Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently handed out their EPA Environmental Quality Awards, and one of the awards went to Marie Springer, founder and president of the Friends of Wallkill River Refuge in Sussex, New Jersey.

According to the EPA’s award page:

Marie Springer is the founder and President of the Friends of Wallkill River Refuge, where she has been an active volunteer, giving more than 750 hours of her own time to the Refuge in the past two years alone. She has been a stalwart in efforts to preserve open space and encourage a balanced and eco-friendly use of natural resources. The National Wildlife Refuge Association chose Marie to testify on its behalf before the House Appropriations Committee in support of its Fiscal Year 2008 refuge budget request.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “The Wallkill River is one of the few large rivers in the United States that flows north. From its headwaters in spring-fed Lake Mohawk, located in Sparta, New Jersey, the river flows north into New York State. It joins the Rondout Creek in Rosendale, New York and empties into the Hudson River in Kingston, New York. The Refuge is part of the Hudson River-New York Bight watershed.”

The New Jersey Herald also recognized Marie’s award and her efforts to help Wallkill River Refuge:

She describes environmentalists as an army of green soldiers who work together toward the same goal of preserving nature.

“Marie Springer has been an influential individual in New Jersey, leading the charge to preserve and protect our natural heritage for generations to come,” said U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J.

“As the founder of Friends of Wallkill River, Ms. Springer made the conservation of open spaces an important cause to many northwest New Jerseyans. I appreciate, and am extremely grateful for, the hard work and dedication that Ms. Springer has poured into making our community a better place…”

Springer said she founded the Friends of The Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge about two and half years ago as many of the refuges across the nation were in danger of being destaffed. Funding cuts have narrowed the staff at the Wallkill Refuge from six to two, she said.

Springer and her family moved from Bergen County to Vernon three years ago. As a beekeeper, she said she intentionally moved into the wildlife refuge boundaries so she didn’t have to worry about the area being sprayed with pesticides.

Springer also reports that Captain Bill Sheehan of Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. also received a Region 2 EPA award this year — something she was especially proud of since Sheehan helped her learn about land conservation.

Springer also offered advice that many Americans should take to heart:

“You’ve got to preserve it or you’re going to lose it.”

Springer said her future plans are to “absolutely keep doing what I’m doing.”

“You must be of service to your community. You can’t just take, you have to give back.”

Tags:
wildlife, wildlife refuge, EPA Awards, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey