Distinguished Project Award

The Distinguished Project Award recognizes a project for a multidisciplinary approach to collaboration, innovation, education, and improved ecological value for passage of aquatic and anadromous species. An ideal project for the award would be small to medium in size that exemplifies success and inspires greater application of fish passage restoration. The successful project and leaders will receive official recognition, tokens of appreciation, and presentation of the award at the Fish Passage 2017 conference at Oregon State University (USA). The winning project will also be featured on the Fish Passage Conference website and will have the opportunity to present their work through the ASCE-EWRI/AFS-BES Joint Committee on Fisheries Engineering and Science Webinar (current available time slot is in September of 2017). It is requested that a representative of the winning project be present to receive the award and give a presentation at the banquet held at Fish Passage 2017.  Self-nomination is encouraged.

Criteria

Specific project evaluation criteria include:

  1. Monitoring and evaluation  - Demonstrated performance to meet passage and habitat goals through the use of a monitoring system.  Monitoring report / findings and data are required for submittal.  Telemetry, fish trapping, physical observations counts, or other monitoring techniques should be used as the basis of the findings. The monitoring report should describe methods and analysis of both pre and post construction.
  2. Ecological gain for passage and habitat for endangered and native species
  3. Innovation and technical excellence
  4. Stakeholder collaboration and community based support
  5. Education and public involvement
  6. Effective application of resources (financial and matching)
  7. Implementation according to design intent and adaptive to field conditions
  8. Inspirational value 

The Project description on this nomination form should include:

  • Watershed location and ecological zone of improvements
  • Extents of species and ecological zones benefited
  • Summary of the stakeholders involved and the collaboration process that was used across diverse groups (federal, state, local, non-profit, communities)
  • Synopsis of research, planning, design, and implementation.
  • Monitoring plan & report with supporting data (including any reports, peer-reviewed papers, etc.)
  • Description of ecological success to date and probable trajectory
  • Project cost (if possible)
  • Time and resources to monitor and evaluate if the project is meeting its stated goals

Eligibility

All projects related to fish passage and habitat. The project elements could include research, planning, design, outreach, education, implementation, and monitoring. Nominations must be submitted before March 15, 2017.

Selection

The winning project will be selected by the EWRI-AFS Joint Committee on Fisheries Engineering and Science. Priority will be given to projects that have demonstrated effectiveness and fulfillment of restoration goals, as illuminated by a well-designed monitoring plan and system. The winning project is scheduled to be notified by May 1, 2017. Representative(s) of the project will be requested to receive the award at the Banquet for the 2017 Fish Passage Conference and provide a presentation.

Past Winners

  • 2016 -- Habitat Restoration for Diadromous Fish in the River Mondego, presented to: Pedro Raposo de Almeida (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Portugal); Isabel Domingos (Foundation of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisboa, Portugal); Luís Simão (Mora Freshwater Aquarium, Parque Ecológico do Gameiro, Mora, Portugal); Maria Felisbina Quadrado (Portuguese Environmental Agency, Amadora, Portugal); Gonçalo Carrasqueira (Forest and Nature Conservation Institute, Lisboa, Portugal); Yorgos Stratoudakis (Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA), Lisboa, Portugal); Nuno Portal (EDP, Gestão da Produção de Energia, S.A., Porto, Portugal); Cristina Rosa (Diretorate General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM), Lisboa, Portugal); Fernando Lopes (Sea Lamprey Brotherhood, Penacova, Portugal); Fernanda Veiga (City Council of Penacova, Penacova, Portugal); Mário Magalhães Maia, City Council of Vila Nova de Poiares, Vila Nova de Poiares, Portugal); João Pardal (City Council of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)
  • 2015 -- Salto de San Fernando: Problems and Solutions, presented to: GEA-ecohydraulics (ETSIIAA Palencia), SSF S.L. (Town Hall and private associates), Duero Basin Authority (CHD-Water Public Domain Control Service), State Fisheries Section (Salamanca), Fishermen Associations (Peña de la Cruz de Béjar)
  • 2014 -- Acushnet River Fish Passage Restoration, presented to: NOAA Restoration Center, EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc., US Fish and Wildlife Service, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Buzzards Bay Coalition, US Geological Survey, The New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council, and the Town of Acushnet.
  • 2013 -- Development and Application of the Uniform Acceleration Bypass Weir for Downstream Passage at Dams and Water Intakes, presented to: Alex Haro, Theodore Castro-Santos, and John Noreika (Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, U. S. Geological Survey); George Hecker and Steve Amaral (Alden Research Laboratory); Robert Stira (Firstlight Power Resources); and Lynn Reese (U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District)

Nomination Form

This form is now closed.  We look forward to announcing the winner at Fish Passage 2017!