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Page 1: CONSERVATION in F - Ducks Unlimited · 2008-05-09 · DUCKS UNLIMITED CONSERVES,RESTORES and MANAGES wetlands and ASSOCIATED HABITATS for North America’s waterfowl. THESE HABITATSalso

GREAT LAKES/ATLANTIC REGION

C O N S E R V A T I O N

iinn FFooccuuss

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D U C K S U N L I M I T E D

C O N S E R V E S , R E S T O R E S ,

and M A N A G E S

wetlands and

A S S O C I A T E D H A B I T A T S

for N o r t h A m e r i c a ’ s

waterfowl.T H E S E H A B I T A T S also

B E N E F I T O T H E R W I L D L I F E

A N D P E O P L E .

C O N S E R V A T I O N

iinn FFooccuuss

DUCKS UNLIMITED’S Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office (GLARO) providescomprehensive conservation solutions to help restore and protect the continent’sdiminishing wetlands in 18 states, from Wisconsin to Virginia and north to Maine.

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Great Lakes

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The Great Lakes/Atlantic RegionalOffice opened in 1998 to meet theneeds of waterfowl species breeding,migrating through, and wintering inthe 18-state area. The diversity oflandscape and the diversity of threatsto waterfowl populations and theirhabitats in this region presentimmense challenges, which include,but are not limited to, urban sprawland human population growth, waterand air quality issues, decliningpopulations of waterfowl and otherwater-dependent birds, and continuedwetland loss. This area must meet theentire life cycle needs of waterfowlwithin a single region; with programswhich address breeding, migration,and wintering habitat.

The primary breeding waterfowlspecies in the Great Lakes/AtlanticRegion include mallards, wood ducks,blue-winged teal, and American blackducks. Important breeding popula-tions of mallards exist in the five GreatLakes states, the Lake Ontario water-shed, and in some eastern states (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,Maryland, and Delaware).

The Great Lakes/Atlantic Regionprovides habitat for many species of

wintering waterfowl, both dabblingand diving ducks. Significant popula-tions of wintering ducks throughoutthe region include American blackducks, mallards, canvasbacks, andscaup. Several areas of historic impor-tance include the Great Lakes coastalmarshes, the Illinois River, St.Lawrence River Valley, MontezumaWetland Complex, Atlantic coastalmarshes, and the Chesapeake andDelaware Bays.

This region also provides impor-tant habitat for both fall and spring migrants in the Atlantic andMississippi Flyways. Fall migrantstend to be concentrated in multi-species assemblages on large complex-es, often associated with public lands.Although less studied and infrequent-ly surveyed, spring migration is likelymore significant than fall migration interms of habitat programs that meetthe needs of waterfowl travelingthrough this region to their breedinggrounds. Waterfowl migrating inspring tend to be distributed overmuch larger geographic areas and usehabitat differently than during fallmigration, primarily due to behavioraland nutritional requirement differ-

ences between these life cycle stages.Some important migratory areasinclude the Chesapeake and DelawareBays; the Great Lakes marshes, partic-ularly southwest Lake Erie, Lake St.Clair, Saginaw Bay, and Green Bay;river-associated habitats, such as theMississippi River ‘pools’ and IllinoisRiver backwater areas; and inlandareas, such as Horicon Marsh,Wisconsin, and Montezuma WetlandComplex, New York.

To be as efficient and effective aspossible, GLARO focuses its limitedresources on areas that are mostimportant to meeting the needs ofwaterfowl. Focus areas were deter-mined by breeding and wintering/staging waterfowl use. These areas arecritical to supporting the annual lifecycle needs of waterfowl in this region.Importance of focus areas was deter-mined by both the contribution of thearea to the annual life cycle needs andthe relative quantity of waterfowlspecies using the area. Habitat goalsare currently determined by the poten-tial for restoration, but will be linkedto the goals of the North AmericanWaterfowl Management Plan once thedata are available.

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Great Lakes Ecosystem

Atlantic Coast Ecosystem

Upper Mississippi Ecosystem

Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem

EcosystemI N I T I A T I V E S

G.L.A.C..

U.M.

C.B.

