John A. Rice for Superior Service award

Written by: Jeff Painter

In recognition of exemplary service and outstanding contributions in science development and coordination for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Mr. Rice demonstrated exceptional skill and foresight in working with federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental organizations, to support cooperative conservation and sustainable resource management, as Science Coordinator for the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SRLCC). Prior to and during his 15-year Reclamation career, he developed substantial knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing water and land management and the Endangered Species Act at the federal, state, and local levels. He applied these skills toward meeting Reclamation’s mission and obligations under the SRLCC. Using his knowledge and ability to cultivate diverse interpersonal relationships, he effectively communicated complex information and delivered sound recommendations resulting in the successful development and implementation of Landscape Conservation Design (LCDs). LCD is a collaborative, inter-disciplinary planning process that reduces land-use conflicts and maintains ecosystem functions for future generations. Mr. Rice led and facilitated several multiple-disciplinary LCD workshops, often in remote locations, including the Green River Basin LCD. He led a project to provide landscape-scale maps with linked data-based products that identify optimum opportunities to conduct on-the-ground conservation work, and an associated collaborative website for access to those maps and data. John also complimented existing projects and partnerships by synthesizing and developing spatial data and information that is consistent and comprehensive across the Basin. To meet needs and actions derived in the various LCDs, Mr. Rice develops and oversees financial assistance opportunities that invest in science to support conservation goals of SRLCC partnerships resulting in 40 projects that utilize more than $3 million in federal funds and $4 million of non-federal funds contributed. Mr. Rice built upon the above SRLCC successes to expand his duties in 2016 to include Regional Science Co-coordinator for the Research and Development Office (R&D). His efforts resulted in annual increases of funding for the Upper Colorado Region projects under the R&D Science and Technology Program. For his significant contributions to Reclamation and its science, research and development programs, John A. Rice is granted the Superior Service Award of the Department of the Interior.

Published on May 01, 2018