By DON DUBUC

A St. Tammany Parish environmental association and a long-time employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were among nine honorees for conservation efforts by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation at its annual convention in Marksville.

LWF, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the state’s largest conservation organization, some 13,000 members strong. Each year LWF recognizes professionals, educators, volunteers, groups, corporations, elected officials and youth groups for outstanding conservation achievements.

The Little Tchefuncte River Association was among them for bringing “natural sense” to land use planning and development in St. Tammany. Their accomplishments are at a time when rapid growth has often ignored maintaining the area’s scenic beauty and health.

Suzanne Hawes of New Orleans, received the LWF’s highest honor, the Governor’s Award that is presented to the recipient deemed to have made the most significant contribution to conservation of the state’s natural resources.

Hawes was cited for leadership in coordinating the state/federal effort to understand and remedy the massive marsh die back along the Louisiana coast, but even more for her commitment to the environment that has helped bring a conservation ethic to the world’s largest construction organization, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. Hawes has served 30 years with the corps.

Others receiving awards were: William Fontenot, director of the Lafayette Nature Station for bringing people closer to nature through his education and outreach work; Julie Landreneau of Gonzales for energizing the community’s “Revive New River” cleanup effort to restore New River as a source of pride and enjoyment to citizens of Gonzales; TAG students of Oak Grove Primary in Prairieville for creating and maintaining butterfly habitat and calling attention to the plight of butterflies displaced by development; Louisiana Refining Division of Marathon Ashland Petroleum for establishing a wildlife habitat enhancement program on more than 1,000 acres of company property in Garyville; Barry Guillot, of Luling, science teacher at Harry Hurst Middle School in Destrehan for extraordinary accomplishments in hands-on environmental science education; Sen. Butch Gautreaux of Morgan City for among other accomplishments, his role in advancing the Atchafalaya Basin’s recreation plan; and scientist and author Gary Noel Ross of Baton Rouge for educating and inspiring the public about one of nature’s most remarkable creatures – the butterflies.

The LWF convention also serves to adopt or reject member resolutions.

Those passing are forwarded to the appropriate agency for action. Those passing that directly affect sportsmen included a 90-day extension of the nutria season; production of an offshore fish identification publication; creation of a new bowhunting area along the Interstate 49 corridor and support for a freedom to hunt and fish law.

Measures that failed were two resolutions calling for a ban on bowfishing for redfish at night and a request to lower the minimum size for redfish and black drum from 16 to 14 inches.

Oldest rodeo to renew

For the 57th time New Orleans City Park will host the country’s oldest freshwater fishing contest March 16.

Since its inception at the close of World War II, the rodeo has become an annual rite for generations of local fishing enthusiasts. To encourage good sportsmanship, plaques rather than cash awards are presented in casting, spinning and fly categories and trophies to winners of the team bream competition. In memory of the Rodeo founder, Paul Kalman, an award is also given in his name to the angler 12 years or younger bringing in the largest bass.

Registration is $5 per adult and $2 for kids (12 and under) and will be held from 4-9 a.m. at the Park’s historic Popp Bandstand across from the tennis courts.

Fishing begins at 5:30 a.m. and wraps up at 11 a.m. followed by the weigh-in, live music and refreshments.

Frank Davis of WWL- TV will present the awards.

For more information call 504-482-4888.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.