Upcoming talk: Tony Hoch of the LRCD

Fish survey. Photo courtesy Tony Hoch.

Join us this Wednesday, 28 March, for a talk by Tony Hoch of the Laramie Rivers Conservation District.

The Laramie Rivers Conservation District (LRCD) has been serving the community for over 77 years.  Originally dedicated to curbing soil erosion in agriculture, LRCD’s mission has expanded to include projects that range from enhancing wildlife habitat and conserving endangered species (Wyoming Toad Safe Harbor Program) to school gardens and xeriscaping in the City limits.  Tony Hoch, Director, will talk about LRCD’s recent 3-mile-long Laramie River habitat restoration project along the greenbelt, and the EPA-supported reclamation/cleanup of the old Midwest Refinery Property (a public nuisance for over 40 years) on the Laramie’s West Side. Hoch will also preview a few major projects on the horizon including the Pilot Hill Land Purchase and watershed planning for listed streams in Albany County.

Tony Hoch received his PhD in geology from the University of Wyoming and worked as a water quality researcher at the USGS in Boulder, and was an assistant professor at Lawrence University, where he helped launch the Environmental Studies Program.  He has been the director at LRCD for over 15 years – and is a long-time Friend of the Laramie Audubon Society.

The meeting will be held in the Berry Center auditorium on the University of Wyoming campus at the corner of 10th and Lewis Streets. Bird chat with refreshments begins at 6:30 pm; the program begins at 7:00 pm.

Refinery cleanup. Photo courtesy Tony Hoch.