05-23-2008, 11:10 AM
Colin Maas, Smith River State Park manager for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has been named the river manager of the year by a national organization of his peers.
<br>The River Management Society gave Maas its river manager of the year award, May 13, at the group's annual conference in Portland, Maine.<br>
<br>Maas, of Great Falls, started with FWP in 1996. He's been in charge of the Smith River, a state park, since 2005.<br>
<br>The Smith River in central Montana is the state's only river where private and commercial opportunities are limited in order to protect its outstanding recreation and resource values. With limited access, recreationists on the Smith enjoy a 58-mile, semi-wilderness float.<br>
<br>Limited access along with a combination of state, federal and private lands along the Smith River demands Maas balance the vested public and private interests.<br>
<br>"Colin is an extremely dedicated employee," says Roger Semler, FWP regional parks manager. "He has demonstrated an outstanding ability to balance the public's enjoyment of a recreational resource with the protection of that resource."<br>
<br>Last year, FWP started a management process for the Smith. Maas played an important role in focusing on the many issues facing the resource, including permit allocations, human waste management and resource protection.<br>
<br>"Colin and his staff have also provided useful information to floaters on topics such as leave no trace, respect for private property, river etiquette and boater safety," says Jeff Hagener, FWP director.<br>
<br>Maas graduated in 1993 with a bachelor's in recreation and resource management from the University of Montana.<br>
<br>The River Management Society is a national nonprofit professional organization. The mission of the Society is to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America's rivers. The 12-year-old RMS has seven regional chapters in the United States: Alaska, Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, as well as a Canadian chapter organized as the Canadian River Management Society (CRMS). Their web page offers more information at www.river-management.org.<br>
<br>"The river manager of the year is a very distinguished honor," says Semler, who is Maas' supervisor. "We are extremely proud of Colin for his accomplishment. Colin is a true steward of Montana's recreational heritage."
<br>The River Management Society gave Maas its river manager of the year award, May 13, at the group's annual conference in Portland, Maine.<br>
<br>Maas, of Great Falls, started with FWP in 1996. He's been in charge of the Smith River, a state park, since 2005.<br>
<br>The Smith River in central Montana is the state's only river where private and commercial opportunities are limited in order to protect its outstanding recreation and resource values. With limited access, recreationists on the Smith enjoy a 58-mile, semi-wilderness float.<br>
<br>Limited access along with a combination of state, federal and private lands along the Smith River demands Maas balance the vested public and private interests.<br>
<br>"Colin is an extremely dedicated employee," says Roger Semler, FWP regional parks manager. "He has demonstrated an outstanding ability to balance the public's enjoyment of a recreational resource with the protection of that resource."<br>
<br>Last year, FWP started a management process for the Smith. Maas played an important role in focusing on the many issues facing the resource, including permit allocations, human waste management and resource protection.<br>
<br>"Colin and his staff have also provided useful information to floaters on topics such as leave no trace, respect for private property, river etiquette and boater safety," says Jeff Hagener, FWP director.<br>
<br>Maas graduated in 1993 with a bachelor's in recreation and resource management from the University of Montana.<br>
<br>The River Management Society is a national nonprofit professional organization. The mission of the Society is to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America's rivers. The 12-year-old RMS has seven regional chapters in the United States: Alaska, Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, as well as a Canadian chapter organized as the Canadian River Management Society (CRMS). Their web page offers more information at www.river-management.org.<br>
<br>"The river manager of the year is a very distinguished honor," says Semler, who is Maas' supervisor. "We are extremely proud of Colin for his accomplishment. Colin is a true steward of Montana's recreational heritage."