Environmental Law Institute - National Wetlands Awards

Ms. Nygaard founded the non-profit Preserve Calavera, which, under her leadership, has become the largest conservation group in north San Diego County. Through this organization, she raised awareness of local leaders and the community regarding the importance of and threats to wetlands.

Her major accomplishment has been to help purchase and restore the 134 acre Sherman property in Carlsbad, California.

She also has provided comments that have led to avoidance and minimization of wetland impacts, helped secure wetland acquisition, wrote stream buffer guidelines, organized community wetland restoration projects and media efforts, and trained volunteers to monitor frog populations.