From left: Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper and Director of Riverkeeper Programs; Dr. Tom Fisher, this year’s winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship; Tim Junkin, founder of Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy; and Scott Budden, Executive Director of ShoreRivers, are pictured at the organization’s annual fall fundraiser at Talbot Country Club on November 8, 2026.
On Sunday, November 8, Dr. Tom Fisher was named the 2026 recipient of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship as part of the organization’s annual fall Rendezvous. This annual award recognizes an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for their transformational accomplishments as a steward of the environment.
Dr. Fisher, Professor Emeritus at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, is a longtime supporter and collaborator with ShoreRivers and one of its legacy organizations, the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, serving as an influential academic voice behind its science-based approach to advocacy and restoration. His work studying agricultural land use on the Eastern Shore, specifically in the Choptank River watershed, has led to a greater understanding of how conservationists and farmers must work together to achieve water quality goals.
“Tom stands among the modern-day titans who have helped build the foundation of today’s restoration movement here on the Eastern Shore. It’s Tom’s research that helped us identify the good and the bad that’s happening in our river, and to really turn that into action,” said Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper and Director of Riverkeeper Programs at ShoreRivers. “Tom has served as my advisor for the better part of 10 years… and it’s an honor to call him my friend.”
As part of the presentation, Fisher was presented with a painting titled “Choptank Dreams.” This bespoke piece of art was created and donated by Tim Junkin, founder of Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, as a tribute to Fisher and the waterway he has spent so many years working to protect.
“In 2009, I was trying to put together a brand-new non-profit river protection program focused on the Choptank, Miles, and Wye rivers — the program that would eventually meld into ShoreRivers. As naïve as I may have been in tackling this project, one thing I did appreciate was that it would be essential to find credible scientists willing to serve on its board of directors. But even I was surprised and discouraged at the difficulty I encountered … and then I heard about Tom Fisher,” said Junkin. “He not only agreed to be on the board, he enthusiastically agreed, emphasizing how important he believed it was to put his scientific research and expertise to work to protect our rivers. And Tom, of course, not only lent credibility to our newly launched program, he helped us find other scientists. … I can’t think of anyone who was more pivotal in the creation of this organization and more deserving of this award than Tom Fisher.”
ShoreRivers was proud to have this opportunity to recognize Fisher’s dedication to environmental research, education, and scientific discovery. Visit shorerivers.org/leadership to learn more about this award and the organization’s impact on the Eastern Shore.