Environmental Excellence Awards Program
The Environmental Excellence Awards Program recognizes exceptional projects carried out by municipal, county, and regional governments and non-profit organizations that, through careful planning and execution, stand to have a significant and lasting positive impact on the natural environment. The program is sponsored by NYSACC and is designed to showcase and promote projects that can be replicated in communities across New York State and beyond. In addition, NYSACC each year honors an individual who has demonstrated “lifelong environmental concern and service” through the Margery Sachs Award for Environmental Leadership, named in memory of one of NYSACC’s original directors.
If you represent a municipal, county, or regional government or non-profit organization in New York State that has recently completed a project in the areas of Environmental Planning and Design; Natural Resource Protection; Community Action and Engagement; Education; Research; or another related subject area, we invite you to nominate your project for consideration in this year’s Environmental Excellence Awards Program. Environmental Excellence Award nominations are due two weeks before the first day of the annual New York State Conference on the Environment (NYSCOE), held each fall. Nominations are evaluated by a panel of reviewers from NYSACC, with winners announced at the annual NYSCOE awards luncheon. To complete an awards nomination form online, click here. To download an awards nomination form, click here.
Past Award Recipients
2019
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- No Recipients
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2018
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- No Recipients
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2017
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Trees for Tribs Planting Along the Wallkill River – Town of Montgomery Conservation Advisory Council
- Carbon Neutral Initiative – Town of Woodstock Environmental Commission
- Free Repair of Household Items – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
- Memorial Plantings at Community Center – Town of Elbridge Environmental Commission
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Julie Noble & Steve Noble – For their years of service dedication to environmental education in the City of Kingston, NY and throughout New York State.
2016
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- No Recipient
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2015
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Natural Habitat Mapping Initiative – Town of Bedford Conservation Board
- Local Environmental Conference Program – Village of Lloyd Harbor Conservation Board
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2014
Environmental Project Award Recipient
- Earth Day Art Contest – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Peter Rizzo – For his years of dedication to civic environmental stewardship and generous contributions to the mission of NYSACC.
2013
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Amherst State Park – Town of Amherst Conservation Advisory Council
- Green Awards for Environmental Excellence – Town of Bedford Conservation Board
- Saving Ithaca’s Scenic Views – Town of Ithaca Conservation Board
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Kathleen Mecca – For her role as a community leader and steadfast advocate for environmental justice in the West Side neighborhood of the City of Buffalo, NY.
2012
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Rain Barrel Workshops – Town of Montgomery Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Charles Morrison – For his significant roles in establishing conservation commissions and county environmental management councils in New York State and in the creation of NYSACC and the former New York State Association of Environmental Management Councils.
2011
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- The Honey Bee Project – Town of Montgomery Conservation Advisory Council
- The 10% Challenge Project – Red Hook Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2010
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Climate Smart & Green Job Community Pledge – City of Kingston Conservation Advisory Commission
- Novel Method to Increase Dissemination of Environmental Information – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Commission
- NYSACC News CAC/CB Award – Arlene Kaufman
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- John Fava – For his contributions to the Town of North Castle, NY, Conservation Board and service on NYSACC’s Board of Directors.
2009
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Huntington Trail Guide – Town of Huntington Conservation Board
- Restoration of the Mt. Nimham Fire Tower – Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee
- Community Garden at Benedict Farm Park – Town of Montgomery Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2008
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Conservation Pillars Project – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
- Conservation Board Publications – North Castle Conservation Board
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2007
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Bedford Rain Garden – Bedford Conservation Board
- Dann Lake Park – Amherst Conservation Advisory Council
- Mile-A-Minute Vine Infestation Response Project – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
- Conservation Board Publications – Town of North Castle Conservation Board
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Maung Htoo – For his dedication as chair of the Town of LaGrange, NY, Conservation Advisory Council and service on NYSACC’s Board of Directors.
2006
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Wappinger Creek Bank Restoration – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
- Energy $mart Holiday Decorating Contest – Town of Tonawanda Commission for Conservation of the Environment
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- George Melrose – For his leadership as the long-time chair of the Town of Tonawanda, NY, Environmental Commission and Erie County, NY, Environmental Management Council.
2005
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Enhanced Environment Overlay Districts – Grand Island Commission for the Conservation of the Environment
- White Papers – Town of Bedford Conservation Board
- Skaneateles Creek Gorge Cleanup – Elbridge Commission on the Environment
- Acquisition and Management of the Harned Sawmill Preserve – Town of Smithtown Conservation Board
- Oversight of the Cleanup and Remediation of Radioactive Waste Sites Along the Town of Tonawanda Waterfront – Town of Tonawanda Commission for Conservation of the Environment
- Wappinger Creek Greenway Trail – Town of LaGrange Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Ann Brandt – For her service as a member of the Town of Woodstock, NY, Environmental Commission; the Ulster County, NY, Environmental Council; and NYSACC’s Board of Directors.
2004
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- No Recipients
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
2003
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Establishment of a Conservation Easement Law – Eden Conservation Advisory Board
- Creation of a Conservation Advisory Council Brochure and Poster – Cortlandt Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Simon Skolnik – For his service as chair of the Town of Bedford, NY, Conservation Board and vice president of NYSACC.
2002
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Publication of The State of the Environment in North Castle – North Castle Conservation Board
- Study to Determine Property Owner Environmental Compliance with Southold Trustee Permit Stipulations – Southold Conservation Advisory Council
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Lee Hanle Younge – For her service as chair of the Town of Big Flats, NY, Environmental Conservation Committee and the Chemung County, NY, Environmental Management Council.
2001
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Save Our Streams – Elbridge Commission on the Environment
- Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Index – Eden Conservation Advisory Board
- Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park – Town of Colonie Conservation Advisory Council
- Planning for a Proposed On Site Composting Facility – Alden Environmental Conservation Commission
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Joy Squires – For her tireless dedication as the president of NYSACC and chair of the Town of Huntington, NY, Conservation Board.
2000
Environmental Project Award Recipients
- Turtle Crossing Sign Project – Pawling Conservation Advisory Board
- Creation of the Wampus Brook Pathway – North Castle Conservation Board
- Scarsdale Open Space Map – Scarsdale Advisory Council on Environmental Conservation
- Community Day September 2000 Participation – East Fishkill Conservation Advisory Council
- Scenic Woods Acquisition Project for the Preservation of Gun Creek Woods Ecosystem – Grand Island Commission for the Conservation of the Environment
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Don Duger – For his service on the NYSACC Board of Directors and as chair of the Town of Elbridge, NY, Environmental Commission.
1999
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Annette Kaicher – For her service as a member of the City of White Plains, NY, Conservation Board; the Westchester County, NY, Environmental Management Council; and NYSACC’s Board of Directors.
1998
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
1997
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Elizabeth Sluder – For her service as chair of the Town of North Castle, NY, Conservation Board and chair of the Westchester County, NY, Environmental Management Council.
1996
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- No Recipient
1995
Margery Sachs Award Recipient
- Eve Fertig – For her service as chair of the Town of Alden, NY, Environmental Conservation Commission; founder of the Enchanted Forest Wildlife Sanctuary in the Town of Alden, NY; and member of NYSACC’s Board of Directors.
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