A man who has spent over 30 years helping to sustain fish habitat in the Bruce County area has been recognized by the federal government.
Rod Jones was presented with the 2015 National Recreational Fisheries Award on Friday.
Jones, who lives in Brantford, is one of the founders and a long-time volunteer with the Ontario Steelheaders, a non-profit organization in its fourth decade.
"I would like to thank the dedicated volunteers, both long-time and new, for the many years of working together to make the Saugeen River the greatest steelhead river in Ontario. On behalf of all the volunteers, I proudly accept this award,'' says Rod Jones.
According to the acknowledgement, Jones helped implement several improvements affecting the fish habitat and watershed in and around the Saugeen River basin.
He was also involved in local projects, including adult rainbow trout transfers, egg collections, stream rehabilitation and fish stocking.
According to Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, the Saugeen's rainbow trout population has grown from 1,500 returning migratory steelheads to over 30,000.
The Ontario Steelheaders' membership is currently over 200 people.