Port Angeles couple honored for work in waterfowl conservation

Published 12:01 am Sunday, March 17, 2013

PORT ANGELES — Arnold and Debbie Schouten of Port Angeles recently were recognized by Sons of Norway with a certificate of recognition for their work to promote understanding of wild waterfowl.

This is the second award the Schoutens have received in the past year.

At the 2012 European conference of the International Wild Waterfowl Association in Cheshire, England, Arnold Schouten was elected as the organization’s president and inducted into the Waterfowl Breeders Hall of Fame.

Hall of fame honors are given to an individual who, through extraordinary achievement and dedicated service, has contributed significantly to the preservation and collective knowledge of waterfowl, according to the association.

Arnold has been an IWWA board member for more than 10 years.

He said he has been interested in sea duck science and management for more than 30 years.

The couple live at Dry Creek on a 50-acre piece of land, where they have developed numerous ponds, water features, wetlands and waterfowl aviaries.

Over the years, Arnold has worked with more than 40 different waterfowl species at this location.

Preservation area

The goal at Dry Creek Waterfowl has been to maintain a captive population for the benefit of the wild populations through breeding and research.

The Schoutens also are the founders of Hartnagel’s Building Supply in Port Angeles.