GREAT LAKES/ATLANTIC REGIONAL OFFICE: GLARO

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2 DUCKS UNLIMITED

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T H E G R E A T L A K E S E C O S Y S T E M is defined by the watershed area which drains directly into the Great Lakes

and hence affects the health of that ecosystem. Land use activities are dominated by agriculture and forest with an

average of 62% historic wetland loss. Industry, development, and some agricultural practices degrade existing wetlands and

uplands leading to water quality problems (sedimentation and nutrient loading) throughout the watershed. Invasive and

exotic species have further degraded the quality of remaining habitats. The Great Lakes Ecosystem Initiative focuses on the

needs of breeding waterfowl and increased production. Conservation efforts focus on production habitat for mallards, under

the assumption that these efforts also benefit other nesting waterfowl in this area. Another equally important focus is to

provide habitat for wintering and migrating waterfowl, particularly spring staging waterfowl.

G R E AT L A K E SG R E AT L A K E SEEccoossyysstteemm

Eastern Wisconsin

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Southeast Lake Michigan

Saginaw Bay

F O C U S A R E A S

VisionL A N D S C A P E V I S I O N

Habitat complexes that include connected coastal and inland marsh systems sufficient to support healthy waterfowl popula-tions; coastal marshes defined by large expanses of wetlands, natural hydrology, free of invasive/exotic species, managedwhere necessary, with no inland restrictions; and inland marshes defined by riparian buffers, wetland/grassland complexes,riverine associated habitats, wildlife-friendly agricultural practices, and natural disturbance.

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3C O N S E R V A T I O N in Focus

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The focus area in southeasternWisconsin spans an area historicallycharacterized by a glaciated mosaic ofwetlands surrounded by tall grass prairieand oak savanna. Agriculture and devel-opment are the dominant activities result-ing in a substantial reduction of smallpothole wetlands and of the original

prairie that covered much of the areaprior to settlement. Eastern Wisconsin isimportant for both breeding and migrat-ing waterfowl. Habitat loss and degrada-tion related to the expanding humanpopulation in this area is directly linkedto loss of breeding habitat, yet this areastill supports the highest breeding densi-

ty of waterfowl in the state. The protec-tion and restoration of grass and wetlandcomplexes increase breeding propensity aswell as improve production. Coastalhabitat restoration and protectionmeetthe needs of spring and fall migratorywaterfowl, although breeding birds alsobenefit from these restoration projects.

EASTERNWISCONSIN

GOALto restore & protect:

39,700 acres

Eastern WWisconsin iis iimportant ffor bbothbreeding aand mmigrating wwaterfowl.

Hooded MMerganser

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The Lake Erie watershed is the glaciallake plain that roughly encompasses thegeographic boundary of the Great BlackSwamp (northwestern Ohio, northeast-ern Indiana, and southeastern Michigan),northeastern Ohio, and Lake St. Clair,and includes small areas in Pennsylvaniaand New York. This area contains someof the largest and most historically signif-icant wetland or remnant wetlands in thelower 48 states. In the late 1800s,construction of dikes and ditches alongthe lakeshore to facilitate conversion toagriculture and other forms of develop-ment resulted in the drainage of manycoastal marshes. These practices continuetoday and impact not only wetlandhabitat, but also water quantity andquality. Urban sprawl and industrialdevelopment, especially near Toledo andDetroit and along the lakeshore, aresignificant threats to wildlife habitat and

continue to fragment remaining naturalcommunities. Ninety percent of pre-settlement wetlands were drained, result-ing in some of the most productivefarmland in the area.

Located at the crossroads of theMississippi and Atlantic Flyways, thisarea serves as a primary migratory corri-dor for important species includingAmerican black ducks, Southern JamesBay Population Canada geese, greater andlesser scaup, canvasbacks, mallards andother neotropical migratory birds.Remnants of the Great Black Swamp,including inland-forested, riverine,emergent and depressional wetlands andassociated uplands, provide valuablehabitat for breeding waterfowl.

There are currently two areas ofconcentration within this focus area: LakeSt. Clair and western Lake Erie, includingthe Detroit River; and coastal and inland

landscapes in northwestern Ohio. Overfive million people live within a one hourdrive of the area. Despite these impacts,existing marshes in the lower DetroitRiver have high waterfowl use, primarilydiving ducks during spring and fall migra-tion, as well as wading and shorebirds.The coastal marshes in this area providehabitat for some of the highest concentra-tions of staging American black ducks andcanvasbacks in North America as well as27 other species of waterfowl.

Given the continued threat fromsprawl and development, programs in thisarea focus on the long-term protection of important and threatened wetlandhabitat, primarily for migratory birds.Programs also focus on the acquisition ofexisting or restorable coastal habitat forinclusion into state or federal wildlifeareas.

The Lake Ontario watershed encom-passes the low-lying lake plain habitat ofNew York. Historically, this area wasdominated by a forested ecosystem withextensive coastal marshes. The area haslost approximately 70% of its wetlandbase primarily due to agriculture andurbanization. Urban sprawl continues toincrease. Point and non-point sourcepollution from agriculture and industryhave seriously degraded water quality insome areas.

