A Tribute – H. Lee Silvey

Hilton Lee Silvey _ 9/24/1932 to 9/6/2020

H. Lee Silvey served on the Watershed Conservation Board from 2015 to 2020

On Sunday, September 6th, 2020,  we lost a real hydrology legend in the passing of Hilton Lee Silvey. We will miss his contributions, his wit, and his friendship. It is universally known that Lee was one of the most kind and all-around great guys. Amidst chaos, he brought reasonable solutions…he saw things others missed but calmly helped them see it as well. He rarely took credit for things he should have but always supported his fellow scientists and resource managers. He had a great resource ethic and was a consistent and effective force for improving resource management. His early contributions to the first clear-cutting guidelines for the Forest Service on the St. Joe Forest in north Idaho paved the way for many of us who followed.

He maintained his good attitude and sharp senses right up to the end. Whenever Lee spoke, everyone would listen as he always made a worthwhile contribution.

We will always miss Lee’s kindness along with his scientific contributions, but mostly his genuine compassion for watershed management, his colleagues and for his many friends and admirers…Lee’s legacy lives on.  ~Dave Rosgen