Minnesota Association of

Soil and Water

Conservation Districts

Doug Bos with Rock SWCD/Land Management Recognized as "Recovery Champion" by

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Left:  Doug Bos, Assistant Director of the Rock County SWCD/Land Management Office.  Bos is a graduate of the MASWCD Leadership Institute.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo.

Douglas Bos is one of sixteen award recipients across the nation being recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a 2007 “Recovery Champion.” Recovery Champions are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees and partners who are making significant contributions to the recovery of native endangered or threatened species.

Bos is being recognized for his contributions to the recovery of the Topeka shiner in the Rock River Watershed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site states the following about Bos:

“His efforts have been instrumental in bringing county feedlots into compliance with the State’s feedlot rules, achieving reduced levels of runoff that are positively affecting the water quality and habitat of this endangered native fish. Bos’ leadership has brought together government agencies and private enterprises to leverage each partner’s efforts to achieve greater protection for the Topeka shiner and other aquatic species. It is in large part through his ability to attain this level of cooperation among all stakeholders that the Topeka shiner is coming back from the brink of extinction.”

Bos will receive his award from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Director Robyn Thorson at an April 22nd meeting in Luverne, MN. Region 3 is headquartered in St. Paul, MN and includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champions please visit the following link: www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/champions/index.html.

Congratulations Doug!