[env-trinity] Trinity Journal 1 19 2011- Leydecker recognized

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/2011-01-19/News/Leydecker_recognized_for_longtime_Trinity_River_ef.html

Leydecker recognized for longtime Trinity River efforts
BY SALLY MORRIS THE TRINITY JOURNAL 



Byron Leydecker was honored before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for his efforts on behalf of the Trinity River, shown behind him. Trinity County supervisors Tuesday congratulated and honored Friends of Trinity River founder Byron Leydecker of Mill Valley for his 18 years of commitment to restoring the Trinity River and his leadership in that effort.

At 83, Leydecker announced last month he is retiring and the organization he founded in 1992 to protect and restore the Trinity River and its tributaries will cease operations.

A former California county supervisor who's been fishing on the Trinity River since the 1930s, Leydecker jumped into the restoration efforts after getting stuck standing in sediment while fishing the Trinity.

He filed a cease and desist order with the State Water Quality Control Board over what he felt was a poorly conceived and designed restoration program and soon thereafter founded and began managing the Friends of Trinity River advocacy group.

In the resolution of appreciation presented by Trinity County supervisors, Leydecker's efforts were cited as being instrumental in helping to obtain Congressional reauthorization of the Trinity River Restoration Program and leading a major grassroots campaign to influence the Interior Secretary's decision to increase instream flows.

Dubbed an unsung hero to countless local fishing guides, rafting owners, and hotel and restaurant owners, Leydecker was commended in the board's resolution for an "unstoppable drive and dedication to ensure that these local business owners and their employees all are able to continue to make a living in this rural part of California."

Noting that his work was performed without any compensation and at great personal expense to save a natural resource in a county that has never been his home, the board thanked Leydecker for his personal and professional sacrifices, declaring that wherever his future travels take him, he is "from this moment forward, an honorary citizen of the County of Trinity."

"I am a fellow fisherman and want to say that nobody has done more to restore the Trinity River," said Sup. Roger Jaegel.

Leydecker was presented Tuesday with several other awards for distinguished service by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the U.S. House of Representatives and California Legislature.

Leydecker accepted the accolades on behalf of "the many, many supporters and volunteers associated with Friends of Trinity River over the years that have made a difference."

He recounted working with more than 100 volunteers one Saturday in Eureka and Arcata to distribute 20,000 door hangers with tear-off postcards to send to former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt "urging him to return the maximum flow to the Trinity River."

He said the grassroots campaign to restore the Trinity resulted in the greatest number of comments on an EIR and its recommendation of returning flows to the river of any environmental document ever received by the Department of Interior before.

Leydecker said the honors presented "name me, but I really see it as recognition of literally hundreds of people and I accept with very great appreciation for all of their work." 

 

  

 
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