In recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication, and contributions to the mission of the Coastal Program, National Wildlife Refuge System, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dan Murphy, Supervisory Coastal Program Biologist at the Chesapeake Bay Field Office, received the Meritorious Service Award.
Mr. Murphy began his career with the Service more than 30 years ago as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist. Although he loved working in the field on individual wildlife projects, Dan inherently knew that to make greater gains in wildlife conservation he needed to pursue larger scale initiatives.
One of his first landscape level projects was coordinating an interagency effort, the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project, to remove invasive nutria from Maryland’s wetlands. His wildlife management and communication skills were essential to engaging local, state, and federal agencies, conservation groups, and landowners in this difficult endeavor. From its inception in 2002, 14,000 nutria were removed, protecting over 250,000 acres of marshes on the Delmarva Peninsula. In 2022, the project announced that Maryland was free of the exotic, invasive rodent.
In 2017 Dan led the creation of the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network consisting of multiple partners collaborating to make the Delmarva Peninsula a place where native fish and wildlife thrive; lands and waters enrich the lives of those who live, work, and play there; and natural areas support present and future generations. By 2023 the Network protected 33,836 acres of land (through easements and acquisition), restored 5,794 acres of terrestrial habitat (including wetlands), and had another 2,917 acres of restoration projects in progress. Network partners continue these efforts today.
More recently, working with the National Wildlife Refuge System, Dan developed a proposal for the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge to conserve up to 40,000 acres in fee-title acquisitions or easements from willing sellers in order to maintain habitats that support threatened and endangered species, waterfowl, and migratory birds of conservation concern. This December the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge became a reality, becoming the 573rd National Wildlife Refuge.
Dan is retiring on January 31, 2025. His impressive legacy is an inspiration to all Service staff and partners all around the country. We look forward to seeing what he does in retirement!
