Carson Water Subconservancy District awards Dan Greytak and TCID 2024 Andy Aldax Watershed honor
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Fri, 01/26/2024 - 9:38am
The Carson Water Subconservancy District (CWSD) Board of Directors presented the 2024 Andy Aldax Carson River Watershed Award to Dan Greytak and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID).
The award, named for longtime CWSD Director Andy Aldax, recognizes the exemplary service of individuals and organizations who devote 10 years or more to conserving and protecting the Carson River Watershed.
Dan Greytak’s contributions to the Carson River Watershed span more than 40 years. Shane Fryer, one of Greytak’s many well-wishers at CWSD’s Jan. 17 Board meeting and award presentation, praised his efforts. “Dan has made significant contributions toward achieving the Carson River Watershed Vision,” said Fryer, a former CWSD employee who worked extensively with him.
A “tireless advocate” and “voice of reason” for the Carson River, Greytak initially started his work in the Carson River Watershed with the Washoe Environmental Protection Department (WEPD). For 14 years he directed many restorations and stabilizations within the tribe’s reach of the Carson River, including multiple watershed-protection projects in all three of the tribal colonies, “getting in the muck to get things done,” according to former WEPD co-worker Darryl Cruz. He initiated many of the tribe’s monitoring programs and as a volunteer continues to support bird and fish monitoring on tribal land.
Prior to his time with the WEPD, Greytak founded the Nevada State Tree Nursery in 1978. Over the next 25 years, he expanded the nursery’s facilities throughout the state, raised and sold more than 10 million trees, and established the Nevada State Seed Bank. According to Dan Kaffer, former Coordinator with Western Nevada Resource Conservation and Development and current Alpine Watershed Group Board member, Greytak became Nevada’s “Johnny Appleseed.”
“Everyone in this room probably has some trees growing on their properties that came from that nursery,” said Kaffer. “Those trees have affected all of western Nevada and eastern California and are still used to this day.”
From 2001-2009 Greytak sat on the Carson River Advisory Committee and helped lay the groundwork for many of today’s parks, open spaces, recreation areas and river-conservation activities. As an early member of the Carson River Coalition, a watershed-wide stakeholder group, he regularly volunteered for bank-stabilization crews, wire-wrapped trees for beaver protection, and supported CWSD’s rafting, canoe, and kayaking tours. He also provided advice and direction for CWSD’s weed-abatement program and revegetation projects.
Retired Nevada State Parks Ranger and former Tahoe Rim Trail Association Executive Director Mark Kimbrough lauded Greytak’s approach to conservation. “Emotion drives what he says, but he uses good science to explain why things need to happen,” said Kimbrough. “He's always been a consistent, strong voice for the river, and this (award) is long overdue.”
Greytak expressed his gratitude for the river access his work afforded him and to his wife of 50 years, Jude, for her support and encouragement. He paid tribute to the endeavors of deceased colleagues and looked ahead to the future.
“There’s a lot of like-minded, enthusiastic people working in our watershed to protect the resource, and so I think the river’s going to be okay,” he said.
TCID General Manager Ben Shawcroft also acknowledged his predecessors during his acceptance speech. “(The award) certainly recognizes all who came before me. You all know Rusty (former TCID General Manager Rusty Jardine) and his tremendous work that he did for a long time, Ernie Schank here for his tremendous work on the Board for many years, and countless others. It really recognizes their tremendous effort and work in that part of the watershed.”
During remarks, former longtime TCID Board President Schank, the current CWSD Board Vice Chairperson, reflected on TCID’s origins. “I think the people we’re really honoring tonight for the most part are five generations of farmers, because the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District is made up of those water rights holders who are in the lower part of the Carson River,” he said. “My father taught me a reverence for the pioneers that came to the Lahontan Valley…many of them gave their lives so that we who live there now might have a nice area to live, an area with lots of wildlife and trees, and a wonderful area to raise a family.”
In addition, CWSD General Manager Edwin James highlighted TCID’s current efforts to address water rights issues and to keep farming active in the Churchill County area through its approach to irrigation, as well as its work in the aftermath of last winter’s historic snowpack.
The presentation of the Andy Aldax Carson River Watershed Award is an annual highlight for the CWSD Board of Directors. Created in 2007, the award honors the legacy of the late Andy Aldax, a 53-year CWSD Board Director and a tireless agricultural advocate and watershed steward for the Carson River Watershed.
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