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National Estuary Program received two Gulf of Mexico Program Gulf Guardian Awards, honors handed out bi-annually to recognize those making positive strides to keep the Gulf of Mexico healthy and beautiful.
The awards were presented Thursday at a ceremony held in Corpus Christi, Texas.
BTNEP Education and Outreach Coordinator Alma Robichaux received the award in the Partnership category for her work on the Bayou Lafourche Cleanup, a project that enlists more than 1,000 volunteers each March to clear the waterway of any trash.
Robichaux has been with the estuary program for five years and orchestrated the 106-mile cleanup over the past four years, co sponsoring the event with Keep Louisiana Beautiful and many local supporters.
This year, volunteers collected more than 30,309 pieces of trash, including microwaves, televisions, lawn mowers and other smaller items hazardous to the delicate ecosystem.
Habitat Restoration Coordinator Matt Benoit and former staff member Joseph Dantin received the award in the Youth Environmental Education category for their work in the Growing Restoration Roots project, a year-round effort primarily for college students that grows native plants then relocates them to areas that need them most. The students learn about the significance of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary then take to the field to place the plants in areas in need of a little attention.
“It’s not just that we are losing wetlands,” BTNEP Director Susan Testroet-Bergeron said. “It’s that we have a unique culture, we have unique habitats, we have great plants and animals.”
The Gulf of Mexico Program, initiated in 1988 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a non-regulatory program, recognizes business, civic and non-profit organizations, partnerships, youth and education programs, individuals, government and bi-national entities for their work with the Gulf. Testroet-Bergeron said receiving recognition from such a prestigious program is overwhelmingly exciting.
“The Gulf of Mexico Program highlights once every two years those people and programs that are working with exceptional talent to restore habitats, build partnerships and educate youth,” she explained. “The fact that our program was recognized twice in two separate categories really makes us feel honored. The Gulf of Mexico Program Gulf Guardian Awards are highly prized and we just could not be happier to be receiving not one but two awards.”
