About

Awards and Recipients

The White River Alliance has been presenting stewardship awards since 2011. The awards are given to those demonstrating leadership, creativity, and innovation in the realm of water resource protection within the Upper White River Watershed.

Award Categories

The White River Alliance presents Stewardship Awards in three categories: Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection, Distinguished Member of the Year, and Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship. Click on the buttons below to find a description of each category and qualification requirements.

Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection

The Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection Award honors the work of an individual or organization who has demonstrated a strong commitment to water resources and/or watershed protection. Award-winning projects model responsible action, sustainability and resiliency principles and are implemented in harmony with natural and social surroundings. Projects or programs must have been initiated or completed within the past two years, and mitigation projects are not eligible. The award recipient does not have to be a White River Alliance member.

Qualifications

Demonstrates significant leadership in a focused area of resource conservation (water, materials and/or energy, land, species protection, etc.)
Provides direct pollution prevention and/or minimizes water use
Advances research or the implementation of best practices
Improves public health, wellbeing, volunteerism, and/or awareness/education
Demonstrates a thoughtful approach to the context and content associated with project or program
Engages collaborative partnerships
Is replicable and/or serves as a model or inspiration to others in the watershedHas maintenance and/or governance plans to ensure a sustainable future

Distinquished Member of the Year

The Distinguished Member Award honors the work of an individual or organization that has continually gone the extra mile to help steward our environment and engage in conservation. An individual who takes a stand, demonstrates leadership, and takes initiative in the idea, promotion, and completion of a community environmental initiative(s) is an ideal candidate for this award.

Qualification

Must be a current member of the White River Alliance
Must demonstrate a significant contribution to the environmental stewardship of our region and/or organization
Displays volunteerism, consistent dedication to the environment, and a focus on improving the quality of life within our region
Strong personal leadership from the member’s representative(s) – someone who leads with new insights, creative methods, and/or great enthusiasm for water resource protection
A willingness to serve as a model for others, sharing both expertise and encouragement

Extraordinary Supporter of Water Protection

The Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship Award goes to the individual or organization that provided above-and-beyond support for the work of the White River Alliance and our efforts to protect and improve the White River and its watershed. This support may be outstanding community engagement and/or a significant financial contribution that demonstrates a shared commitment to our work. Individuals reaching out within their circles to cultivate interest and investment in the river is the way that sustained, wide-spread stewardship is developed – it takes the commitment and generosity of many, and leadership from a few. All funding helps support White River Alliance public education and training programs that engage everyone from the individual homeowner to earth work contractors, landscapers, and politicians alike.

Qualifications

Must be an individual representing a small or large group raising funds for the White River Alliance
Must contribute a gift proportionally significant to the group’s resources
All funds raised must be collected and remitted to the White River Alliance

How to Nominate a Project or Member

All nominations must include the following:

Name of person or organization being nominated (if applicable, include the name of owner)
Name of the policy, program, project, exhibit, or event being nominated
Is the project/program possible to replicate elsewhere? Y/N
Describe worthiness of award as it related to the qualifications described for the award (750 word limit)
If applicable, describe how the policy/program or project meets/exceeds regulatory requirements (250 word limit)
If applicable, describe how the project will be maintained/sustained physically and/or via governance (250 word limit)
Attach electronic photos or supporting documentation as appropriate

Please submit all nominations electronically to info@thewhiteriveralliance.org.

Past Winners

2024

Virginia B. Fairbanks Sustainable Parking Lot at Newfields
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2024

City of Indianapolis with Special Recognition of Gail Boydston
Distinguished Member of the Year
2024

White River Canoe Company with Special Recognition of Brian Cooley and Junior
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2023

Jessica Larson, Indy Soft Water
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2023

Mark Heirbrandt, Hamilton County Commissioner
Distinguished Member of the Year
2023

Senator Sue Glick and Representative Mike Aylesworth
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2022

Brad Beaubien, Visit Indy/Tourism Tomorrow
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2022

Gary Wilhite, RAFT Volunteer
Distinguished Member of the Year
2022

Grand Junction Task Group
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2021

Brandon Alexander, Coca-Cola Consolidated of Indianapolis
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2021

Jon Eynon, EcoLogik
Distinguished Member of the Year
2021

Indra Frank, Hoosier Environmental Council
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2020

