River Stewardship Awards
About the Awards
Presented by the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership, the River Stewardship Awards recognize individuals and groups who protect and restore our streams and rivers through their exemplary professional or volunteer efforts by increasing public awareness and enthusiasm for streams and rivers, developing strong relationships and partnerships, and by making an impact through on-the-ground projects and activities.
The River Stewardship Awards were developed in 2026 by UW–Madison Extension, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin DNR to represent our growing vision and collective effort to celebrate all the incredible work that goes into ensuring the future of our state’s legacy of high-quality streams and rivers for the benefit of all.
Nominate a River Steward
Deadline to submit a nomination: December 1st
Do you know an outstanding person or group who dedicates substantial time and energy to protecting Wisconsin’s streams and rivers? We encourage you to nominate them for a prestigious River Stewardship Award!
This year, we have two award categories:
- Outstanding River Steward Award
- Outstanding River Professional Award
Visit the Wisconsin Water Week website to learn more about nomination categories, scoring criteria, and nomination submission.
Past Recipients
Since 2002, the Water Action Volunteers program’s Wisconsin Stream Monitoring Awards have recognized individuals and groups for their exemplary efforts in volunteer stream monitoring and related activities. Similarly, the River Alliance of Wisconsin’s River Champion Award (discontinued in 2019) recognized individuals for their sustained, exemplary efforts to protect Wisconsin’s waters and make a lasting impact.
In 2026, UW–Madison Extension, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin DNR developed new shared River Stewardship Awards to be presented annually by the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership. The goal is to recognize the diverse work of individuals and groups across Wisconsin who are dedicated to stewarding our streams and rivers through strong partnerships and professional and volunteer work.
2025 Award Winners
Outstanding Volunteer: Lance Green, Yahara Watershed Improvement Network and Rock River Coalition
Outstanding Volunteer: Kris Smith, Crossroads at Big Creek and the Door County Land Trust
2024 Award Winners
Outstanding Volunteers: Frank and Lynn Druecke, Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited
Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator: Maria Young, Wild Rivers Conservancy
Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator: Katie Rademacher, Milwaukee Riverkeeper
2023 Award Winners
Outstanding Volunteer: Karen Doyle, Waukesha County
Outstanding Volunteer Group: Rush River Macroinvertebrate Team, Pierce County
Outstanding Coordinator: Bob Jozwowski, Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited
Outstanding Coordinator: Jessica Orlofske, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
2022 Award Winners
Adult: Barb Bauer and Paula Brandmeier, Token Creek Conservancy
2021 Award Winners
Adult: Connie Hagen, Rock River Coalition and Friends of Lake Kegonsa
Adult: Paul and Kathy Byrne, Crawford Stewardship Project
2020 Award Winners
Educator: Wendy Lutzke
Group: Pecatonica Pride Watershed Association
Adult: Bruce and Sue Ristow
Business: GEI Consultants
2019 Award Winners
Pioneer: In Memory of Ron Martin, Lodi
Group: UW-Whitewater Sustainability Office Student Volunteers, Whitewater
Adult: Bob and Linda Merline, Fish Creek
Employee: Bob Sampson, Grande Cheese, Juda
Rookie: Green Lake Watershed WAV (Water Action Volunteers)
2018 Award Winners
Group: Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited River Keepers
Adult: Bill and Debbi Hiller, Desoto
Employee: John Delaney, Valley Stewardship Network
Teacher: Jaime Weigel, Whitewater
Rookie: Southern Brown Conservation Club, Brown County
