In 2007, Larry took on the task of cleaning up our local waters.  He worked with partners from Southeast Minnesota Wastewater Initiative and Cannon River Watershed Partnership to look at the sources of water pollution and to document illegal straight pipe water pollution.  Larry took his findings to the Mower County Commissioners.  He requested they attempt to help those looking for solutions as well as to enforce Minnesota state laws on those in violation.  Through his efforts, Mower County was one of the first counties in Minnesota to actually cite individuals using straight pipes.  Two areas that had been polluting have solved their waste issues.  Larry’s initiative and drive assisted those that wanted to stop polluting local waters. 

In 2008, Austin Chapter 10 received the national Save-Our-Streams Award from the IWLA National Office due to Larry’s efforts.

Bob started a purple martin project in 2006.  The project’s goal was to set up martin houses to attract purple martins back toAustin.  He secured funding for the houses from Austin Chapter 10 and the Austin Audubon Society. 

Over the course of three years, he erected six martin houses on public land and five houses on private property.  The houses were new, refurbished, and two wooden houses that Bob built.  Bob, along with a few volunteers, spent over a hundred hours refurbishing, building and erecting the houses.  During the 16-week nesting season, Bob and volunteers conducted weekly nest inspections to determine nesting success.  In 2009, he contacted the Mower County 4-H and started a martin learning project.  Each week, Bob and 4-H members conducted nest checks and documented the nesting success of each house. 

Through Bob’s efforts, Austin now has more purple martins returning to nest and thrive.