Award Recipients
The Bay Institute makes two annual awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to San Francisco Bay and its watershed.

The Carla Bard Bay Education Award
The Bay Institute created the Bay Education Award in 1992 to honor those who have significantly increased the public’s understanding of and concern for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The essence of this award was embodied by the late Carla Bard, the former Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board and a former member of The Bay Institute Board of Directors. Bard, a champion of clean water, wetlands preservation, and wild rivers, was considered a statewide leader on water issues. In 1998, The Bay Institute named the Bay Education Award in her memory.  Past recipients are:
  • 1992 Glen Martin                                          
  • 1993 Marc Reisner
  • 1994 Professor Peter Moyle                       
  • 1995 Harold Gilliam
  • 1996 Harrison C.“Hap”Dunning                 
  • 1997 Contra Costa Newspapers, Inc. 
  • 1998 Dave Weiman                                       
  • 1999 Allen Garcia and Paul Martin
  • 2000 Nancy C. Swadesh                               
  • 2001 William T. Davoren       
  • 2002 Jean Auer                                                
  • 2003 John Hart and David Sanger      
  • 2004 Sallyanne Wilson                                   
  • 2005 Philip B. Williams, Ph.D., P.E., Eur. Ing.
  • 2007 Robert J. Erickson                                 
  • 2008 Hamilton Candee
  • 2009 Philip L. Isenberg
The Harold Gilliam Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting...From the Sierra to the Sea
In 1999, The Bay Institute created the Harold Gilliam Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting from the Sierra to the Sea to recognize knowledgeable and skilled reporting on complex environmental issues affecting the Bay-Delta Estuary and its tributary waterways. Harold Gilliam, for whom the award is named, is the author of numerous books and a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1961. He has shared his vision and insight with millions of readers and has encouraged generations to think more deeply about our natural heritage.  Past recipeints are:
  • 1999 Mark Grossi
  • 2000 Jane Kay
  • 2001 Tom Philp
  • 2002 Audrey Cooper
  • 2003 Paul Rogers
  • 2004 Gene Rose
  • 2005 Doug McConnell
  • 2007 Mike Taugher
  • 2008 Jerry Kay
  • 2009 David Donnenfield and Kevin White