2017 Award Winners
Group: Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Adult: Dick Tripp, Green County
Adult: Dick & Judi Oehler, Vilas County
Teacher: Jean Abreu, Marathon County
2016 Award Winners
Group: Valley Stewardship Network, Viroqua
Adult: Dave Hackett and Ellen Brooks, Gays Mills
Adult: Bill and Lisa Keen, Verona
Adult: Laura DeGolier, Fond du Lac
Employee: Patricia Cicero, Jefferson County
Teacher: Charlie Frisk, Green Bay
Student: Camryn Kluetmeier, Madison
2015 Award Winners
Group: Upper Sugar River Watershed Association
Adult: Rollie Alger, Phelps
Employee: Pat Cardiff, Grande Cheese
Student: Will Sherwin, Valley Stewardship Network
2014 Award Winners
Group: Friends of the Yahara River Headwaters
Adult: Rick Fahrenkrug, Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited River Keepers
Employee: Nancy Sheehan, Rock River Coalition
Teacher/Students: The Lower Fox River Watershed Monitoring Program
2013 Award Winners
Group: Crawford Stewardship Project
Adult: John Gremmer, Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Riverkeepers
Employee: Joe Rath, Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Teacher/Classroom: Dan Hannen-Starr and the Menominee Indian High School
Student: Maya Dizack, Racine
2012 Award Winners
Adult: Jim Engstrom and Jim Gennrich, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Grafton and Milwaukee
Adult: Paul Hayes, Valley Stewardship Network, Viroqua
Employee: Jayne Henderson, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg
Employee: Anne MIller, Rock County Land Conservation Department, Janesville
Teacher/Classroom: Mari Grobschmidt and Kim Leinweber of The Prairie School, Racine
2011 Award Winners
Group: Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Riverkeepers
Adult: Ted Ludwig, Colfax
Employee: Anna Mares, Beaver Creek Citizen Science Center, Fall Creek
Teacher/Classroom: Tracy Swedlund, Kristine Gingras, and Tran Brooks of Medford Area Senior High
2009 Award Winners
Group: The South Fork Flambeau River Watershed Association
Adult: Dick Pollock, Oshkosh
Employee: Mary Holleback, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg
Teacher/Classroom: Jon Johnson and his Environmental Science Classes at Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School
2008 Award Winners
Group: Bad River Watershed Association
Adult: Gary Thompson, Valley Stewardship Network, Viroqua
Employee: Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Milwaukee
Teacher/Classroom: Jill Graf, Robert Eady and the Environmental Monitoring Class at the Conserve School, Land O’ Lakes
Student: Juli Bridge, Waukesha
Student: Amber Johnson, Solon Springs
2007 Award Winners
Group: Central Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Group: Pewaukee River Partnership
Adult: Janice Redford, Rockdale
Employee: Jayne Jenks, Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, Waukesha
Teacher: Jim Korb and Jefferson Elementary School teachers and students, Richland Center
Student: Patrick Cassidy, Sheboygan
2006 Award Winners
Pioneer: Pete Jopke, Madison
Group: Beaver Creek Citizen Science Center, Fall Creek
Adult: Don Campbell, Eau Claire
Employee: Nancy Turyk, UWSP Center for Watershed Education, Stevens Point
Teacher: Charles Bomar, UW-Stout, Menomonie
2005 Award Winners
Pioneer: Jim Hlaban, Odgensburg
Group: Rock River Coalition, Inc., Water Quality Issue Team, Jefferson
Adult: Allen Bauman, Mineral Point
Teacher: Tim Sprain, Longfellow School, LaCrosse
Honorable Mention: Girl Scout Troop 508, Black River Falls
2003 Award Winners
Pioneer: Suzanne Wade, Jefferson
Group: Fish Creek Watershed Study Group, Gibraltar
Adult: Chuck Hatfield, Viroqua
Employee: Jeremy Williamson, Polk County Land and Water Resources Conservation Department, Balsam Lake
Teacher: Eric Johannesen, Iowa-Grant HS, Livingston
2002 Award Winners
Group: Duncan Creek Stream Monitoring Project, Chippewa Falls
Adult: Phil Emmling, Madison
Teacher: Gerald Friday, Milwaukee
Teacher: Debra Weitzel, Middleton