CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) presented its annual Wendell McCurry Excellence in Water Quality Award to Dr. Susan Donaldson on Wednesday, February 6, in recognition of her extensive and enduring contributions to water quality in Nevada.
The Wendell McCurry Award was established in 1999 to honor Wendell McCurry and his long-term commitment to water quality protection and improvement. During his 33-year career, McCurry was a strong advocate for water quality, establishing the state’s water quality standards and representing Nevada on a national level with the Association of Clean Water Administrators where he was highly influential in shaping national water policies.
The fifteenth recipient of the award, Dr. Donaldson is an alumnus of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) with a Ph.D. in Hydrology/Hydrogeology. She has worked with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension since 1989 and has fostered numerous projects to further water quality education in Nevada:
▪In 2003 she established the Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Nevada program in partnership with local and state agencies, providing water quality education for land-use decision makers.
▪In 2005 she partnered with public agencies to create the Water Wise program, bringing watershed education to local residents through a partnership with broadcast media and the internet.
▪In 2009 she launched a Pesticide Applicator Safety training website and began coordinating UNCE’s Pesticide Safety Education Program with the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
“Dr. Donaldson’s water quality education efforts have greatly informed the public. She is directly responsible for helping stakeholders apply their knowledge and skills to solve community environmental challenges,” said Colleen Cripps, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. “We are thrilled to be able to recognize her efforts with this year’s Wendell McCurry award.”
Dr. Donaldson is currently a Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, holds a position on the Faculty Senate and serves as a Water Quality Education Specialist for the Western Area Cooperative Extension in Nevada, where she conducts public educational programs on water quality and invasive weeds. More information is available at http://ndep.nv.gov/admin/wendll_master.htm.
