Environmentalist of the Year Wildlife Award 2025

Andrea Willey, MD, a Dermatologic Surgeon and Sacramento native, witnessed a Great Blue Heron’s fatal encounter with fishing line. She founded the Waterbird Habitat Project in 2023, collaborating with anglers and local communities to retrieve abandoned fishing gear from the American River. Designated receptacle for fishing gear and signage was installed. As the project continues to grow, so does its impact. As a result of her personal determination, the Waterbird Habitat Program is on the road to becoming a statewide model.