OISC Award Winners
Since its creation in 2001, the Oregon Invasive Species Council has recognized Oregonians protecting the state from invasive species. There are seven categories (Jim Seeley, Eagle Eye, Sandra Denyes Diedrich, Outstanding Agency Partner, Invader Crusader, Protecting the Northwest Industry, and Service) for the OISC past award winners:
Jim Seeley (Regional Leadership & Collaboration) Award
Presented to an individual or group who has demonstrated leadership at the local or regional level and beyond through collaborative efforts to protect cultural, natural, and economic resources from invasive species
2022-2023: Rob Emanuel, Clean Water Services, for being instrumental in protecting Oregon's natural landscapes for many years, his leadership on the Emerald Ash Borer Task Force and his tireless efforts to involve the local community in responding to this invasive species
Eagle Eye Award
Presented to the person or persons reporting the most sightings of an invasive species
2022-2023: Dominic Maze for making the first Emerald Ash Borer detection in Oregon while waiting to pick up his kids from summer camp.
2016: Nona Gobel, identifying and alerting ODA to the first ever Oregon detection of the Asian jumping worm
2015: Alex Staunch, Ludwigia hexapetala, L. peploides ssp. peploides, and L. peploides spp. montevidensis, and recognizing a secondary invader after removal of these plants the delta arrowhead (Sagittaria platyphylla), Willamette Valley
2011: Jane Hartline of Lost Lagoon Farms, for reporting flowering rush, an "A" listed species, as being available for sale at an Oregon nursery; and USDA inspectors, for reporting live wasps emerging from a shipping container.
2010: Dan Stoner, ODA, for finding a Japanese beetle infestation in Cave Junction, Oregon
2009: Will Oursler, for being the first person to identify the Spotted Wing Drosophila in Jackson County; Don Farrar, for spotting a 9-acre field of Iberian thistle in Wheeler County.
2008: Andy Gallagher, African Rue infestation; Vanessa Howard and Dave Ambrose, Spartina
2007: Dan Van Dyke, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife—for spotting invasive species (zebra mussels) on a boat entering Oregon
2006: Bruce O'Neil and Ken While; live insects in Chinese wood crating, Portland
2005: Mark Ernes, New Zealand mudsnail; Bob Donaldson, blackberry rust; Barbara Shieldsrusty crayfish
2004: Greg Mazer, yellow floating heart, Beaverton; John Ekberg, Alan Mudge & Christy Brown, gypsy moth eggs, Eagle Creek
2003: Nick Otting & Danna Lytjen, barbed goat grass, Cave Junction; Pat Patterson, decollate snail, Eugene; Gary Weaver, Patterson’s Curse, Lebannon
2002: Alice Pfand, New Zealand Mud Snail, Garrison Lake; Scott Rose & Gary Garth, meadow fleabane, Hermiston
Sandra Denyes Diedrich (Outstanding Defender) Award
Presented to the person(s)/organization (non-government) making the most outstanding contribution to protecting Oregon from invasive species
2023: Dr. Sylvia Yamada, Oregon State University, for her extensive efforts focused on understanding one of Oregon's most potentially destructive species, the green crab.
2016: Lindsey Wise, for her dedicated efforts to manage Oregon IMapInvasives and update the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline website
2015: Phil Hamiltion, for outstanding dedication to environmental stewardship through his 23 years of service to Tryon Creek State Natural Area
2011: Bob Jenson, Oregon Legislature, for his tireless work in support of invasive species legislation.
2010: Vern Holm, for his work relative to the Northwest Weed Management Partnership
2009: Dave Moskowitz, for his work in advancing invasive species legislation during the 2009 legislative session
2008: Dave Clemens, lifetime contributions to protecting eastern Oregon
2007: Beth Casper, Environmental Reporter, and Michelle Maxwell, Editor, the Statesman Journal and Jeff Douglas and Ed Jahn, Oregon Public Broadcasting—for their leadership in promoting invasive species via the media
2006: Fred Arnold, South Coast Lumber, outstanding cooperation in the sudden oak death eradication project in Curry Co.
2005: Hines Nurseries, Phytophthora ramorum eradication
2004: Marc Cool, production of white papers on grasses including invasiveness; Jonathan Soll & PAPST, heroic efforts to control knotweeds along Sandy River
2003: Mandy Tu, promotion of Codes of Conduct for nursery industry; Project YESS, exceptional service clearing invasive plants from preserves
2002: Sandy Diedrich (deceased), founder No Ivy League
Outstanding Agency Partner Award
Presented to the person(s) or unit in a government agency going above and beyond the call of duty to keep new invaders out of the state
2023: Dr. Wyatt Williams, Oregon Department of Forestry; Dr. Max Ragozzino and Matthew Mills, Oregon Department of Agriculture for their work responding to Emerald Ash Borer.
2016: Eric Coombs, retired ODA, Noxious Weed Control Program, extensive contributions to combatting invasive species through biological control and mentorship of young scientists
2015: Alan Kanaskie, the guiding force for the detection, monitoring, and management of the disease, sudden oak death, in Oregon's tanoak forests.
