Partner Profile: Conserving Wetlands With Ducks Unlimited

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 15, 2024 / Ducks Unlimited (DU) is on an admirable mission to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for millions of North America's waterfowl. From the Great Salt Lake in Utah to floodplains in Washington and prairies in North Dakota, DU is advancing multiple projects that will improve wildlife habitats.

"Wetlands are incredibly important, and we've lost so many of them over the years in this country," said Jessop Boden, Ducks Unlimited Director of Development. "That's why it's critical we protect the ones we still have."

To help further its mission, DU, the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, partnered with Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) to advance projects across several states, using multiple grants provided by MPC.

Rebuilding in Utah

One of the larger projects where MPC's grant money is already making a positive impact is at Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Utah, part of the Great Salt Lake Initiative. DU used part of a $100,000 community investment grant from MPC to rebuild sections of a severely eroded levee system on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. The donation also helped DU secure a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant, federal funding that required private philanthropic support to receive.

"The investment by MPC is helping us pursue our mission by supporting these projects designed to ensure the future of these critical habitats, while also making sure they function properly," said Boden.

In total, the $100,000 in grant money from MPC is supporting three projects in Utah that focus on wetlands conservation.

• Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Hooper, Utah
• Bear River wetlands, Brigham, Utah
• Bear River Duck Club, Brigham, Utah

"Levees and water-control structures are all critical infrastructure to manage our wetlands and control water, and this specific project was our first in Utah in over 10 years," said Coryna Hebert, DU Regional Biologist. "Had nothing been done, and due to the speed at which the levee system was eroding, we were about to lose 2,000 acres of emergent marsh habitat."