From the IDNR
DES MOINES—A longtime biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is being recognized nationally for his work in fisheries and fish conservation.
Don Bonneau, fisheries research supervisor, was named Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) for his commitment to fisheries conservation both on a state and regional level. Specifically, Bonneau was recognized for his recent work on the DNR’s new Lake Restoration Program.
“His greatest contributions have come recently and are a result of his vision for the future and dedication to using sound science for making decisions,” said Marion Conover, chief of the fisheries bureau. “Don laid the groundwork for funding the new Lake Restoration Program.”
The program ties water quality, economics and quality of life issues into lake restoration.
“Don initiated a five-year study of 127 public lakes that assessed the water quality, technical feasibility of restoration, potential economic benefits, use by Iowans and local interest and involvement,” Conover went on to say. “The results of this study led to the prioritization of 35 candidate lakes for restoration.”
One of the success stories cited by MAFWA as a result of the program was a comprehensive $4 million restoration project at 140-acre Lake Ahquabi. The payback in terms of recreation benefits took only two years. For example, fishing at Lake Ahquabi increased more than three-fold. This, along with the science based prioritization of lakes, resulted in the program receiving dedicated funding of $8.5 million annually in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In that period, seven restoration projects have been completed and 15 are in progress.
Bonneau has been supervisor of the fisheries research section since 1973. Prior to that, he spent three years as the Southwest Iowa District Fisheries Manager. He has a bachelor of science degree in biology from Fort Hays State University and a master of science in fish and wildlife biology from Kansas State University. He is a member of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and North American Lake Management Society (NALMS).
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Iowa Outdoors
http://www.iowaoutdoors.org/article.php/20080715161127690