Gean Snow Award

Stonefly Society Presents Gean Snow Conservation Award to Don Duff, Fishery Biologist, US Forest Service

The Stonefly Society of the Wasatch Chapter of Trout Unlimited and an affiliate of the Federation of Fly Fishers presented its Gean Snow Conservation Award for 2003 to Don Duff. Mr. Duff is a highly respected fishery biologist who has worked for over 40 years to investigate and protect the needs of trout fisheries in desert ecosystems. The Award was presented Friday the 23rd at the Stonefly Society’s Annual Winter Dinner at the Cottonwood Country Club.

The Award is named for Gean Snow one of the founders of Trout Unlimited in Utah and a leading promoter of sport fishing, particularly fly-fishing in the mountain west. The Award was presented by Terry Hickman, an environmental officer for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. Terry presented the Award on behalf of Don Christiansen, General Manager of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and last recipient of the Award. Mr. Christiansen was given the Award to recognize his efforts to promote environmental protection in the Uintah Basin, Provo River, and Utah Lake region while producing water for Utah.

Mr. Duff has published widely acclaimed research on the need to protect riparian areas in the high deserts of the mountain west. He has particularly worked to protect Utah’s Deep Creek Mountains and their unique trout species. Don recently retired after 42 years of service with the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. For last 13 years, he has been the Forest Service/Trout Unlimited Partnership Coordinator. In that role, he has assisted Trout Unlimited members nationwide in issues involving the Forest Service and has been instrumental in the Bonneville Cutthroat Restoration Program in the Great Basin. He has a great deal of experience in river restoration work. Using that experience, Don guided Ireland in restoring many of their rivers that had been severely damaged by improper flood control activities. His expertise and interpersonal skills have been instrumental in the conservation efforts of Utah Trout Unlimited.

In addition, at the Dinner David Serdar replaced Richard Messineo as President of the Stonefly Society and Brock Richardson replaced Gerald Nielsen as Vice President for Conservation. According to David, "I would like to thank Rich Messineo and Gerald Nielsen for their years of service in this organization. Without their efforts, the Stonefly Society would not be as strong is it is today. I am excited about the opportunity to work with a group that has worked tirelessly for the preservation and benefit of our fisheries for so long. I remember first hearing about and becoming interested the Stonefly Society as a teenager and their work to keep flows in the Price River. I only regret that it took me so long to join. I look forward to working with our member volunteers and current officers on projects in the future that continue to build on the fine legacy that has been left by those who have volunteered their time and efforts in the past."