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A local man’s love of the outdoors has not only helped build artificial reefs for the state’s anglers as well as remove old crab traps from coastal waterways, but it has also landed him the state’s top conservation award.
“I was surprised,” said John Walther of Thibodaux. “I never expect to win an award. I do what I do because it’s my passion, to protect our resources and habitat.”
Walther, an employee of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry and long-time Coastal Conservation Association volunteer, will be presented the 2012 Governor’s Conservation Award this Saturday in Baton Rouge at a banquet held in conjunction with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s 74th convention.
The Governor’s Award is bestowed to individuals or organizations that have made great contributions to protecting and promoting the wise use of the state’s natural resources. Nominees are submitted by the general public and a panel of five judges with conservation expertise selects the winner.
Walther’s list of accomplishments in the last 20 years include helping to build 11 artificial reefs along the state’s coast as well as assisting with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries annual Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program. His good deeds for 2012, those that helped him land the award, include establishing the use of recycled concrete materials to build the Brad Vincent Reef in Calcasieu Lake and the Buras High School Reef in Brenton Sound.
“I come from an agricultural background, and I was a full-time farmer before coming on with Department of Agriculture,” Walther said. “I wanted to take the conservation and sustainability of the agriculture industry and apply the concepts to marine fisheries to help keep the resources available for future generations.”
Walther did just that in 2012 by using concrete from the Interstate 210 resurfacing project in Lake Charles and concrete from the old Buras High School, which was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, to construct the Brenton Sound and Calcasieu Lake reefs.
“John is the kind of volunteer an organization wants to cultivate and duplicate over and over again,” said Louisiana Wildlife Federation executive director Rebecca Triche. “His projects benefit our goals. There is something for everyone with the projects he heads up. John is dedicated to his volunteer work, and he makes time for the cause in addition to his job at the Department of Agriculture. I know him personally, and he goes above and beyond just doing his job. He has made significant achievements in conservation in 2012, but he has been a driving force in conservation for many years.”
The conservation awards program is hosted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, and the awards are presented jointly with the National Wildlife Federation. According to Triche, Walther’s 2012 accomplishments are what stood out to the most to the five-judge award panel.
“Judges look at the nominee’s commitment to conservation, the impact the projects they lead or are involved in have, and the changes these projects make in the environment,” Triche said. “These reefs are positively changing the fishing habitat in key areas along the coast. John really thinks outside the box, especially when it comes to using recycled things to build reefs. He follows through with projects.”
“We are excited that such a great volunteer has been recognized with such an award,” Triche added.
In addition to Walther, the St. Mary Parish 4-H – Black Bear Awareness project and Bayou Grace Community Services of Chauvin were also recognized for outstanding conservation achievements last year. For several years, the St. Mary Parish 4-H – Black Bear Awareness project has worked to inform youth and citizens in the area about the recovery efforts of the parish’s endangered black bear population, and Bayou Grace Community Services of Chauvin was recognized for getting locals and people from around the country involved in volunteer projects, advocacy and education endeavors to aid in the restoration of the Barataria and Terrebonne estuaries.
Thibodaux resident John Walther will receive the 2012 Governor’s Conservation Award Saturday at the state Wildlife Federation’s 74th convention.
