Washington Conservation Voters has named state Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-33, Des Moines) the 2011 "Legislator of the Year".

"Rep. Dave Upthegrove has become one of strongest statewide leaders on environmental issues and WCV is proud to name him our 2011 Legislator of the Year," said WCV Executive Director Brendon Cechovic. "Rep. Upthegrove's commitment to saving Puget Sound, ensuring a balanced transportation system, addressing global warming, and creating a clean energy economy was unparalleled in the Legislature."

According to the group, Upthegrove championed the environment in a number of ways this legislative session.

He served as chairman of the House Environment Committee, "During a session where a number of industries directly attacked environmental protections, it was Rep. Dave Upthegrove who most ensured that our future and Washington families were safeguarded from such rollbacks," said WCV lobbyist Clifford Traisman.

In previous legislative sessions, Rep. Upthegrove helped to clean up toxic arsenic chemicals in the soil of South King County playgrounds and day care centers, a process that is still ongoing. He also has been a strong advocate to keep Flaming Geyser State Park open, which has particular importance to the proposed Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway.