New Idria volunteer recognized
Ray Iddings Jr. of Santa Cruz this week received the Public
Lands Foundation’s commendation and a certificate of appreciation
for his efforts in community-based land stewardship.
New Idria volunteer recognized
Ray Iddings Jr. of Santa Cruz this week received the Public Lands Foundation’s commendation and a certificate of appreciation for his efforts in community-based land stewardship.
Iddings’ work focuses on the public lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in its Hollister Resource area.
“Mr. Iddings has shown extraordinary initiative as a volunteer historian and archaeological technician working on projects on BLM public lands, particularly in the New Idria region,” said Jim Ruch, the California state representative to the Public Lands Foundation.
In nominating Iddings, Rick Cooper, BLM’s Hollister area field manager, said Iddings has consistently demonstrated a substantial commitment of time and effort, helping the BLM cultural resources program in the Hollister office.
Cooper said Iddings has volunteered hundreds of hours in the field through the California Archeological Site Steward Program; updated and digitally converted historic records, conducted interviews with rangers and retired miners to preserve local histories; encouraged others to join the Site Stewardship Program; and created and maintains informational Web sites that highlight the history of southern San Benito and western Fresno counties.
Iddings’ Web site, where much of his research is posted, can be found at www.new-idria.org.
The Public Lands Foundation is a national nonprofit organization made up predominately of retired BLM employees that advocates and works for the retention of public lands.
