Bob schneider - 2018 (Covell)
For the last 50 years, Bob Schneider has dedicated much of his time, talent and energy to a specific goal: preserving and protecting the natural resources and wildlife in the region.
His list of contributions and accomplishments stretches back to his undergraduate days at UC Davis, where he organized the first local Earth Day event in 1970.
Since then he’s served as conservation chair of the Sierra Club Solano Group — helping to establish the Vic Fazio Wildife Refuge — co-founded both California Duck Days and Tuleyome, and was instrumental in the successful effort to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
During his years as a builder and developer in Davis, Schneider was recognized for his emphasis on energy efficiency and quality construction, as well as the need for affordable housing. He helped write the Davis Affordable Housing Plan, which became the most inclusionary housing plan in California in the late 1980s.
For all of his contributions to the city of Davis and the region, Schneider has been named this year’s recipient of the C.A. Cowell Award, presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the community, over time, in a number of areas.
Initiated by L.N. Irwin, it was first awarded in 1944 to C.A. Covell, longtime mayor of Davis, for whom the award is named.
As honored and humbled as he is to receive the award, Schneider is quick to note that so much of what he has contributed to the community over the last half decade was not due to his efforts alone.
“It’s a lot of people doing a lot of stuff,” he said.
Schneider grew up in the East Bay, coming to Davis in 1966 to attend UC Davis.
That’s when he met Eldridge and Judy Moores, who became lifelong friends. It was Judy who nominated Schneider for the Covell award, writing, “as someone who has known Bob for over five decades — ever since he was a geology student at UC Davis — I cannot think of anyone else in town that more deserves (the award).”
For over 50 years, Moores said, Schneider has “given unselfishly of his time and talents, and provided key leadership time after time. Demonstrating personal initiative, Bob’s actions and achievements are key to our environmental quality of life in Davis today and far beyond.”
Much of that work followed Schneider’s graduation from UC Davis, and a period spent traveling the world engaging in his passion for climbing.
He ultimately returned to Davis, where his wife was attending law school, and got into construction soon after.
He co-founded Ridge Builders Group in 1988 and later joined West Davis Associates. He is particularly proud of the development of West Pond, which serves as both a flood management facility and an urban wildlife habitat area, and the construction of Muir Commons, the first co-housing project in the United States.
After years of construction, Schneider changed course: “I just wanted to get back to my passion of protecting wild places.”
And get back to it he did.
What followed were contributions on many fronts, including ensuring adequate water flow in Putah Creek — as well as the return of salmon — establishing the much-loved Vic Fazio Wildlife Refuge, helping develop the city’s Agricultural Land Conversion Mitigation Ordinance, co-founding California Duck Days and serving on its steering committee, and, of course, co-founding Tuleyome.
Tuleyome’s mission is complex, and yet simple: advocate for and steward the conservation, enhancement and restoration of the Northern Inner Coastal Range.
Schneider played a role in Tuleyome gaining fee title ownership to nearly 3,000 acres that protect key ecological parcels and enhance access to public lands, including the headwaters of Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve.
Along the way Tuleyome has ensured public access to public lands by building and maintaining trails.
But it’s the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument that Schneider sees as Tuleyome’s greatest achievement, and the one he is personally most proud of.
Designated a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2015, the region, its water, unique species of plants and animal habitats are now protected and enjoyed by visitors from all over.
The effort involved five years of intense work, Schneider said, but it paid off thanks to the combined effort of many, many people, from elected officials to conservationists, hikers to hunters.
“What we built with that collective spirit,” Schneider said, “is going to go a long, long way in the future.”
As Schneider looks back on these last 50 years he sees clearly the impact conservation efforts have.
One of the highlights of his work now is leading camping and hiking trips through public lands for local dreamers — students studying here under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Sitting around a campfire, hearing their stories and their visions for the future, Schneider is struck by the realization that these young people will be the leaders of tomorrow.
And to watch them out in nature, away from the fears associated with their status in America for just a while, is profound. Some have never hiked, never camped before, and are transformed by the experience.
As is Schneider, who gets choked up just talking about it.
He says it all ties together: Protecting and preserving public lands requires a population of users enjoying those places who reflect the diversity and demographic of California.
That, in turn, requires some effort, Schneider said: People need transportation and guidance. But providing that lowers the barriers to access.
“That’s my priority,” he said.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“Many of the protected wilderness areas I enjoy today are due to the efforts of Bob,” said Tuleyome president Andrew Fulks.
“He is both a friend and mentor, helping the next generation learn what it takes to preserve and enjoy the environment.”
Not many people can look west at sunset, “see the coast range and say that we led the effort to preserve the peaks and valleys we see, visit and recreate in,” noted Davis City Councilman Lucas Frerichs and his wife, Stacie.
“Bob and his helpers can.”
As Schneider looks back on the past 50 years, he sees that he himself changed just as he helped change the environment around him.
“I was always very individual,” he said, something evident in his love of climbing.
“But over the second half of my life, I’ve become much more open to people, much more vulnerable.”
“And that increased vulnerability has made me a better person.”
As for receiving the Covell award, he said, “it’s a great honor and extremely humbling.
“You look at the list of people who have received that award, and it’s pretty awesome to be in that group of people.”
— From the Davis Enterprise - December 24, 2018. Reach Anne Ternus-Bellamy at aternus@davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @ATernusBellamy.
