PALM BAY, Fla., Feb. 9, 2010 -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have been recognized for their efforts during a recent sea turtle rescue operation in the Indian River Lagoon.
Layne Hamilton, refuge manager at the Merritt Island NWR, and John Shaffer with NASA's Environmental Planning Office, accepted the 2010 Lagoon Leadership Award on behalf of their organizations during a meeting of the Indian River Lagoon Advisory Board on Jan. 27. The award honors those who provide a shining example of stewardship for the lagoon through advocacy, education and implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.
Both agencies were instrumental in leading a complex and ambitious rescue of more than 2,200 cold-stunned turtles from the lagoon during a January 2010 freeze.
"All of the agency personnel and the many volunteers who helped rescue the turtles performed an outstanding service under difficult conditions in an emergency situation and deserve our thanks and recognition," said Troy Rice, lagoon program director.
Shaffer lauded Innovative Health Applications (IHA), NASA's medical and environmental support contractor, as well as Boeing and United Space Alliance for providing equipment and manpower in the rescue and recovery of the sea turtles.
"It was one of these situations where the whole space center family pulled together," he said. "It was a phenomenal effort."
Hamilton pointed to the cooperation of many agencies, corporations and individuals that resulted in a successful rescue operation.
"More than 100 people came together from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Johns River Water Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, NASA, IHA, U.S. Air Force, SeaWorld, and Disney," she said. "People worked tirelessly for over a week to retrieve, process, rehabilitate and then release over 2,200 sea turtles, which speaks to the level of cooperation, professionalism and leadership of everyone involved."