Chuck Smith, an expert houndsman from Okanogan, was honored by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at an awards ceremony May 30 in Olympia, according to the department.
     "As with any organization, our success depends on the support of citizen volunteers and others throughout our state dedicated to fish and wildlife stewardship," said department director Jeff Koenings. "Fortunately, this department has a strong network of support, as evidenced by the people we are honoring here today."
     Citing volunteer efforts by people throughout the state, Koenings recognized three individuals, including Smith, with the department's volunteer of the year award.
     Smith lent his expertise in helping the department establish a cougar monitoring program in Okanogan County, according to the department. He also provided lodging for department biologists during capture efforts, and allowed them to use his snowmobiles, dog sleds and other equipment.
     A standing ovation was given to Andy Vitalek and Jim Coates for distributing millions of pounds of surplus hatchery fish to needy families over the past 10 years.
     Vitalek, a Bellingham seafood processor, and Coates, director of Grays Harbor/Pacific Counties Food Banks, were two of 10 Washington residents and organizations recognized by the department for their help in providing stewardship for state fish and wildlife resources over the past year.
     Others cited with the department's volunteer of the year award:
     - Mike Estes, Kennewick, a 22-year member of the Richland Rod and Gun Club, worked with the department to develop a system for donating seized big-game carcasses to charitable organizations.
     He is also chairman of the advisory group that helped to guide efforts to restructure the department’s master hunter program.
     - David Beatty, Bellingham, was recognized for his 15-year commitment to working as a volunteer to preserve fish and wildlife in the Skagit and Nooksack watersheds.
     Since 1995, he has helped to train Stream Team volunteers on the Skagit River and now serves on the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association's board of directors, according to the department.
     The department's organization of the year award went to Long Live the Kings, a non-profit group that helped department officials develop a long-term plan to maintain healthy salmon and steelhead populations in the face of rapid urban development and climate change.
     The award was presented to Jim Youngren, chairman, and Barbara Cairns, executive director.
     "Long Live the Kings has set an example of how a private, non-profit organization can use its professional expertise to team up with a state agency and provide a brighter future for a public resource," Koenings said.
     Also recognized for their collaborative efforts were the Weyerhaeuser Co.'s St. Helens Tree Farm staff and the South West Land Access Coalition, which worked with the department to expand hunting opportunities across thousands of acres of private timberland near Mount St. Helens last year.
     Weyerhaeuser expanded motorized access to its land, while the access coalition organized hundreds of volunteers to staff the gates, post signs and distribute information to hunters, according to the announcement.
     Besides recognizing U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks for his "tireless fight for Washington's citizens and natural resources," Koenings gave special awards to two other public figures for their dedication to fish and wildlife issues.
     John Bundy won a director's award for nine years of service as a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, including the last three as vice chair.
     Koenings credited Bundy, a Seattle fish processor, for his keen intellect and fairness on the 15-member panel charged with managing various fisheries in federal waters off the coast of Alaska.
     Koenings also recognized the contributions made by Will Roehl of Bellingham, who resigned from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in May after 10 years of service.
     As a member of the commission, which sets policy for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Roehl served terms as commission chairman and as a member of its executive committee.
     Twenty-three other awards were also presented to department staff members, including officer Lenny Hahn, who was named employee of the year.
     Hahn, Spokane, won the award for his extensive involvement in community activities that protect and promote Washington's fish and wildlife resources.