Past River Heroes
This annual award celebrates rivers and those who protect them by recognizing some of our victories and honoring those who provide us with leadership and inspiration along the way. In addition to the River Heroes, River Network selects one individual each year to receive the James R. Compton River Achievement Award, celebrating a life-long commitment to river conservation.
2006 Winners
Gershon Cohen, Project Director, Campaign to Safeguard America's Waters (AK)
Gerson has actively championed river and marine ecosystem protection for the last 16 years in Alaska and throughout the U.S.A., focusing on industrial wastewater pollution. Armed with a Masters Degree in immunology/molecular genetics, Gershon moved to Alaska in 1983 to become a potter and a father. In 1990, he had a wake-up call in the form of a proposed copper mine in the watersheds of the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers and he has since become one of Alaska's outstanding spokespersons for clean water and river protection.
Lawrence Master, Chief Zoologist, Nature Serve
It would be fair to say that each and every river protection effort in this country, if not the world, has been touched by the work and passion of Lawrence Master. Larry's career began with his doctoral and post-doctoral work at the University of Michigan, in which he helped establish the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Shortly thereafter, he was hired as one of the first scientists to join the Nature Conservancy to help them determine how to protect the planet's biodiversity. Today, Larry is the Chief Zoologist for Nature Serve, nonprofit organization providing scientific information and tools needed to help guide effective conservation action.
Beth Maynor Young, Photographer
Beth has linked a generation of southerners to the beauty and biodiversity of their rivers and coastal waters through the power and emotion of her exquisite photographs, and has directly motivated significant land and river protection. Her photography of southeastern rivers, coastal waters and watershed ecosystems is an archive of special and important places that demand thoughtful stewardship. Beth has worked with countless conservation organizations to promote their work, to enhance sense of place, and to generate acts of stewardship for places portrayed in her photographs.
Barry Sulkin, Consultant, Tennessee PEER
Barry, formally schooled as an environmental engineer, has been involved in virtually every river protection and water quality initiative in Tennessee for the past 15 years; in most such efforts throughout the southeast; and in many across the country. His technical expertise has been instrumental in convincing politicians, regulators and judges of the need for improvements in river protection. Barry has demonstrated strategic leadership within watershed groups by helping to found such groups, define goals and set agendas for pursuing said goals. His training of lay persons and attorneys alike has helped enormously in our understanding of complex water quality issues - especially in the TMDL and NPDES arenas. He is also an accomplished musician and can often be found providing late-night entertainment at conferences around the country.
Clinton B. Townsend, President, Maine Rivers
For more than a half-century, Bill Townsend has worked passionately to protect and revitalize the more than 31,000 miles of rivers and streams in the State of Maine. The results have rippled across the nation. Since Bill arrived in Maine as a dairy farmer in 1957, he has earned a reputation as an innovative, passionate and effective river advocate. He has been a vigilant watchdog for Maine's rivers and the life they support; from the smallest headwater streams to the largest rivers, from the mountains to the sea, for the benefit of creatures ranging from invertebrates to Atlantic salmon.
