Veterans Affairs - Have You Heard

PHOTO: Jeff White participates in Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E., just one of many stream cleanups he has participated in or helped plan as a committed steward to Iowa's waterways. 

Photo courtesy of Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E.

Story County Conservation (SCC) is excited to publicize the 2023 recipient of an award presented annually to a member of the community “who has displayed excellence in the conservation of our natural resources and outdoor pursuits representing the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship.”

Each year, the Olav Smedal Conservation Award is awarded in honor of Olav Smedal, who spent 22 years as an outdoor writer for the Ames Tribune, as well as serving as a “founding father” and charter member of the Ames Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (Ames Ikes).

Jeff White of Ames was recently presented with this award by the Ames Ikes and the Story County Conservation Board.

White was nominated for the award by Carol Williams, retired Special Projects Ranger at SCC, who worked closely with White as a trails volunteer, and Rick Dietz, another local committed to caring for natural resources in Story County and the 2006 recipient of this award.

White has been a longtime volunteer with SCC’s trail workdays, especially during Williams’ reign at SCC. In a supporting letter for this nomination, Williams described him as a prominent leader and intelligent innovator, always coming up with trail solutions. Things like how to remove a deep root in the middle of a trail by building a lever and pulley system, or divert runoff and prevent erosion using water bars.

“While his qualities would be great assets in any group or club,” Williams said, “White chose to use them on trails and to improve not only access to the outdoors for others, but to improve the way those trails were built so they were sustainable, safe and environmentally sound.” 

Dietz’s nomination letter highlighted White’s contributions to numerous groups community-wide. Dietz noted White as a regular and reliable volunteer and volunteer leader, taking extra steps to assess needs while planning a trail project, river cleanup or invasive species removal event. White has helped plan many workdays, which have included SCC parks and trails, ISU’s Applied Science Center (Reactor Woods), and ISU’s Skunk River Navy, and numerous others. 

Especially known for his role in the paddling community, White brings experience, leadership skills and enthusiasm to the Skunk River Water Trail, as a leader of the Skunk River Paddlers, a local group who has adopted the trail as their own. He is known for coming prepared with a Pulaski (hand tool) to stream cleanups to slice open silt-filled tanks, barrels, and boilers with enthusiasm so they can be emptied and removed by canoe. 

A group of volunteers paddles a local river as they assists with a stream cleanup, including Jeff White on the right.

Photo courtesy of Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E.

Perhaps his career with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), handling leaking underground storage tanks as a Corrective Action Specialist, may explain his enthusiasm for removing tanks and barrels from waterways, as mentioned above. Tires and appliances are removed with equal enthusiasm!

As a member of the “Access Ada Hayden” committee, White was an instrumental part of raising $38,000 in partner funding to assist with the City of Ames’ installation of an ADA-compliant kayak launch and dock at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. As a result of his involvement with Access Ada Hayden, he was invited to and now serves on the City of Ames Parks and Recreation Commission.

He's certainly left his mark on the trail building and paddling communities. Next time you see him on the street, trail or river make sure to congratulate him for this special recognition!

Additional Contributions:

• Among the founders of Environmental Professionals of lowa (EPI) in the 1990s; he has held many leadership positions there since, while an active participant in the lowa Groundwater Association
• Active member of IDNR’s Water Trail Advisory Committee
• Member of fundraising committee for N-Compass, the non-profit behind lowa Project A.W.A.R.E. (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition), the state’s largest river cleanup event and advocate. The committee raised over $66,000 in 13 grants last year.
• Serves on the  City of Ames Parks and Recreation Commission

Mike Meetz, Chair of the Olav Smedal Conservation Award nomination committee, presents the 2023 award to Jeff White during the January Story County Conservation Board meeting.

In addition to his heavy involvement with the paddling community, Jeff White has been a longtime volunteer with Story County Conservation's trail workdays.