[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            WIDELL OBITUARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2011

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to honor my friend, the late David L. Widell.
  David L. Widell was a passionate supporter of political solutions to 
a host of California's Conservation issues. Unfortunately, one of our 
greatest wetlands advocates passed away far too early. Dave, General 
Manager and Director of Governmental Affairs of Grassland Water 
District, was without equal in his passion about Central Valley 
wetlands' water issues.
  Dave was a native son to California, born in Watsonville and raised 
in Los Banos. Dave grew up hunting and fishing from the Valley floor to 
the Sierras. He would often recount getting the special excuse slips 
from Los Banos High School on traditional Wednesday duck hunts.
  Dave was no stranger to local politics and issues having graduated 
from Los Banos High School in 1985 and Modest Junior College in 1987, 
before attaining a BA degree in political history from UC Davis in 
1990. He was a former field representative to Assemblyman Rusty Areias; 
City of Los Banos Planning Commissioner; and Director on the Merced 
County Farm Bureau Board. In 1992, following service in the United 
States Air Force, he joined the Grassland Water District as Assistant 
General Manager.
  Dave was a strong supporter of the Grasslands Ecological Complex and 
pushed for fair landscape planning. He fought several large urban 
developments that would have divided the Grasslands and caused 
fragmentation of wetland habitats.
  Dave spent the majority of his life devoted to conservation 
organizations. In 1998, he left the District to spread his wings at 
California Waterfowl Association where he served as Chief Deputy 
Director of Governmental Affairs. After leaving CWA, Dave moved on to 
serve as Deputy Director of State Parks in charge of ORVs and then 
Assistant Secretary at the California Resources Agency under both Davis 
and Schwarzenegger administrations. He joined Ducks Unlimited as 
Director of Conservation Policy for the Pacific Flyway, before 
returning to the District in 2007 as General Manager.
  Dave fought for legal water rights of the Grasslands and Central 
Valley wetlands. He co-authored an important chapter for the Central 
Valley Joint Venture on water for wetlands and wildlife-friendly 
agriculture. It is with some joy that he knew he had helped reach full 
supply of wetland water for the first time in over 20 years. Dave was 
as comfortable in the Halls of Congress as he was in an old duck shack.
  Sharing his knowledge of wing shooting or fly fishing with youth or 
novices was one of Dave's pleasures. He was most proud of the skills 
his son Ty developed in the outdoors and the intellectual challenges he 
has achieved by matriculating to Purdue University.
  The unique combination of knowledge, political resolve, and 
dedication the Dave brought to the District will remain unmatched. 
Dave's jovial demeanor and laugh will remain with us. As we reflect 
fondly on the relationships Dave made and the partnerships he formed in 
his quest to defend the Grasslands from degradation, we also remember 
how he touched our lives. When a flock of ducks sails across the sky 
this fall, think of Dave.

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