In honor of Barry A. Long
Barry Long was a National Water Quality Monitoring Council (Council) member for 10 years and a hydrologist and water quality specialist with the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. In June 2000, Barry was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia
His colleagues and supporters were moved by the tremendous perseverance, spirit, and courage during his long struggle with the disease. Nevertheless, Barry continued his career as a tactful advocate for the protection of water resources and through his work on the Council, which included organizing the 2010 National Monitoring Conference in Denver, Colorado. Shortly thereafter he succumbed to complications of his disease.
In his memory, the Council established the Barry A. Long award to honor an individual who has demonstrated exceptional perseverance, positive spirit, and significant contributions to water resource protection.
The award is presented at the biannual National Monitoring Conference. The first award was presented in 2012 and each conference since then to the following individuals:
- 2023: Barb Horn, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (retired)
- 2021: Leslie McGeorge, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (retired)
- 2019: Diane Switzer, US EPA
- 2016: Faith Zerbe, Delaware Riverkeeper
- 2014: Jim Harrington, California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
- 2012: Jay H. Sauber, Section Chief, North Carolina Division of Water Quality