Brian Walker, a biologist with the Partners for Fish & Wildlife program, has won the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington (NRCS-WA), Annual Partner Award. He was recognized as part of a luncheon ceremony on November 20, 2024.
Brian has assisted NRCS-WA in easement acquisition, restoration, and stewardship the past ten plus years. His professionalism, expertise, and passion for wildlife habitat in Eastern Washington has been insurmountable to NRCS’s operations and mission. Brian has recently assisted in spearheading the tree planting on an NRCS easement by leading the collaboration between The Lands Council, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC), Spokane County Parks, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for Spokane Reforestation Day. Brian has also assisted NRCS through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) by completing all the wetland determination field verification and permitting paperwork. Brian’s most recent contribution was to bring forth the idea to NRCS-WA to utilize Inflation Reduction Action (IRA) funding to create a nursery for easement tree stock at Turnbull Refuge. After the agreement was signed in 2023, Brian created and managed the nursery, ensuring that stock was ready for stewardship installation. He has also collaborated with NRCS and Ducks Unlimited on vegetation restoration practices on existing wetland easements. His specialized and local experience to improve wetland easements in Eastern Washington deserves recognition and continued support.
"It was an honor being recognized for my efforts helping deliver conservation in partnership with NRCS," says Walker. "Our partnership over the past 12 years has resulted in hundreds of acres of restored wetlands across Eastern Washington. I look forward to maintaining this partnership with NRCS and seeing what projects we deliver in the future."
