The Public Lands Foundation presents Carson Hughes with its 2012 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation.  The Foundation grants this recognition to honor private citizens and organizations that work to advance and sustain community-based stewardship on landscapes that include, in whole or in part, public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Carson Hughes has volunteered over 400 hours helping the BLM in the Pinedale Field Office in 2009 and 2010 and in the Kemmerer Field Office in 2011 and 2012.  His work predominantly focused on archeological, paleontological, rangeland and riparian monitoring, native seed collecting and recreation related activities.  And, he has also done volunteer work for Fossil Butte National Monument (National Park Service) and Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Carson’s work included excavation, pedestrian survey, photography, and classification, which he conducted with enthusiasm and professionalism.  Carson has a talent for recognizing, locating and investigating both archaeological and paleontological materials.  He also demonstrates a stewardship toward these resources, recognizing their scientific potential and the need for their preservation.  His enthusiasm is both genuine and contagious.

In addition to discovering archeological artifacts, Carson has helped with public tours and educational presentations to other youth through Nature Camps to help show how important conservation and our natural resources are.  Peer education made a lasting effect on those that received it.

Carson, while on a field visit in the Pinedale Field Office, discovered a mudstone outcrop covered with fossilized caddis castings, which the office named “Carson’s Caddis Locale.”  It was considered an important find that supported a local geologist’s theory that at one time, one of the ancient Green River lakes must have been pure fresh water in order to sustain caddis fly pupae.

Carson was also responsible for bringing other discoveries to the BLM’s attention and he eagerly shared his knowledge with professionals and was respectful of the legalities of not collecting materials protected by law.

In 2011, Carson helped with the Bureau of Land Management’s Seeds of Success program assisted with vegetation monitoring within the Kemmerer Field Office’s oil and gas program.

The Public Lands Foundation is pleased to present Carson Hughes with its 2012 Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and this Citation for invaluable contributions to the stewardship of America’s public landscapes.

/s/ Henri Bisson

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Henri Bisson, President                                                                                                                September 15, 2012
Public Lands Foundation

September 15, 2012