I recently enjoyed being a part of a special day for Dr. Fritz Reid of Ducks Unlimited organized by the Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV). The event was very appropriately held out at the Cosumnes Preserve near Galt—a site that exemplifies collaborative conservation success—hosting an array of beautiful waterbirds such as the beautiful Sandhill Cranes that I saw on my way to the event. It was a great day in the company of many key players in the wildlife conservation community. It is always enjoyable to visit with such committed professionals who care so deeply about wildlife.
The CVJV is a coalition of non-governmental, state and federal agencies deeply concerned with bird conservation here in our great Central Valley. They are great friends of rice due to the considerable amount of habitat provided by ricelands cited referenced in the CVJV 2006 Implementation Plan (www.centralvalleyjointventure.org).
Fritz has been a long-time, very passionate supporter of wetland protection and restoration in the Central Valley. Towards this goal, he has devoted many hours of work helping to guide the efforts of the CVJV. Therefore, he was very appropriately honored by his peers and fellow CVJV Board Members. He is shown here receiving his award presented by Ellie Cohen, Chairwoman of the CVJV Board and Bob Shaffer, Coordinator of the CVJV.
Fritz is now off to focus his efforts on the Northern Boreal Forest region. While the Central Valley will always be near and dear to Fritz’s heart, we’ll miss seeing him out here as often as we have in the past. Yet he’ll still have a connection with us in the Central Valley given that many species of ducks and other waterbirds that visit us here originate from that region.
Fritz, thanks for all your years of great work here in California. Best wishes in your work up north!
Paul Buttner is Manager of Environmental Affairs for the California Rice Commission.
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