News Release

For Immediate Release
7/14/2009 		Contact
Julia Dixon, Media Relations Coordinator, 804-367-0991

NOTE: This news release was distributed on 7/14/2009. The information below may no longer be the most up-to-date information available, or may pertain solely to events that occurred in the past. Please contact the person listed as the contact person for this release for the most current information.

TU Names Paul Bugas Conservationist of the Year for Virginia

Richmond, VA — Senior Fisheries Biologist Paul Bugas with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) was recently recognized by Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization, as their Conservationist of Year Award recipient for Virginia.

Paul Bugas has worked for VDGIF for 32 years and currently works out of the Department's regional office in Verona. Over the course of his career, he was involved in the original effort to classify all of Virginia's trout streams and more recently has fisheries responsibility for a five-county district that includes Allegheny, Augusta, Bath, Highland and Rockbridge Counties.

Trout Unlimited recognized him for his extensive work on trout resources including management and monitoring of wild trout populations, developing numerous special regulation trout streams, and development of the Lake Moomaw and Jackson River trout fisheries.

Paul Bugas is also well know for his aquatic educational efforts and was recognized specifically for his assistance with Trout Unlimited's Trout in the Classroom program and for providing educational support for TU's youth conservation camp.

Bugas was recognized at the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries meeting.