BROOKINGS — The South Dakota Wildlife Federation recognized the City of Brookings for management of city parks for outdoor activities and nature education. The award was presented by the South Dakota Wildlife Federation at its annual convention in Brookings on Aug. 5.

Also, the Lake Campbell Sportsmen’s Club and the Lake Campbell Improvement Association received a joint award for their actions in conserving the natural resources of Lake Campbell and educating area residents about the Lake.

Also receiving an award, the Wildlife Conservationist Award, was Brookings resident Terry Wieczorek, for his restoration and conservation of 480 acres of land in the Firesteel Creek watershed near Wessington Springs.

Wieczorek and friends have planted trees and shrubs, developed water resources, restored native prairie, planted wildlife food plots, and even farmed about 100 acres. The improved habitat now attracts mule and whitetail deer, pheasants, sharptail grouse and prairie chickens and other game and nongame species.

The Brookings Wildlife Federation (BWF), an affiliate of the SDWF hosted the convention and submitted the nominations for award consideration.

The city received the Educator Conservationist of the Year Award. The award nomination praised the City’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Programs for providing opportunities for out- of-doors activities that relate to conservation, wildlife appreciation, and outdoor education, as well as the usual sports venues (golf course, playgrounds, ball diamonds).

The nomination mentioned the Dakota Nature Park, the Larson Nature Center, the bike trail around town, the Brookings Prairie, the urban forestry program, and the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. The Monarch Pledge was promoted by the BWF, and is a joint program with the National Wildlife Federation and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance urban pollinator habitat.

The award nomination concluded as follows: “The City of Brookings has programs that give current residents the opportunity to learn about and appreciate nature. And for future residents, the city has a Sustainability Council; whereby protecting the environment and natural resources is one goal.”

Brookings Mayor Ope Niemeyer and the staff of the Parks and Rec Department accepted the award. The new director of Parks and Rec, Kristin Zimmerman, spoke for the city in thanking the SDWF for such recognition.

The joint award to the two Lake Campbell groups was the Conservationist of the Year Award.

The nomination mentioned that both groups are dedicated to the betterment and preservation of Lake Campbell. Both groups often work in conjunction with state agencies such as the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks and Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Many beneficial projects around Lake Campbell have been promoted and partially funded by these two groups, particularly maintaining the dam to stabilize water levels, improve and monitoring water quality, stabilizing eroding lake shorelines, improving recreational opportunities, and educating the public about the fish, wildlife, and ecology of the area.

The SDWF is an advocate for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in South Dakota, promotes wise use and conservation of the state’s natural resources, and recognizes like-minded groups and individuals at their annual convention.

BWF President Bob Kurtz welcomed the group to Brookings. He especially recognized Megan Howell, SDWF executive secretary (Pierre), Zack Hunke, president of the SDWF (Watertown), Kevin Robling, secretary of Game, Fish and Parks (Pierre) and Dave Ditloff, regional representative for the National Wildlife Federation (Bozeman, Montana).

SDWF has over 3,000 members, including residents and nonresidents. About 100 members of some 15 affiliate South Dakota clubs attended the Brookings convention. An educational program on Saturday, Aug. 6, was sandwiched between Friday night social event at the Brookings Gun Club and the Saturday night banquet at the Brookings Inn.

Robling and Ditloff made extensive remarks at the Saturday program, which also included research reports from SDSU graduate students who are studying fisheries issues. Also, Berry gave a history of the BWF, SDWF and NWF.