Contact: Celi Haga
651-315-5082
St. Paul, Minn., - The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is pleased to announce that Myron Jesme, District Administrator for the Red Lake Watershed District, has been honored as the 2016 Outstanding Watershed District Employee of the Year.
Myron began working for the Red Lake Watershed District in 2003, having previously worked for 20 years for what was then known as the Middle River-Snake River Watershed District. As district administrator, Myron is the key point of contact for the largest watershed district in the state. A leader in the region, he has successfully developed and maintained positive relationships with state and federal agencies, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, multiple local units of governments, non-governmental organizations, and the public.
Over the years, those relationships have been key to the Watershed District’s ability to get projects on the ground. Myron has been instrumental in the completion of multiple large-scale District projects, one of the most impressive of which was the $7.25 million restoration of the Grand Marais Creek Outlet, completed in late 2015. Conservation projects with numerous stakeholders and multiple funding sources can be difficult to manage, but Myron’s careful stewardship of the project and inclusion of multiple partners on the project team helped ensure success.
Myron has also been a true leader in the One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) program, and has served on the Local Government Roundtable, which was foundational in the program’s development, for many years. Myron is an active member of the Red Lake River 1W1P pilot program planning work group and advisory committee. He brought recommendations to the policy committee, worked with the watershed district board to provide financial assistance, and led the planning grant application for the Thief River watershed.
“Myron’s work has made a positive impact on the Red Lake Watershed District and throughout the state,” BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke said. “He’s demonstrated time and time again the value of partnerships and a commitment to going the extra mile to make sure his projects succeed.”
The Outstanding Watershed District Employee of the Year is awarded at the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ convention, held annually in December.
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BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke presented Myron Jesme with the award at the MAWD convention. |