(KAMIAH, ID) On May 1, 2024 at the annual meeting of the Washington, British Columbia, and
Idaho chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Jeffrey Diluccia won a major award that honors his lifetime of
commitment to and achievements in conservation of native fishes in Idaho. Diluccia, the fisheries program manager at the
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, has worked in Idaho fisheries since 2001, beginning with the Idaho Department of
Fish and Game (IDFG) and moving to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in 2023.
“I’ve been an avid fisherman as long as I can remember, Diluccia explained.” “I first began creating fish habitat in my early
teens; when I went to my friends fishing cabin, we would hold a regular contest where we worked to improve fish habitat –
we built pools and added wood for cover. After the improvements were finished, we then competed to see whose new habitat
would attract or produce the biggest fish.”
A trained biologist, his first professional restoration work began during his undergraduate coursework in fish ecology. His
professors saw his aptitude and interest and hired him as a summer technician on university funded restoration projects at the
age of 22. He went on to get a master’s degree in fisheries management and has had a long and illustrious career managing,
designing, and implementing projects that improve fish habitat. The bulk of his career was spent with IDFG in Salmon,
where he managed a habitat conservation program and implemented in excess of 25,000,000 in funding towards improving
the habitat condition for ESA listed fish in the Upper Salmon River Basin.
“Beyond the recreational, cultural, and spiritual significance of fish, their ability to indicate the health of an ecosystem makes
fish a uniquely important resource,” Diluccia explained. “I’m passionate about leaving this world a better place than I found
it; fish habitat restoration does that and benefits the lives of current and future generations of Idahoans.” Nez Perce-
Clearwater National Forests Supervisor Molly Ryan stated: “Jeff’s passionate commitment to fish habitat is vital to the
numerous restoration projects on our forests. We are proud that his hard work has been recognized in such a meaningful way
by his peers.”