The 2026 Terry Backer Awards: Honoring the Spirit of Waterkeepers
By: Waterkeeper Alliance
At the 2026 Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference in Quito, Ecuador, Waterkeepers gathered not only to learn from one another and strengthen the movement, but also to celebrate the people whose dedication has helped carry the work forward. One of the most meaningful moments of the week was the presentation of the 2026 Terry Backer Awards at Mitad del Mundo, or the “Middle of the World.”
Named in honor of the late Terry Backer, a legendary founder of Waterkeeper Alliance and the original Long Island Soundkeeper, the awards recognize Waterkeepers who embody the spirit, grit, and determination that defined Terry’s approach to protecting clean water.
This year, the awards were presented to Mark Mattson, former Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and founder of Swim Drink Fish from Canada, and Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks from the United States.
Answering the Waterkeeper Call
Mark’s work has been deeply connected to clean water and to the people who dedicate their lives to protecting it. His career as Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and founder of Swim Drink Fish has extended his impact beyond a single waterbody, helping connect people with the waterways that sustain their communities.
Mark was nominated by his peers, including fellow Canadian and Ottawa Riverkeeper Laura Reinsborough and Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus from Georgia, United States. Although he was unable to attend the conference in person due to prior commitments, Laura shared why her fellow Waterkeepers nominated him for the award, while Tonya accepted it on his behalf.
Laura spoke of Mark’s longstanding commitment to clean water and his fellow Waterkeepers, including his role in helping an endangered Waterkeeper relocate from his home country to start a new life with his family in Canada. It was a powerful example of the solidarity and support that exists within the Waterkeeper movement. Not only in the fight to protect waterways, but also in standing alongside the people who dedicate their lives to that work.
Mark’s 25 years in the Waterkeeper movement have been shaped by those relationships, as well as by the mentors and fellow Waterkeepers who helped shape his own path. His award recognizes that longstanding commitment to clean water and to the people working to protect it.
Mark shared his reflections on the award and the legacy of Terry Backer in this Substack post, which was written as his acceptance.
Doing What’s Right for the River
The award was also presented to Dean Naujoks, whose Potomac Riverkeeper jurisdiction stretches from Harpers Ferry to the Chesapeake Bay and includes communities in West Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
Dean was nominated and presented the award in Ecuador by fellow Chesapeakeans Alice Volpitta, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, and Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper, both from Maryland. Alice and Matt spoke about Dean’s 25 years of steadfast commitment to protecting clean water and his service as a Riverkeeper for three rivers. They also highlighted the influence he has had on their own careers and on others throughout the Waterkeeper movement.
Dean’s path as a Waterkeeper was shaped by his mentor, the late Rick Dove, the first Neuse Riverkeeper and one of the founders of Waterkeeper Alliance. After serving as the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper and later as Yadkin Riverkeeper in North Carolina, Dean brought that experience to the Potomac, where he has spent more than a decade protecting the watershed and connecting communities with the river.
His career reflects a commitment to advocacy, education, and mentorship, building knowledge over time and sharing it with those who will carry it on. Read Dean’s recent Who Is Waterkeeper feature to learn more about his work.
Carrying the Work Forward
The awards are ultimately about legacy. Terry Backer helped establish a model of community-based water protection rooted in persistence, advocacy, accountability, and a deep connection to the water. The people recognized through these awards carry that legacy in different ways, shaped by their own rivers, communities, and experiences.
The Middle of the World, surrounded by fellow Waterkeepers from across the globe, was a fitting setting to celebrate Mark and Dean and the decades they have devoted to protecting clean water and strengthening the movement along the way.
From Canada to the Chesapeake, their stories remind us that this work is deeply personal, and part of something much larger: a community of people committed to showing up for their waterways and for one another. The work continues.