The irrigation industry has honoured Mooroopna's Ken Sampson, who passed away late last year, with the prestigious Maclean-Iedema Award, given every second year by Irrigation Australia to someone who has contributed significantly during a long period.

It was accepted by Mr Sampson's widow Maree at a ceremony in Sydney, where Mrs Sampson noted her late husband would have been proud of the accolade.

"I want to thank all those people who are helping to continue Ken's legacy in the development of young leaders with the Sampson Trust and who have provided me with great support over the last few months," Mrs Sampson said.

Mr Sampson, who was raised on an irrigated dairy farm at Strathmerton, held many positions of influence within the irrigation sector and was widely recognised for helping the industry take forward strides.

He was a key architect of the Salt Action-Joint Action initiative in 1984, which was the precursor to integrated catchment management and community involvement in natural resource management in Victoria. Latterly, he was executive officer of Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment Strategy.

In nominating Mr Sampson for the award, Bruce Cumming from Water Technology Cluster described Mr Sampson's contribution.

"Ken's contribution to the irrigation industry was multi-faceted and took place over an extensive period," he said.

"The emergence of policies and programs around catchment management, land and water management plans and salinity management owes much to the early work of Ken. This part of his contribution commenced in 1984 when he worked in an inter-departmental team to develop new policy.

"His contribution at that time was based on a sound science footing, more than a decade of research and extension work in irrigation districts, and his natural talents.

"Ken continued to contribute significantly to what is widely regarded as one of the world's most successful natural resource management initiatives, within the Goulburn Broken Catchment."

Goulburn-Murray Water chairman Stephen Mills worked closely with Mr Sampson and also addressed the audience in Sydney.

"For community-led leadership to be successful, as it was in the Goulburn Broken Catchment, it is important that you have people to support and drive it," he said.

"Ken Sampson was one of these people - he was fully committed to the cause."