Ernie Nester, Falls View, W.Va.

Not only does Nester organize a major trash cleanup on 4 miles of Elkhorn Creek with the Kanawha Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited every April—-helping the stream’s rainbows, browns, and brookies—but he has also mobilized an annual volunteer bucket brigade to haul 10 tons of limestone sand, which neutralizes acid runoff, through a vehicle-restricted wilderness area to the Middle Fork of the Williams River. “In less than 10 years we’ve discovered young brookies in what used to be barren waters—that’s very satisfying,” says Nester.

Dale Schielke, Richland, Wash.

Since 1982, Schielke has coordinated the building and placement of nearly 400 wood-duck nesting boxes, which he manages with help from the Richland Rod and Gun Club and local youth, on more than 25 miles of Washington’s Yakima, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers. “The small trees in the riparian zone don’t provide many natural cavities for the ducks to nest in,” says Schielke. “Now the population is increasing, and the hens return to the boxes to nest—it’s a compounding deal.”

Skipper Dickson, Shreveport, La.

“I’ve found tremendous peace in the natural world, and there’s no question that I’ve gotten more than I’ve ever given,” says Dickson, who is working to bring awareness and funds to the critical waterfowl habitat of the prairie pothole region. His company, Sports South, matched $500,000 in donations to DU’s Rescue the Duck Factory project in 2010, and he continues to raise more by building relationships and traveling to the Dakotas with potential donors at his own expense.