Kenner Marsh Project Gets Stewardship Award - Devils Lake Journal, January 9, 2004

A water management project was the recipient of the first Devils Lake Basin Water Stewardship award presented during the Lake Region Extension Roundup on Wednesday. The Dry Lake - Grand Harbor Watershed Management Project, better known locally as "Kenner Marsh" received the award which will be presented annually by the Devils Lake Basin Joint Resource Board.

The project is a cooperative management arrangement between local farmers, the Ramsey County Water Resource District, North Dakota Game & Fish, The Natural Resources Trust, and many other state and federal agencies.

Joint Board Chairman Carl Duchscher presented the award saying, "the 2004 Water Stewardship Award winner is a great example of a group of diverse interests, who do not always agree, working together for the benefit of the Devils Lake Basin and that State of North Dakota." The Stewardship Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization who have contributed to assisting with the implementation of the Joint Board's mission statement: "Development of a comprehensive, coordinated water management plan for the Devils Lake Basin that will protect the economic and biological values of the basin while providing optimum benefits for agriculture, wildlife/fisheries, recreation, and economic development for its citizens.

Other nominees for the award were Ramsey County's Gordon Berg and Towner County's Richard Lord. "Gordon has served generously for four decades as a leader in our community in various capacities. His passion is the stabilization of Devils Lake. His heart is truly in the Devils Lake Basin," Duchscher said. "Richard served on the Towner County Park Board for 22 years. He worked to improve fishing, water quality, and general recreation at the three parks in Towner County."