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Kentucky ‘Pioneer’ Protects Nature, Creates Wildlife Vision

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Michael Johnson Named NWRA’s 2022 Refuge Manager of the Year; Event Sept. 14

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 14th, 2022

In November 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established just the second National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) fully located in Kentucky.  Despite historic opposition to a greater federal presence in the state, the Green River NWR became the Nation’s 568th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System as a direct result of the exceptional vision and communication of Michael Johnson. 

Michael was recently recognized with the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s 2022 Paul Kroegel Award – Refuge Manager of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by a refuge manager in the protection and management of national wildlife refuges.  The Wildlife Refuge Awards dinner will take place on Wednesday, September 14 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC at 6 p.m. Media is welcome to attend and cover the program. 

“Michael balanced a difficult series of years, managing a team serving both Clarks River and Green River NWRs through the COVID pandemic, all while ensuring employee and public safety,” said Holly Gaboriault,  Deputy Refuge Chief, and Michael’s former supervisor. “Despite the tremendous workload for “his” two refuges, Michael always thinks of the greater conservation good.”

Some of Michael’s major accomplishments include:

  • Working closely with the newly established Friends of Green River organization while continuing to help lead the broader landscape-focused mission. 

  • Creating the Conservation Garden at Clarks River NWR. The main feature is the Conservation Champions Wall, honoring friends, volunteers, and community members that have contributed to the success of the refuge.    

  • Partnering with Murray State University to help them receive a Department of Energy grant to research methane fluxes in different habitats.

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The National Wildlife Refuge Association is a non-profit exclusively focused on protecting, promoting, and enhancing the 850-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation.

For all media inquiries and questions please contact Eden Taylor, Communications Associate at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.