Fisheries advocate and volunteer Richard Heap recently received the Dave Liscia Volunteer Award from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Heap is a resident of Brookings. The award is presented annually to outstanding volunteers in honor of Dave Liscia, a former ODFW employee who coordinated many volunteer efforts and was killed in a car accident while on the job. For the past 11 years, Heap has been very involved in Oregon fisheries from a community level as a STEP volunteer in the Brookings area to statewide efforts as the current Vice Chair of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) Salmon Advisory Subpanel; as a former Oregon STAC member; and as a volunteer on the R&E Board. As part of the PFMC’s subpanel, Heap recommends salmon seasons for the Council’s approval. He gets input from commercial and sport anglers and STEP volunteers to represent coastal communities. “His recommendations have a direct and positive impact on our resources and local economy,” says John Weber, ODFW STEP biologist and one of several people who nominated Heap for the Liscia Award. “He’s dedicated to keeping the local community informed and reports back on the status of salmon stocks and fishery zone information.” As a member of the Public Advisory Committee for the Rogue/South Coast Fall Chinook Conservation Plan, Heap had an influential role in moving this successful fish management plan to completion and adoption by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. His experience working on collaborative projects with government officials and his knowledge of ODFW policy served the advisory panel well. Locally, Heap also served as the Salmon Trout Advisory Committee representative for eight years, working with ODFW staff and volunteers as an advocate for STEP (Salmon Trout Enhancement Program). He advocated for improvements to outreach, habitat, fish population monitoring and hatchery management. “Richard contributes hundreds of hours every year providing hands-on labor in fish population monitoring, propagation, youth angling events and many activities that provide outreach for our local STEP group. His broad knowledge of fisheries and roles on PFMC and R&E extend his volunteer hours to the rest of the state. Richard is very deserving of this award,” Weber said.
