Dan Kaffer honored for commitment to watershed

Dan Kaffer was honored Wednesday for his professional and personal commitment to improving the Carson River watershed.

Kaffer received the Carson Water Subconservancy District's Andy Aldax Carson River Watershed Award.

Kaffer, who works for the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, was nominated for the annual award by both the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

"Dan has done more in the public, private, political and spiritual arenas to preserve and protect the Carson River watershed than is humanly possible," said Steven Lewis, director of the cooperative extension.

Kaffer has organized numerous educational tours along the river over the past 13 years.

He developed programs including Eagles and Agriculture, which has for the past couple of weeks taken people on tours to see the bald eagles that show up in Douglas County during calving season.

He has organized cleanups along the river, worked with Boy Scouts and 4-H as well as working to preserve and protect sensitive lands. Over the years, he has conducted educational tours for thousands of people along the river.

Kaffer is the second person to receive the award, which was created a year ago to honor Andy Aldax for his 50 years of service on the subconservancy district board.