BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Nancy Raia won with an innovative program which turned jeans into a canvas promoting environmental stewardship.

John Houser, owner of Blue Water Ships Stores in Foley, has sponsored youth environmental educational programs for three years.

Both are among the award winners in this year’s Environmental Responsibility Awards gleaned from nominations countywide during the past 12 months.

Since 1998, the Baldwin County Environmental Advisory Board has presented more than 60 awards to individuals, agencies, organizations and companies that have demonstrated high levels of concern for environmental protection and enhancements.

This year’s aware recipients are:

• Individual Citizen Award: David Yeager.

Yeager served as director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. He also served 29 years as a researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Yeager was instrumental in bringing together agencies and the public, as well city, county and state officials to deal with environmental issues around Mobile Bay. Projects included the D’Olive Creek restoration initiative and the Baldwin County Stormwater Consortium.

Yeager also assisted cities and environmental groups to pursue funds for watershed management and water quality studies in Baldwin County.

• Small Business Award, Blue Water Ships Stores of Alabama.

Based in Foley, owner John Houser and manager Scott Forbes have been actively involved in youth environmental educational programs for over three years.

The duo sponsors the Riviera Utilities and Wold Bay Watershed Watch Junior Fishing Tournament and provides prizes.

They have assisted the watershed in generating funds for educational programs, including the Baldwin County Water Festival, Bay Buddies and Quiz Kids.

• Large Business Award, Riviera Utilities. The Foley-based utility and general manager Mike Dugger partnered with the city of Foley, Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey in a telemetered water quality and flow measurement device on Wolf Creek.

Riviera Utilities is working with the EPA and Auburn Universities on multiple studies exploring alternative wastewater treatment techniques and is also upgrading the system.

The utility also builds and distributes osprey nesting platforms throughout the county.

• Environmental Organization Award, Smart Coast.

Wendy Allen and Charlene Lee founded Smart Coast in 2002, and turned the organization into a regional leader in sustainable growth and development education.

Smart Growth has produced three major regional conferences focusing on green building practices. Each event drew more than 300 participants, including planners, politicians and developers. The group also provides consulting assistance to numerous communities in the region.

• Educational Program Award, Baldwin County Master Gardeners Association.

The association is a component of the state Cooperative Extension System and offers citizens vast information about horticulture.

The group yearly graduates 25 members who are required to contribute 40 service hours in a variety of ways. They participate in gardening projects at school and parks, such as the new Rose Trail in Foley, plant sales which support Weeks Bay and the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, and volunteer at the local Home Grounds Info-Line which dispenses horticultural advice.

Members volunteer to teach plant propagation at technical schools and support the Baldwin County Fair and Arbor Day celebrations throughout the county. The group contributes more than 2,000 service hours per year.

• Special Recognition Award, Nancy Raia, Eastern Shore Art Center.