THE PUBLIC LANDS FOUNDATION presents the Medicine Bow Conservation District (MBCD) with a Landscape Stewardship Certificate of Appreciation and 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).

In the nomination of the Medicine Bow Conservation District, Mike Murry, a Rangeland Management Specialist in the Rawlings Field Office, states, “The MBCD, under the leadership of Todd Heward, has been substantial in the successful implementation of mitigation measures following the completion of the ‘Shirley Basin Watershed’ Standards and Guidelines Assessment in 2006.  This assessment identified numerous land health issues that required mitigation, range improvement construction, and or livestock management alterations.  Many of these mitigation measures were made possible with the planning assistance and time dedicated by Todd and the MBCD staff.  They have adopted this landscape scale for the Shirley Basin and their district boundary (over 1,500,000 acres) in addressing solutions to resource issues raised.”

Todd and the MBCD staff have been instrumental in providing leadership and vision to many of the livestock operators within the district boundary.  Todd served as a trusted liaison between the BLM and grazing operators when discussing management alterations and/or new rangeland improvement projects on deeded lands and lands within the National System of Public Lands administered by BLM.

On their own, and in concert with other conservation districts, they sponsored field tours and training sessions, and brought in speakers to disseminate knowledge of best management practices among the constituents of the district.  The MBCD is also a partner in the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, with emphasis on enhancing management of habitat to support greater sage-grouse in areas adjacent to recent wind energy development.

Todd with the MBCD has been the key component in recent years in assisting the Rawlins BLM range program implement and spend awarded grant dollars.  They have, via written agreements, served as the awarded party of hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result of grant applications and proposals coordinated with the BLM range staff, including the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Water for Wildlife, local sage-grouse working groups, County Weed and Pest, along with many other special interest groups.

The Public Lands Foundation is pleased to present the Medicine Bow Conservation District   with a Certificate of Appreciation for invaluable contributions to the stewardship of America’s public landscapes.

September 15, 2010