On June 11, 2008, the Jupiter Inlet Working Group met at the Jupiter inlet Lighthouse and was presented with individualized awards for their recent National Cooperative Conservation Award selection. The National award ceremony was held in Washington D.C. earlier in April and was presided over by U. S. Department of Interior Secretary Kempthorne.

The federal designation of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and surrounding 126 acres as "Outstanding Natural Area" is a shining example of what government and local organizations can accomplish together for the benefit of America. The Outstanding Natural Area offers a host of educational, interpretive and recreational opportunities for the public. The site contains regionally important natural, historic and prehistoric resources and a host of special status species in an urbanized setting. The Outstanding Natural Area is cooperatively managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and six local partners, collectively named the Jupiter Inlet Working Group.

Over the last decade, this group accomplished a wealth of projects including wetland reconstruction, river slope stabilization following hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, fuel hazard reduction and habitat improvement for endangered species, proving the Jupiter Inlet Working Group a uniquely successful partnership. For its dedication to safeguarding Jupiter Inlet's ecological integrity and cultural heritage, the Jupiter Inlet Working Group was given the prestigious Cooperative Conservation Award of the Department of the Interior.

Pictured:back row - Russ Ruskay, Town of Jupiter, C.O. Jim Mullinax, U. S. Coast Guard, Roger Buckwalter, Loxahatchee River Historical Society, Tom Paterno, Village of Tequesta. Front row - Cindy DeFilippo, Palm Beach County, Barry Smith, Palm Beach County-ERM, Melissa Tolbert, Palm Beach County-ERM. Kneeling - Neal White, Jupiter High School Environmental Academy, Bruce Dawson, Bureau of Land Management, Jamie Stuve, Loxahatchee River Historical Society.