We are proud and honored to have been chosen to receive a 2016 John Muir Association Conservation Award. The 2016 John Muir Association Conservation Award was presented to the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association and its Suisun Wildlife Center Saturday April 22, 2017, during the Earth Day Celebration at the John Muir Historic Site in Martinez.  Presenting the award to Monique Liguori, SMNHA Executive Director, were Mark Thomson, Co-President, John Muir Association; US Representative Mark DeSaulnier, 11th District; and an assistant to US Representative Mike Thompson, 5th District of California. This is the 37th year that the association has made awards to recognize organizations and individuals for their contributions to the environment.

John Muir, one of the founders of the Sierra Club and known as the Father of the National Park System, spent the last 24 years of his life in Martinez, where his 1882 Victorian home and a portion of his ranch are preserved in the John Muir National Historic Site.  It's worth a visit.

The Muir Association's description of the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association as honoree follows:

“The Suisun Marsh Natural History Association, a private nonprofit organization located in Suisun City, California, operates the Sandra Emanuelson DVM Memorial Wildlife Center, which provides rescue, care and release back to the wild for injured and orphaned native California wildlife. Incorporated in 1977, the Wildlife Center has released over 16,000 wild birds and animals back to the wild, with annual release rates as high as 71% in 2015. Its Wildlife Center is open 364 days a year to the public to receive wildlife for care and allow visitors to see the non-releasable education wild birds and animals on display."

"In addition to its wildlife care effort, the organization has an extensive environmental education program, serving over 300,000 children and adults since 1978. A primary focus is the Suisun Marsh, at 116,000 acres one of California’s largest wetlands and part of the San Francisco Bay estuarine system. Suisun Marsh interpretation for schools covers birds and animals, marsh ecology, and Native American history. The Association also presents a wide range of other natural history. The Suisun Marsh Natural History Association continues to devote time and effort to ensure the Suisun Marsh is effectively maintained, while educating the public as to importance the Marsh to the local ecology.”

Our warmest thanks to the John Muir Association for this tremendous honor!

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