May 2012 – Pat Bruce, Stewardship Program Director for Friends of Nevada Wilderness, received the prestigious Making A Difference National Volunteer Award, awarded to outstanding volunteers with the Bureau of Land Management.
The Winnemucca District BLM nominated Pat for his continued devotion to restoring and maintaining Nevada’s public lands through on-the-ground work with volunteers. Bob Abbey, National Director for the BLM, presented Pat with the Making A Difference National Volunteer Award.
Pat leads over a dozen trips per year to the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in the BLM’s Winnemucca District. The Black Rock-High Rock NCA is part of the National Conservation Lands, areas managed by the BLM. Pat’s projects protect and restore these Conservation Lands: from restoration of a public-use cabin in warm springs-rich Soldier Meadows to the construction of a catchment dam to provide water for pronghorn and mule deer during dry months, every visitor and resident of the area benefits from Pat’s hard work and leadership.
“It’s all the work of the volunteers that make this possible,” said Pat. “I want to accept this award on behalf of everyone who has volunteered in Nevada’s public lands.”
“Pat has been with us for over six years, and has grown our volunteer events into a nationally recognized and respected program,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director for Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “Nevada is a better place for everyone – hikers and hunters and pronghorn and bighorn sheep – because of Pat Bruce.”
Volunteer with Pat in the Black Rock-High Rock National Conservation Area – visit www.NevadaWilderness.org for project dates and details!
