Tom Pitts (left) is presented the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2023 Recovery Champion Award by Julie Stahli, Director of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, on July 31, 2024. Photo by Richard Belt
DENVER, Colorado – The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (the Recovery Programs), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) congratulate Tom Pitts, a partner with Water Consult, Engineering and Planning Consultants, for being selected as a 2023 “Recovery Champion.” Tom is recognized for his decades of leadership recovering four threatened and endangered fish species that are only found in the Colorado River and its tributaries – Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker, and bonytail.
Each year, the Service recognizes staff and partners for their extraordinary achievements in advancing the recovery of threatened and endangered species of plants and animals. Pitts was selected among many nominees for his resolute leadership, practical implementation, and unwavering dedication to the Recovery Programs. For over four decades, he worked on the Colorado Water Congress Special Project on Threatened and Endangered Species, including work specific to the four threatened and endangered fish species of the Colorado River.
Pitts was instrumental in the development of the Recovery Programs and his vision helped create some of the most enduring and productive recovery partnerships to date, bringing together federal and state agencies, Tribes, water and power users, and environmental groups. For more than 30 years, the Recovery Programs have advanced recovery of these four fish species while supporting water development in western states through streamlined compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Additionally, the programs have effectively provided instream flows, stocked thousands of endangered fish, managed wetlands to support wild recruitment of razorback sucker, reestablished Colorado pikeminnow in the San Juan River, and removed harmful invasive fish from more than 900 miles of river annually.
He received a congratulatory letter from Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service highlighting his exceptional work and dedication. She wrote, “Through the years, your representation of the water user community’s interests has been balanced and true to the dual goals of the recovery programs. You have served on the technical and governance committees for each recovery program and are considered by all as a guiding force in the success of these long-standing collaborative partnerships.”
Julie Stahli, Director of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program expressed appreciation saying, “I cannot thank Tom enough for his years of dedication to the Recovery Programs. His vision for our success has shaped our ability to implement creative, innovative solutions to tough problems.”
Melissa Mata, Program Coordinator of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program reflected on Pitts’ extensive contributions, “In addition to his service to the technical and governance committees, his development of relationships with congressional representatives, their staff, and agency leadership has been instrumental in the continued authorization of the Recovery Programs and funding for activities to recover these species.”
Pitts continues to work on legislation supporting both Recovery Programs and currently represents the water user community with the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.
For more information on the Recovery Programs visit: https://coloradoriverrecovery.org/