Colorado Parks and Wildlife employees honored with Western Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Awards
Joey Livingston
DENVER — Two Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) employees, Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters and Invasive Species Specialist Jennifer Murray, have been recognized by the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) for their leadership and dedication to protecting western waters.
Many states refer to harmful non-native aquatic species such as zebra mussels, quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnails, Eurasian water milfoil and many others, as aquatic invasive species, while Colorado refers to them as aquatic nuisance species (ANS).
ANS are aquatic plants and animals that invade lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams. ANS can also include fish pathogens and diseases, such as viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) or whirling disease. Colorado has taken the threat of these invasive species seriously through the development of the Colorado Aquatic Nuisance Species Act and the CPW ANS Program.
Learn more about the aquatic species threatening Colorado waters.
Walters received the Western Regional Panel AIS Leader of the Year Award. Walters was honored for his extensive contributions to aquatic invasive species prevention and management across the West. His work includes leading statewide ANS programs, coordinating rapid responses to mussel detections and invasive carp, initiating eradication treatments, managing the Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination (WID) database, serving as vice chair of the Western Regional Panel, and driving innovation in decontamination technology.
“There are few individuals in the harmful non-native aquatic species world as involved, impactful and effective as Robert,” the awards committee noted. “He has built a program that stands as a model for other states to follow while leading with a calm, intelligent and articulate approach.”
Murray was recognized with the “Best in the West” Award for her exceptional commitment to training and outreach. Murray has played a central role in strengthening regional non-native and harmful aquatic species efforts through her leadership in virtual WID trainings. She has taught classes, demonstrated technology tools, and supported inspectors and managers across the continent—all while balancing her own duties in the field.
“Jennifer never said no to a training request,” the awards committee wrote. “Her energy, creativity and willingness to go above and beyond have inspired colleagues and strengthened harmful non-native aquatic species operations across the West.”
Both awards were announced during the Western Regional Panel/Missouri River Basin Panel annual meeting this week in Lawrence, Kansas.
For more information about CPW’s ANS Program, visit CPW’s website.
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CPW Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters and Invasive Species Specialist Jennifer Murray
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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