Award honors Betty Sue Morris for leadership on salmon recovery

Vancouver, WA – Former Clark County Commissioner and State Representative Betty Sue Morris was honored Thursday with a special 2009 “Sammy Award” for her many years of leadership in developing measures to protect salmon and other fish.

Morris and other award winners received an original fish sculpture made by Northwest artist Don Perry in a ceremony hosted by the Board of Clark County Commissioners. The sculpture is created from recycled stainless steel and mounted on a handcrafted wooden base to recognize a variety of exceptional efforts, including habitat restoration and environmental education.

Board Chair Marc Boldt said Morris worked with great determination for more than a decade to help create and advance the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, which brought together counties, cities, the Cowlitz Tribe, power companies, environmental groups and the state Legislature in crafting a regional salmon recovery plan.

“Instead of the feds imposing a federal solution, our region has stepped up and proposed ways to deal with a very complex problem,” Boldt said. “They adopted our plan as a blueprint for recovery on the Washington side of the river. Although many people worked hard on that, we have Betty Sue Morris to thank for energetic leadership all of the way.”

The federal Endangered Species Act requires local governments to help recover listed species, such as Chinook, steelhead, chum, coho and bull trout. Clark County’s Endangered Species program created the Sammy Awards to engage people and build local support for saving the wild fish.

Besides Morris, this year’s winners include:

George Nosko, who raises beef on a 20-acre farm on Salmon Creek and has established five acres of riparian habitat.

Harry Barber, a life-long sport fisherman who retired from paper manufacturing and has since spent a decade as a conservation leader noted for restoration projects on the Washougal River.

Jac Arnal, a Watershed Steward volunteer active in restoration on Tenny and Gee creeks.

Kirk Fitzer, an avid fisherman, former fishing guide and teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary School who has created real-life educational experiences that are fun for all ages.

Lower Washougal River Project partners, including Georgia-Pacific, Concrete Products, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and City of Camas for creating spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead runs.

In addition, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership received a Certificate of Merit. The partnership has involved more than 5,000 people, including Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, in volunteer efforts to restore Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Lacamas Creek in Clark County.

For more information visit the Clark County Endangered Species Act Web site: www.saveoursalmon.com.