2011: Jas Adams, Oregon Attorney General's Office – for his expertise in identifying the mechanism to implement mandatory boat inspections in Oregon; Honorable Mention: Josh Lambert, Lincoln County SWCD for creation and support of community and interagency awareness of invasive species for all taxa as well as his work with the EDRR network; Josh Thompson, Wasco SWCD, for his work with private landowners and feral swine; and the Aquatic and Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Program of the US Forest Service, for collecting and identifying the northern ringed crayfish in the Umpqua drainage
2010: East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District - for controlling invasive species on the Multnomah County EDRR list in a significant portion of the west Columbia River Gorge and east Multnomah County
2009: Shannon Brubaker, for her tireless efforts to make the Oregon Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Control Program a success; Glenn Miller, for developing a statewide state-of-the-art control project with cooperators to eradicate Japanese knotweed; Jim Hoffman, for his persistence in locating the source of a gypsy moth infestation in Bend
2008: US Customs and Border Protection Agricultural Specialists for inspections; GardenSmart Oregon publication; Dave Loomis, Mikeal Jones and Al Johnson for pressure wash equipment
2007: Deputy Dave Johnson, Marine Law Enforcement Officer, Umatilla County—for his work on boater inspections in eastern Oregon
2006: Lesley Richman, BLM, excellent outreach and education related to noxious weeds
2005: Dave Langland, suppression of noxious weeds in central Oregon including orange hawkweed; Jim LaBonte, outstanding taxonomic support of exotic woodborer surveys
2004: Kathleen Johnson, outstanding success at eradicating gypsy moth and Japanese beetle; Jim Athern, promoting aquatic nuisance species prevention; Ken French, 25 years of protecting southwest Oregon from noxious weeds
2003: Mary Pfauth, Vanessa Howard & Dennis Isaacson for development of the Spartina Action Plan; Jack Wylie, for support of Oregon’s ballast water regulations
2002: Sudden Oak Death Task Force (Alan Kanaskie, Nancy Osterbauer, Everett Hansen, Ellen Goheen) for implementing sudden oak death eradication program
Invader Crusader Award
Presented to the Oregon student(s) making a difference in protecting Oregon from invasive species
2022-2023: The Valley School of Southern Oregon, for their participation in the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council's Grow Youth program.
2016: Molly Sultany and Tami Katz, outstanding efforts guiding students in their classes to create "Don't Let it Loose" media products
2011: Franklin Elementary School, for their partnership in developing solutions to the use of invasive species in classrooms
2010: Mountain Home Biological Supply, for their work on providing native specimens for classrooms
2009: Lisa Livelybrooks and her students, for the creation of the book, "The Invasion of the Zebra Mussels.”
2008: Linda Wolf, Megan McGinnis, and Shannon Reiter, invasive species story for children
2007: Gwenn Kubeck, Oregon State University graduate student—for her master’s thesis work on invasive species using focus groups and surveys
2006: Stefania Padalino, OSU, designing logo for OISC; Arick Rouhe, PSU, author of action plan for feral swine.
2005: Chana Makale’a Duduoit, Japanese eel grass; Laura and Seth Sherry Japanese knotweed
2003: Kim Powell, outstanding participant in Project YESS
2002: Erik Hanson, PSU, primary author of Oregon’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan
Protect the Northwest Industry Award
Presented to a company that make a difference in protecting Oregon from invasive species
2022-2023: Mark Wiegardt (deceased, 2024) and Sue Cudd, Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery, for their invaluable coastal industry perspectives and advocacy for aquatic invasive species management and prevention, and Ryan Ramage, Valley Environmental, LLC, for his contributions to the EAB response with their licensed and registered air curtain incinerator (ACI).
2015: Vigor Industrial LLC, their employees, and management personnel, for their work in identifying the presence of high-risk ballast water on a newly delivered dry dock platform
2011: West Coast Contractors, for their work in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species on the coast of Oregon
2010: Peerbolt Crop Management, for their work with the Department of Agriculture and spotted wing drosophila
2009: AmeriTies and Union Pacific for their willingness to change their business practices to prevent the introduction of invasive insects on railroad ties
Service Award
Presented to the person or persons who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the OISC
2022- 2023: Rick Boatner, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (retired), for his service as an ex-officio member of the Oregon Invasive Species Council for nearly 20 years.
2022- 2023: Dr. Shawna Bautista, USDA Forest Service (retired), for her service on the OISC, including her work on the Oregon Statewide Strategic Plan for Invasive Species (2017-2027) and its parallel 5-year action plan.
2016: Sam Chan, a fundamental and instrumental component in the creation of the council by the legislature; throughout his tenure, he has supported the Council with his leadership, serving as Council Chair, and his exemplary commitment to collaboration amongst all partners and stakeholders
2015: Mark Sytsma, Portland State University (retired), one of the original founders of the OISC (2001), his leadership paved the way for many of the current council functions
