The inaugural National Fish Habitat Conservation Champion Award was presented by the Chairs of the Board of Directors of the National Fish Habitat Partnership and the National Fish Habitat Fund to Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops and the Outdoor Fund, in recognition of decades of support for the National Fish Habitat Partnership Program and fisheries habitat conservation in lakes and reservoirs across the nation.
Johnny has been a longtime advocate and supporter of fish habitat conservation, illustrated by his involvement with the formation of the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership in 2009.
The 2006 Fish Habitat Action Plan notes that in 2004, “The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and private partners, such as Bass Pro Shops, pledge funds and align grant-making in support of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan to ensure that the plan’s conservation priorities and innovative approaches result in on-the-ground actions.”
In 2006, $2.5 Million in “seed money” was provided in 2006 for habitat work right here at Table Rock Lake under the banner of the National Fish Habitat Partnership, while the program’s planning and organization were still underway.
The award itself was created using cedar, reflecting the special significance that cedar holds to the origins of this collaboration.
From 2020 to 2025, additional contributions from the Outdoor Fund provided more than $2.6 Million in funding that was leveraged with partner in-kind and cash donations of more than $4.8 Million.
Together, these investments supported leveraging of approximately $7.5 Million for 34 reservoir habitat projects across the country.
Over 9,000 habitat structures have been installed, along with additional enhancements including rock reefs, concrete reef balls, spawning gravel, shoreline erosion control, aquatic vegetation management, riparian buffers, and water quality and quantity measures.
Public access was improved or established including providing bank angler access to newly established habitat. These efforts have improved shoreline quality, expanded fishing opportunities, and reduced bank erosion that can impact water quality.
The Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership created a video to thank Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops and the Outdoor Fund for their ongoing project support. Watch the video here.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris receiving the National Fish Habitat Conservation Champion Award. From left: Johnny Morris; Tim Schaeffer, National Fish Habitat Partnership Program Board Chair; Julie Carter, National Fish Habitat Fund Board Chair; Martin MacDonald, Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation.