Don Larson honored for environmental leadership

Washington State Department of Ecology

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Department of Ecology News Release - March 29, 2006

06-049

Don Larson honored for environmental leadership

BELLEVUE - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has named Donald L. Larson of Bremerton a recipient of its highest environmental award for his multi-faceted leadership to clean up and protect the environment in the Sinclair-Dyes inlet watershed and throughout Kitsap County.

Larson will receive the Environmental Excellence Award during a meeting of the Kitsap County commission on Monday, April 10. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Kitsap County Courthouse, 614 Division St., in Port Orchard.

"Don Larson has shown tremendous energy and dedication to protecting water quality by spearheading exciting initiatives on land, on water and under water," said Jeannie Summerhays, Ecology's regional director, who will present the award. "His hard work and powerful advocacy greatly advance the cooperative public and private efforts to improve water quality in western Puget Sound."

Among his many activities and accomplishments, Larson has:

Spearheaded shoreline and underwater cleanups of Sinclair Inlet in Bremerton twice a year since 1990. Engaging volunteers and private and public community sponsors, these ongoing efforts have removed over 524 cubic yards of debris from the environment to date.
Taken a principal role in the 2002 founding and continuing leadership of Kitsap Trees & Shoreline Association, which promotes the preservation and planting of native-species trees on public and private lands throughout the county.
Played an instrumental role in passing underwater parks legislation in 1993 (SSB 5332) to establish Marine Protected Areas, which promote the preservation and enjoyment of extraordinary examples of Washington's marine habitat.
Helped lead the planning, purchase and installation of 95 educational signs in 30 Puget Sound Marine Parks (1994-1996) from Olympia (Tolmie State Park) to the San Juan Islands (Jones Island State Park), securing foundation grants to sponsor the project.
Taken special interest in promoting environmental awareness among young people. He has provided assistance on various scouting projects and enlisted private and public sponsorship of a two-page Bremerton High School 2006 yearbook ad to encourage environmental stewardship among the students.

Larson currently is working with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility railroad on a plan to reduce non-point source pollution problems in Sinclair Inlet from near-shore transportation facilities. The proposal would include creating a salmon-friendly landscaped shoreline by removing the boulder bulkhead.

An avid SCUBA diver, Larson takes special interest in protecting Puget Sound's spectacular and fragile habitat resources.

Ecology's Environmental Excellence Award recognizes leadership, innovation and extraordinary service to protect, improve or clean up the environment.

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Contact: Larry Altose, public information officer, 425-649-7009
Donald L. Larson: 360-373-7593

Kitsap Trees: www.kitsaptrees.com
Washington Scuba Alliance: www.wascubaalliance.org