(WNY News Now) The NYS Conservation Council presented Mike Todd, a committed environmental specialist with DEC Region 9, with the coveted specialist Conservationist of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding work in public education and conservation.
Congratulations to Mike Todd, who was named the NYS Conservation Council’s (NYSCC) Professional Conservationist of the Year. This honor was given to him in recognition of his leadership in preserving our environment by implementing wise conservation measures.
After graduating from SUNY ESF, Mike began working for DEC in 2003 as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit. Following a couple jobs in Western and Central New York, Mike joined the Fisheries program as an Aquatic Biologist in the Region 9 office. Being an Angler Outreach and Education Specialist is his main duty. Over 600 people participate in Mike’s at least eight fishing education clinics in Western New York throughout a normal year. Through a five-station procedure that Mike created, these programs teach participants the fundamentals of fishing, and then they go fishing to put what they’ve learned into practice.
In addition, Mike is the operator of the Western NY Fishing Hotline, which is updated once or twice a year. In 2023, the hotline webpage received around to 90,000 visits, making it one of DEC’s most popular webpages. Additionally, Mike conducts public outreach at county fairs, fishing expos, and sportmen’s shows.
Although Mike’s main focus is education and outreach, he also works with local sportsman federations to run four net pen projects that raise steelhead and Chinook for the Great Lakes, reviews and provides input for Article 15, and oversees all Region 9 salmon stocking activities in Lake Ontario to ensure the best possible survival and prevent cormorant predation.
Mike, congratulations! I appreciate what you do for Region 9.