Pat FlanaganThe Joshua Tree National Park Association has named Pat Flanagan as the recipient of the 2017 Minerva Hoyt Conservation Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made notable achievements in the areas of leadership, protection, preservation, research, education, and stewardship leading to a significant and lasting contribution on behalf of the deserts of California. Flanagan has a broad background in desert natural history education going back to the late 1970s when she managed the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center. She was a founding member and director of Mojave Desert Land Trust, and participated in efforts to support designation of three desert National Monuments: Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails, and Castle Mountains. Flanagan’s in-depth knowledge of a broad range of matters impacting desert natural and cultural resources is in evidence in public documents in nearly every project and plan affecting Southern California deserts in the past 20 years. Flanagan continues her work as a member of the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Committee, a director of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association, a member of the Advisory Board for Basin and Range Watch, and an appointee to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s Technical Advisory Committee.
Previous recipients of Minerva Hoyt California Desert Conservation Award are:
2004 Susan Luckie Reilly
2005 Larry and Donna Charpied
2006 David Myers and The Wildlands Conservancy
2007 John Wohlmuth and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments
2008 Mark Jorgenson, Superintendent of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
2009 United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
2010 Owens Valley Committee
2011 Elden E. Hughes
2012 Steven L. and Ruth Rieman
2013 Dee and Betty Zeller
2014 Terry Weiner and The Desert Protective Council
2015 Nancy Karl
2016 Cindy Zacks
