The chairwoman of the Yavapai-Apache Nation has been honored by a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting one of Arizona's most important waterways.
Friends of the Verde River presented its President's Award to Chairwoman Jane Russell-Winiecki at its annual Stakeholders and Partners Event earlier this month in Cottonwood. The award honors Russell Winiecki's "contributions and commitments to Friends of the Verde River's goals of restoring habitat, sustaining flows, and promoting community stewardship," the group said in a news release.
The Verde River passes through much of the tribe's land in eastern Yavapai County.
Other honorees at the event included Eric and Gayle Glomski of Page Springs Cellars; landowners John and Janet Carstens; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Friends of the Verde River "envisions a healthy, free-flowing Verde River and tributaries that support our unique environment, a vibrant economy, and quality of life for future generations," according to the news release. For more information, visit www.verderiver.org.