most significant contributions to NALMS goals and objectives.

Aquarius Systems
Nominated by Dawn Klodd, Aquarius Systems

Almost all Aquarius Systems employees are passionate about nature through activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and boating. A recent survey revealed that most employees take pride in working for a company that positively impacts the environment. Many joined Aquarius Systems initially for a job but now see it as a way to protect cherished lakes and waterways for future generations. Aquarius Systems financially supports 21 organizations, including NALMS, and various lake associations in several states, aiding their efforts to maintain water health. The company also donates items for raffles at events to support future scientists and policymakers. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Aquarius Systems has renewed its focus on marine debris removal, with increased demand for Trash Skimmers and new equipment development for smaller rivers and streams. The company shares valuable water-related information through its website and monthly newsletter, covering issues like PFAS, invasive species, aquatic vegetation, and marine debris. A quarterly newsletter focuses specifically on marine debris topics, such as balloon releases and plastic pollution. Several years ago, a group of college students, including a former harvester operator, sought Aquarius Systems’ help with an AI-inspired aquatic plant identification project for a business class. Despite being short-staffed, Jane saw the project’s potential and dedicated time to assist. Although the product wasn’t viable, the student with harvester experience later became an Aquarius Systems sales representative. After an Aquarius Systems weed harvesting seminar, a Wisconsin DNR speaker discussed a proposed policy change that would significantly increase harvesting permit costs. Most attendees were unaware of this. Aquarius Systems informed Wisconsin lake associations about the policy’s impact through a series of emails. In response, many recipients wrote to the Natural Resources Board, expressing their disagreement and highlighting the strain on budgets and maintenance efforts. The widespread concern led to the meeting’s cancellation and the proposal being tabled. Jane Dauffenbach, a member of NALMS since 1985, has been active in adding vendors and revenue streams for the organization. With long-time members retiring, Aquarius Systems remains committed to supporting the next generation of NALMS members and leaders.

Leadership & Service Award:
Community Education & Outreach

Awards individuals or teams for design, facilitation, or performance of exceptional education and outreach activities supporting community understanding and appreciation of lake and reservoir management.

Clean Lakes Alliance
Nominated by Paul Dearlove, Clean Lakes Alliance

Clean Lakes Alliance has become one of the most influential and accomplished nonprofit lakestewardship organizations in the nation. This success is owed to innovative coalition building and a “ladder of engagement” approach to empowering stakeholders throughout Greater Madison. By leading a cross-sector coalition of 19 organizations, a “Renew the Blue” lake-cleanup initiative was recently launched, creating a powerful partnership model that can be replicated in other watersheds within and beyond the state of Wisconsin.

Volunteerism and community participation are fueling our progress. Last year alone, 13,000 volunteers and event participants helped us grow our reach and impact, including nearly 100 trained citizen scientists reporting conditions across all five Yahara lakes. Through a first-of-its-kind LakeForecast program, real-time beach and water quality information can now be accessed at lakeforecast.org or through the free app. Results are then combined with other data to generate an annual “State of the Lakes” report card, helping the public better understand lake health and the factors affecting water quality conditions.

From Earth Day through October, near-weekly Volunteer Days offer additional opportunities for meaningful involvement. Participating businesses and organizations provide a steady stream of volunteers that host-site partners can match with needed project work. Projects include shoreline restorations, beach and park cleanups, invasive species removals, prairie seed collections, rain garden constructions, and native plantings. These hands-on experiences help focus volunteer resources where they are most needed while inspiring participants to take action at home and at their places of business.

Clean Lakes Alliance also hosts a monthly educational series called Clean Lakes 101 Science Cafés. Each science café features various topic experts who make the science accessible and interesting to technical and non-technical audiences alike. Speakers range from internationally distinguished scientists from the UW Center for Limnology to local government leaders who are spearheading critical project work. The interactive lecture series, which includes both virtual and in-person participation options, helps decipher the challenges and opportunities affecting our lakes. We also move education into our outdoor classrooms though special Clean Lakes 101 field-trip editions, as well as through the work of our Clean Boats, Clean Waters educators who help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Finally, a new partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation is inspiring a new generation of stewardship by connecting people to the area’s rich Indigenous history and a “seven-generation” caretaking mindset. It aims to incorporate the teachings of the Ho-Chunk into our core programming, inviting a greater appreciation for these special places where our lands and waters merge. The partnership also seeks to model how our lakeside parks can be better planned, developed, and managed using best standards and practices.

As a result of leveraging partnerships, mobilizing action and nurturing stewardship across a 385-squaremile watershed, a larger movement has taken shape that bodes well for the future of our waters. Clean Lakes Alliance is at the forefront of this movement as it continues to champion the lakes and watershed stewardship for the benefit of all.

Volunteer

Keri Green, Smith Mountain Lake Association
Nominated by Bill Butterfield, Smith Mountain Lake Association

I, Bill Butterfield, President of the Smith Mountain Lake Association, the longest serving advocacy organization at Smith Mountain Lake, in Virginia, and a NALMS member, submit this nomination for the 2024 Leadership and Service Award – Volunteer. I cannot imagine a more deserving candidate for this award than Keri Green. Her work is beyond any single volunteer that I have ever been associated with and hope the award committee will strongly consider her for this honor.