DJ O’Toole
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2020

Hoosier Aquatic Management with Special Recognition of Matt Kerkof
Distinguished Member of the Year
2020

Upper White Cover Crop Program
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2019

Plews Shadley Racher and Braun
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2019

White River State Park with Special Recognition of Lisa Milton
Distinguished Member of the Year
2019

City of Carmel Monon Boulevard
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2018

HWC Engineering
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2018

IUPUI Department of Political Science with Special Recognition of Bill Blomquist
Distinguished Member of the Year
2018

Marion County Wellfield Education Corporation
Exceptional Commitment to Watershed Protection
2017

Jay and Janice Black
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2017

City of Noblesville with Special Recognition of Tim Stottlemyer
Distinguished Member of the Year
2017

Monarch Butterfly Tagging by Indiana Wildlife Federation
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2017

Zionsville Creekside Corporate Park by HWC Engineering and the Town of Zionsville
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2017

Greenspace Maintenance Training Program by Pogue’s Run Waterway Committee
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2017

Dutro-Ernst Woods by Red-tail Conservancy
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2016

Citizens Energy Group
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2016

Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District with Special Recognition of Kevin Allison and Brian Neilson
Distinguished Member of the Year
2016

Shoreline Fishing Trip Down The White River by Indiana Department of Natural Resouces Division of Fish & Wildlife Go FishIN Program
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2016

Millersville at Fall Creek Preserve by Millersville at Fall Creek Valley
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2016

Integrated Water Monitoring Network Optimization Taskforce by Indiana Water Monitoring Council
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2016

Backyard Conservation Program by Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2015

D2 Land and Water Resource
Extraordinary Supporter of Water Stewardship
2015

Town of Zionsville with Special Recognition of Lance Lantz
Distinguished Member of the Year
2015

Noblesville River Festival by Noblesville White River Collaborative
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2015

Native Habitat by St. Peter’s United Church of Christ
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2015

Innovations in Water Planning to Promote Conservation & Region Cooperation by Citizens Energy Group Water Operations
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2015

Thorpe Creek Wetland Enhancement and Creation by the City of Fishers
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2014

Muncie Sanitary District with Special Recognition of John Craddock
Distinguished Member of the Year
2014

White River Past and Present by Conner Prairie
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2014

Village Promenade by HWC Engineering, Investments Property Advisors, and the City of Muncie
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2014

Indy ReZone by the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development, AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Clarion, EBW Inc., Empower Results, and DJ Case
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2014

County-wide Conservation Projects by Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2013

Fall Creek Waterhsed Partnership by Hamilton, Madison, Hancock, & Marion County SWCDs and Fall Creek Watershed Alliance
Distinguished Member of the Year
2013

A River Runs Through Us: Exhibit About The Importance Of The White River by Hamilton County Parks & Recreation
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2013

Speedway Green Infrastructure Sewer Separation Project by Town of Speedway, Remenschneider & Associates, and Commonwealth Engineers
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2013

Reconnecting to Our Waterways by Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW)
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2013

Hamilton County White River Clean Up by the City of Noblesville, City of Fishers, City of Carmel, and Hamilton County Household Hazardous Waste, Launched & Led by Allen Lind
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2012

Central Indiana Land Trust
Distinguished Member of the Year
2012

Raindrop Application & FLOW Project by Butler University Center for Urban Ecology, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Mary Miss Studio, and Williams Creek Consulting
Exemplary White River Festival Event or Exhibit
2012

Lilly Corporate Center Stormwater Runoff Reduction Initiative by Eli Lilly
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2012

Best Management Practices Watershed Graphics by Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance and Green 3
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2012

Conservation Cropping System Initiative (CCSI) by Indiana Conservation Partnership
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation
2011

Lenore Tedesco
Distinguished Member of the Year
2011

Clair Place Urban Revitalization by Elements Engineering, Eden Collaborative, RW Armstrong, and Indianapolis East Asset Development Corporation
Excellence in Sustainable Design or Construction
2011

Discovering the Science of the Environment by IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science
Outstanding Innovation in Policy or Program
2011

Prairie Creek Reservoir Master Plan by Muncie Parks Department, Delaware County SWCD, Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Planning Commission, and Citizens of Delaware County
Exceptional Commitment to Conservation