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CRCL Announces the Winners of the 21st Annual Coastal Stewardship Awards
Award Ceremony to be held May 6, 2016 in Baton Rouge



The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2016 Coastal Stewardship Awards.

This is the 21st year for CRCL’s Coastal Stewardship Awards, which honor individuals and organizations who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the coast and have made significant contributions to the restoration and conservation of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.

CRCL will honor these coastal champions at the 21st Annual Stewardship Awards Banquet on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. Tickets are $60 and available at crcl.org.

We are also honored to announce that this year’s keynote speaker will the Governor’s newly appointed Executive Assistant for Coastal Activities and Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), Johnny Bradberry.

The 2016 winners fall into four categories: Distinguished Service, Coastal Stewardship, Friends of the Coalition and Volunteer of the Year.

Distinguished Service/Sue Hawes Memorial Award

Mike Carloss – Carloss is a native of Vermilion Parish who has a long history of conservation engagement in Coastal Louisiana, including more than 20 years with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. He has also worked for Louisiana Office of State Parks, USDA National Resources Conservation Service and as an adjunct instructor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He currently works with Ducks Unlimited, where he oversees the waterfowl habitat conservation in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and the Gulf Coast. Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, he worked tirelessly on wildlife rescue response and his work was documented in HBO’s “Saving Pelican 895.” He has also been instrumental in planning, designing and constructing several CWPPRA projects.

Coastal Stewardship Award

Earl Armstrong – Armstrong has lived and worked along the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish for more than 70 years. He has been a tireless advocate for the importance of sediment diversions to rebuild Coastal Louisiana. He was instrumental in preventing the closure of the West Bay diversion. As a member of the Plaquemines Parish Coastal Zone Advisory Committee his knowledge of the River and Coastal Louisiana has been invaluable. His lifelong understanding of the Mississippi River Delta is vital to Plaquemines Parish and the health of our coastal wetlands.

Allyse M. Ferrara, PhD – Dr. Ferrara is an internationally renowned biology professor and researcher at Nicholls State University. She has made substantial contributions to Coastal Louisiana by giving students first-hand experience as stewards of the coast. Each year she helps to coordinate cleanup days on Bayou Lafourche in Thibodaux, along the beaches of Grand Isle, Elmer’s Island, and Port Fourchon. She has also become one of the leading “boots on the ground” researchers focusing on the stabilization of Louisiana shorelines by planting coastal vegetation. Her work is unique in that it combines innovative teaching with the muscle of young students to make a tangible impact to our coast.

Veni and Hansel Harlan – The Harlans are conservationists and dog-enthusiasts-turned-entrepreneurs. They have taken their compassion for animals and their concern for Louisiana’s wetlands and made it into a business that serves both a need and a mission. Their company, Marsh Dog, LLC, is a Baton Rouge-based company that uses wild nutria meat as the main ingredient in nutritious dog treats. This brother and sister team recognized a need to eradicate the invasive population of nutria and their innovative solution is proving to be a “win-win” for dogs and Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands. They are tireless advocates for coastal restoration and work to educate people across Louisiana and beyond about the importance of protecting and conserving our coast.

Edward “Ed” G. Perrin, Sr. – Perrin is a life-long resident of Lafitte and is a distinguished educator, historian, and ambassador for coastal protection and restoration. He went above and beyond as a long time science teacher at Fisher School in Lafitte teaching generations of Lafitte’s youth the importance of conserving and protecting our natural resources. He is a founding member of the Sixth Ward Association for Progress, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing awareness of the coastal restoration needs of the Sixth Ward of Jefferson parish. His incredible understanding of the Lafitte culture, history and environment makes him an invaluable resource.

Steve Wilson – Wilson has dedicated himself to Coastal Louisiana both in his position with Shell Motiva and through his service on various state and local boards and commissions. He has served as President of the Pontchartrain Levee District for 11 years, on the board of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) for 10 years, President of the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana for 5 years, and has served on the Framework Development team for the CPRA master plans. Wilson is a stalwart defender of the Louisiana Coast. He has been instrumental in forming partnerships between public and private entities to make real progress for Coastal Louisiana.

Maura Wood – Wood has been a champion for coastal restoration and protection for decades, first working on environmental policy and advocacy for the Sierra Club and now for the National Wildlife Federation. Her skill as a collaborator and her understanding of the complex issues surrounding coastal restoration helped her build a network of contacts among citizens, organizations, agency personnel, and state decision makers that she has been able to mobilize for real and measured progress on our coast. In 2006, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed her to serve on the Louisiana Recovery Authority Environmental Task Force. She has an unyielding dedication to Louisiana’s coast and its communities.

Friends of the Coalition
Orvis – Baton Rouge
Ashley Porter – Porter Lyons

Volunteer of the Year
Libby Nehrbass

About CRCL: The Coalition to Restore Coast Louisiana (CRCL) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization driving bold, science-based action to restore Coastal Louisiana though outreach, restoration and advocacy. CRCL was founded in 1988 and is the state’s oldest and most comprehensive coastal restoration organization.

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