Michael Johnson, a 30-year veteran with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the 2022 Paul Kroegel National Wildlife Refuge Manager of the Year. He serves as the manager of Clarks River Refuge and the new Green River Refuge that Michael and his team established. He is known throughout western Kentucky as the face of the National Wildlife Refuge System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Presented annually, the Paul Kroegel award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by a refuge manager in the protection and management of our national wildlife refuges. The award is given in honor of Paul Kroegel, the first manager of the first refuge established in 1903 at Pelican Island, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMichael\u2019s ability to form relationships and work with diverse groups of people was essential in establishing and garnering public support for the Green River Refuge,\u201d says Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, the Service\u2019s Southeast Regional Director. \u201cHe listened and worked with the communities to gather their support for the new refuge. As a result, the community understood that lands for this refuge would complement local and state efforts to conserve the area\u2019s natural heritage and to provide increased public access for recreational opportunities, such as hunting and fishing. Local supporters also recognize that refuge lands will keep working for both people and wildlife, including agricultural use and other land management techniques.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in 2019, the Green River National Wildlife Refuge in Henderson, Kentucky, became the nation\u2019s 568th refuge. It was born with a 10-acre donation from the Southern Conservation Corporation (SCC), a non-profit Conservation Land Trust started in 2003. The donation resulted from Michael\u2019s prior work with SCC to conserve habitats in and around Clark\u2019s River Refuge in Benton, Kentucky. In 2021, Green River Refuge expanded to 707 acres including funding from the national Land and Water Conservation Fund, consisting of offshore oil and gas revenues. The eventual goal for the Green River Refuge is to expand to 24,000 acres through land acquisitions from willing sellers. The new refuge includes a 5,000 square-foot facility which will serve as refuge headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Image Details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael leads a staff of six people who oversee both the 9,500-acre Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1998, and Green River Refuge. He has managed Clark\u2019s River for 18 years. In 2010, Michael was commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky as a Kentucky Colonel, the state\u2019s highest honor, for helping to provide people with opportunities to enjoy its natural resources. In 2019, the staff of Clarks River Refuge, including Michael, was presented the Tennessee River Ripple Effect Award for the Government Department category. The Government Department award annually recognizes one local, state, or federal department that works to protect and improve Tennessee River Valley waterways. Most recently, Michael received the Service\u2019s Southeast Regional Director Honors Award for outstanding performance in 2021 for his efforts and commitment to establishing Green River Refuge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n