Water quality specialist wins award

RENO - Susan Donaldson, water quality education specialist with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, received the James A. Young Weed Management Award in Elko last week. The award is presented annually by the Nevada Weed Management Association for "recognition of an individual with outstanding dedication to the multiple facets of optimal management of the invasive and deleterious weeds of Nevada."

Donaldson was especially honored for her work in controlling tall whitetop, an invasive weed that is choking out native plants, reducing biodiversity and rendering stream banks vulnerable to erosion that damages our water quality. Donaldson has lead many workshops and programs to teach residents how to identify the weed, how it spreads, why it's a problem, and what to do about.

Donaldson has lead the effort to map and control tall whitetop in the Lake Tahoe Basin, where the weed is contributing to the 1-foot per year loss in the lake's water clarity. In fact, she was recently asked to speak at an international conference about how she has gotten the community involved in the effort. She is also very active in the efforts to control invasive species and improve land management and water quality at Steamboat Creek and Washoe Valley.

For more information about invasive weeds or Donaldson's programs, call Sue Donaldson at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (775) 784-4848.