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2010 FFF Southern Council NominationConservationist of the YearRobert TemperIt is with pleasure that I nominate Mr. Robert Temper, Ozark Fly Fishers, Inc. (OFF), as the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council Conservationist of the Year 2010. Bob is a member of the Board of Directors of OFF; co-chair of the Conservation Committee; and, Stream Team 31 Coordinator. He also is a member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri and on the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Blue Ribbon Panel charged with plotting a course to provide world class smallmouth fishing in Missouri. Bob also serves on a Study Panel organized by Dr. George Bohigian that is looking at the best ways to utilize the new George Bohigian Conservation Area located along Mill Creek. Bob is well known in Jefferson City as a conservationist and is a respected lobbyist for conservation efforts in Missouri. (Like a well known investment company people do listen when Bob speaks.) Yearly, Bob attends the Conservation Federation Convention and provides input on the conservation issues discussed. At this event, Bob hosts a breakfast for members of the legislature, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) officials, officers of conservation groups in attendance and others interested in conservation issues in Missouri. Bob is able to keep a finger on the pulse of conservation issues in Missouri and through informal conversations influences the thinking of those in charge of Missouri’s programs. Bob is also active in lobbying at the legislative level – visits, mailings and phone calls. Yearly, he attends Green Day in Jefferson City where he keeps abreast of the conservation issues facing Missouri. Bob is knowledgeable of the legislative processes and actively lobbies not only our local representatives, but also those representatives that oppose his and the organization he represents point of view. An example of Bob’s efforts can be found in the issue of gravel mining in Missouri streams. Bob educated himself as to the issues, visited with our legislative representatives and provided input at legislative hearings in an effort to resolve the issue. Although gravel mining in our Missouri streams continues to be an issue, individuals like Bob will constantly monitor legislative attempts to allow gravel mining and will continue to work to preserve our Missouri streams. Under Bob’s leadership, OFF Missouri Stream Team 31 was revived. Bob directs the efforts to provide Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) on three streams in Missouri. Blue Springs Creek is monitored two times a year; the Current River is monitored four times a year; and, Mill Creek is monitored two times a year. Bob has completed WQM courses and can often be found on the stream at a WQM event. Bob met with MDC officials and through his efforts Blue Springs Creek was adopted by OFF. OFF now cleans the stream and adjacent riparian corridor on a regular basis. Working with MDC, Bob organized work details that cut invasive privet from the stream bank of Blue Springs Creek. Bob helped organize and worked to plant trees in the riparian corridor of Mill Creek. He was also the driving force in OFF’s involvement in MDC’s effort to place Sky Hooks in Mill Creek providing improved habitat for the trout in the stream. This past year Mark Van Patten, Missouri Stream Team Director, approached Bob for help providing booklets for students completing WQM course. Bob’s efforts resulted in OFF donating $1,000.00 to Missouri Stream Team for the program. The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance asked Bob to serve on its Blue Ribbon Committee to study the improvement of smallmouth fishing in Missouri. Although mainly a cold water fly fisher, the MSA recognized Bob’s knowledge of the streams in Missouri, his ability to problem solve and the influence that he brings with the decision makers in Missouri. The finished report has been sent to MDC for consideration and hopeful implementation. Two years ago, Dr. George Bohigian sold/donated 365 acres of land on Mill Creek to the MDC. Bob saw the wisdom of such a purchase and largely through his efforts the OFF committed up to $15,000.00 to be donated to the Missouri Heritage Foundation for use in the purchase. The money was to be raised over three years from the membership with a matching donation from the OFF (The money was raised and donated in two years). Bob championed this cause with OFF membership and the success of the drive was mainly through his efforts. This past year Bob began the planning process, with a committee organized by Dr. Bohigian, to look at the long term usage of the Bohigian Conservation Area and how the citizens of Missouri could benefit from this purchase. Results of the study will be sent to MDC for consideration. Bob is also active in the ‘Go Fish’ program sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation. He believes that our youth are and will become the caretakers of our natural resources. Therefore, he uses this opportunity to not only teach fishing to our youth, but also how to become caretakers of our precious natural resources. Through such philosophies as Catch-N-Release, pack out what you pack in, and an appreciation of the beauty and order of nature, Bob instills lessons that will well serve both our youth and our natural resources. Therefore, because of his efforts to improve the quality of our Missouri fisheries through lobbying, education and positive action; I would ask that Mr. Robert Temper be considered for the Federation of Fly Fishers Southern Council Conservationist of Year 2010. Respectfully, |