Keri Green has a significant background and education in ecology, lake management and natural resource protection, having worked for the State of New Jersey running the science team for a regional planning agency for 12 years. She moved full time to Smith Mountain Lake (SML) in 2021 and immediately became a Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) volunteer. In 2022 she was elected to the Board of Directors at SMLA.

Under Keri’s direction the SMLA Lake Quality Council (LQC) was organized as one of two councils at SMLA whose mission is to protect the water at SML and promote safe recreation. The LQC meets monthly under Keri’s leadership and is comprised of a number of technical committees: Water Quality Monitoring Program that has collected trophic state and other data for 38 years; Save Our Streams program with over 20 monitoring streams; Vessel Pump Out Program, a free marine head pumping service; Buffer Landscape program with certified master gardeners offering free buffer garden planning; Erosion/Sedimentation, Septic System Education, Subsurface Aquatic Vegetation, Fish Habitat, and Invasive Species. Keri coordinates and facilitates the technical committees’ work and regularly reports to the full Board of Directors.

In 2023, SML had its first long lasting Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) and a widespread swimming advisory. Keri became the spokesperson for the entire SML community, handling all print, radio and televised communications regarding the Swimming Advisory. Keri serves as the liaison to VA DEQ and Department of Health for HAB information and triage response.

Keri established three initiatives to respond to the HABs and Swimming Advisory. The first was to successfully lobby the Virginia General Assembly to fund a lake-wide study of causes of HABs. Secondly, she developed a work plan with Princeton Hydro to study the watershed conditions of the area affected by the 2023 HAB. The results of which are being presented at the 2024 NALMS conference by Keri and Princeton Hydro. And third, Keri started the SMLA Dock Watch Program this year. Aligning with the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network to train 40 citizen Dock Watch volunteers, the program collects and analyzes surface water from docks across our 20,000+ acre lake to monitor cyanobacteria. This innovative citizen volunteer program will help all users of SML know what is happening right where we swim and recreate, at our docks.

Keri’s contributions to the Board of Directors includes much more than the above; and her dedication and gracious sharing of her expertise all as a volunteer ensures SMLA can continue to keep SML Clean and Safe.

More about SMLA: www.smlassociation.org.

Advancements in Lake Management Techniques

Inventive Resources, Inc.
Nominated by Todd Tietjen, Southern Nevada Water Authority

Leaders with passion to solve invasive weed infestations in Lake Tahoe and beyond, this small business has developed cutting edge tech that control invasive plants without chemicals. They use UV light technology and automated boats that can eliminate plants at the acreage scale. John and his team are a truly dedicated, small business who love Lake Tahoe and have put a lot of their own energy and investments into creating a successful tool. Inventive Resources have created a low-cost tool for aquatic plant management in an environmentally sensitive system with complex community dynamics.

Lake Management Success Stories

Awarded to individuals or organizations accomplishing successful lake management efforts. Nominees must show demonstrable improvements in lake conditions through lake and watershed management.

John Jablonski III
Nominated by Whitney Gleason, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

John Jablonski III has been the visionary and passionate co-founder who conceptualized and led the creation of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Inc (https://www.chautauquawatershed.org), serving as its first president in 1990 and then executive director for 32 years. CWC’s mission is to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands, and watersheds of the Chautauqua region, and under John’s remarkable tenure succeeded in conserving and protecting over 1100+ acres of woodlands, wetlands, shorelands, and waterways in the Chautauqua area and creating 33 local nature preserves, all of which are open to the public for outdoor recreation, enjoyment, and refreshment.

Notably, John drafted grants and proposals facilitating State investments over $9.5 million (such as the Cheney and Stow Farm Lakeshores, as well as Midway Park) to conserve local open space and outdoor recreation assets, and has conceptualized, packaged, and/or facilitated multiple watershed land conservation and water quality projects across the County. His long-time leadership, strategic planning, technical expertise, and passion for the natural world have greatly benefited our community in myriad ways. Now widely recognized and regarded for its promotion of best practices in land, wildlife, and water resource management, CWC has helped inspire countless others to better understand and appreciate the connection between ecologically healthy waters and habitats, healthy people, higher quality of life, and the economic prosperity of our region.

While John stepped down from CWC’s executive director position in 2023, he continues to serve the organization and our community as CWC Special Projects Coordinator, focused on impactful habitat and waterway conservation and restoration projects. He is an avid fisherman and boater on Chautauqua Lake and elsewhere and enthusiastic advocate for healthy recreational waterways, people, and wildlife. John served for over 15 years on the Chautauqua County Water Quality Task Force and has served on the board of the New York State Federation of Lake Associations and the Chautauqua County 2% Bed tax Waterways Projects Review committee. He also served on the Lakewood Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Board with over ten years of experience working in local government as a county, town, and city planner/grants writer and village trustee. John holds degrees in Natural Resources from Cornell University and Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a concentration in water resources.