The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and seven other organizations received recognition for protecting the rivers, streams and reservoirs that make up the drinking supply of Haywood County, North Carolina.
RMEF and its partners worked to permanently protect and conserve several pieces of prime elk habitat in the western portion of the state near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
According to the Smoky Mountain News, other partners who received the Pigeon River Award include the Maggie Valley Sanitary District, The Conservation Fund, Blue Ridge Parkway, Pigeon River Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
(Photo source: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)