NEWS RELEASE DUCKS UNLIMITED Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office 331 Metty Drive, Suite 4 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Phone (734) 623-2000

$1 MILLION GRANT APPROVED FOR SAGINAW BAY WETLANDS

Unique Partnership Formed to Conserve Critical Wetland Habitat

ANN ARBOR, MI—April 20, 2001: The federal Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved a $1 million grant for wetland conservation throughout the 22 counties of the Saginaw Bay Watershed. The grant was awarded to Ducks Unlimited (DU) under provisions of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. As part of the grant acquisition DU partnered with a diverse array of organizations to raise an additional $3,315,800 in matching funds to implement a variety of conservation activities – the majority of these additional dollars coming from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

[Editor's Note: A complete partnership list and contribution summary follows.]

According to Richard Pierce, Director of Operations for DU’s Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office, the organization plans to use the funds to positively impact more than 3,000 acres of habitat through restoration and select acquisitions, providing critical habitat for myriad waterfowl and other wetland species in the process. "The scope of this undertaking is remarkable," said Pierce. "The diversity of the partner organizations in this effort is equally noteworthy. The future of successful conservation lies in this type of cooperation. The host of community interests that came together here on behalf Michigan's natural resources speaks volumes about the importance of this undertaking."

The project takes on further importance when one realizes that more than 40% of the wetlands in the watershed have been lost to the demands of changing land uses. DU's work is a continuation of a successful multi-year effort to protect and restore wetlands and adjacent habitat on public and private lands made possible through generous funding provided by the DOW Chemical Foundation, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation and The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation.

"The Department of Natural Resources shares DU's commitment to wetland protection and preservation," said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director K. Cool. "The State, through the DNR, is proud to help facilitate this important work."

Expansion of existing state and federal wildlife areas and the enhancement of small wetlands on private lands also will figure prominently. Wetland hydrology and vegetation will be restored and surrounding uplands will be managed to improve nesting cover and food availability for the region's birds. More than three million waterfowl annually migrate through the Great Lakes region.

Local communities also will benefit from the partnership. The proposed conservation work will improve water quality and fisheries throughout the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Wetlands act to purify water as they trap harmful sediments and filter pollutants, carried in rainwater runoff, before they enter area streams. They also serve to moderate floods and reduce soil erosion.

“The community and economic benefits of this work are substantial," said DU Biologist David Brakhage. “Improved natural resources and outdoor recreation are not only valued by the region's residents, they also attract substantial visitors and income to watershed's economy."

Lands acquired for public ownership will be open for a variety of uses including birding, hiking and hunting. Restrictions may apply to protect migratory birds and the area's endangered species. While public access is voluntary on private lands, Michigan Department of Natural Resources data indicates
65 % of rural landowners allow access to their property for some form of recreational use.

Despite extensive conservation efforts, the United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands. Annually, more than 100,000 acres continue to be lost to changing land use. DU is the world's largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with projects throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and in key areas of the Caribbean and Latin America. Since its inception in 1937, DU has conserved more than 9.4 million acres of wetlands and associated uplands. The organization's mission is to fulfill the annual life cycle needs of North American waterfowl by protecting, enhancing, restoring and managing important wetlands and associated uplands. There are more than 35,000 DU supporters in Michigan.

Partnership List and Contribution Summary

Look for DU on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org.

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Last updated: July 17, 2008

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