Reclamations Yuma Area Office and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Yuma Ocotillo District were presented a "Governor's Pride in Arizona" award by Arizona Clean and Beautiful (ACB) at a luncheon in Phoenix on Thursday, October 27. The award recognized YAO and the BSA in the Environmental Leadership Category for their partnership efforts during the 7th Annual River Sweep/National Public Lands Day on November 4, 2004.

The two groups joined with volunteers from the public ranging in age from 4 to 89 years of age to fill two 40-cubic-yard containers with discarded tires, car parts, glass and other debris from lands along the Colorado River. In total, 75 volunteers turned out for the three-hour cleanup, donating 225 service hours.

Reclamation representative Christa Franks and BSA Yuma Ocotillo District Executive Mike Vangelov accepted the award.

The Governors Pride in Arizona Award Conference is the only statewide environmental award event that recognizes individuals, businesses, government agencies, organizations and other groups, in both urban and rural communities, for their efforts to sustain and improve Arizona's quality of life.

The program began in 1989 through a partnership between the Arizona Department of Transportation and ACB to honor outstanding Adopt-A-Highway volunteers. Governor's Pride in Arizona has evolved into a day-long conference that celebrates environmental achievements and provides knowledge on other critical environmental issues facing Arizona.