The St. Lawrence area contains abun-dant freshwater wetlands interspersed with

extensive agricultural grasslands. Morethan half of the original wetlands havebeen lost or altered. Those which remainconsist mostly of wooded and scrub-shrubwetlands with a disproportionate reduc-tion of emergent wetland and seasonal/temporary sheetwater habitats. Althoughgrasslands in this area represent the largestcontiguous block of grassed landscape inthe northeastern U.S., they are currentlythreatened by farm abandonment, whichresults in natural succession to woodyhabitat, further fragmentation, and anoverall decline in agricultural grasses. This

area is an important breeding area formallards, blue-winged teal, Americanblack ducks, and Canada geese. It is one ofthe most important migratory corridorsfor American black ducks, as well as scaup,canvasbacks, and Canada geese. The lakeand the river are major fall staging areas formany species of divers and sea ducks,including scaup, redheads, and buffle-heads. Inland areas provide critical springmigration habitat in the form of temporary sheetwater. The focus in the St. Lawrence area is to restore wetlandcomplexes and secure grassland habitat.

LAKE ERIEGOALto restore & protect:

106,000 acres

LAKE ONTARIO

GOALto restore & protect:

19,000 acres

Canada GGeese

Bufflehead

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Another area of concentration is theMontezuma Wetland Complex (40,000acres), an important staging area withinthe Atlantic Flyway that attracts as manyas one million ducks and geese duringspring and fall migration. The focus is torestore and protect areas containing muckland soils to reduce habitat fragmentationand increase the quality and quantity of

wetlands on the landscape. The final area is the Tonawanda-

Iroquois-Oak Orchard Complex, locatedin the western lake plain of New York.The complex consists of approximately20,000 acres of emergent and forestedwetlands, grasslands, and upland habitat.The complex serves as a staging andmigration area for over 250,000 water-

fowl annually. This area also supportssignificant wood duck and mallard pro-duction. High quality emergent wetlandsprovide migration and production habitatfor many declining marsh bird species.The focus in this area is on restoration ofwetlands and grasslands.

5C O N S E R V A T I O N in Focus

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The lower portion of the LakeMichigan watershed is one of the fastestgrowing and most urbanized regions inthe Great Lakes Basin. This area alsosupports some of the highest breedingdensities of mallards and wood ducks in Michigan. Current efforts in thisregion focus on the Grand River water-shed, but will expand to cover the entirearea in the future. Agriculture and urban

development dominate the landscape andhave resulted in drained wetlands,fragmented forests, and increasedsedimentation and nutrient-loading inlakes and streams. Habitat fragmentation,initially resulting from agriculture andmore recently from urban development,has hindered attempts to restore largeblocks within this watershed althoughpotential exists to restore small wetlands

and establish native prairie, especially onprivate lands. Restoration of wetlands,particularly small emergent wetlands witha mix of open water and vegetation, andre-establishment of native prairie plantcommunities associated with existing orrestored wetlands, are the conservationfocus in this watershed.

The coastal marshes surroundingSaginaw Bay off Lake Huron comprise oneof the largest remaining freshwater coastalsystems in the nation. The watershedfeeding Saginaw Bay covers 22 counties,and is the largest watershed in Michigan.Settlement and intensive farming led tothe loss and degradation of more than50% of the wetlands in the watershed.Degradation of remaining habitat hasoccurred as intense agricultural and indus-

trial practices throughout the watershedhave seriously degraded water quality.

Conservation work in this focus area concentrates on the protection andrestoration of Great Lakes coastal marsh-es and their associated habitats, expansionof existing state and federal wildlife areaswith the restoration of newly acquiredlands, and restoration and enhancementof small wetlands and associated uplandsimportant for waterfowl production on

private lands.Conservation activities in the Saginaw

Bay focus area concentrate on productionand migration habitat. Current produc-tion work focuses on private lands becausethe landscape offers extensive opportuni-ties as it is not heavily developed but hasbeen significantly altered by agriculture.Migration habitat work focuses primarilyon large complexes along the coast onmajor river systems and public lands.

-LAKE ONTARIO CONTINUED-

SOUTHEASTLAKE

MICHIGAN

GOALto restore & protect:

13,200 acres

SAGINAW BAY

Mallards

Horned GGrebe

GOALto restore & protect:

22,300 acres

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T H E C H E S A P E A K E B A Y I S T H E N A T I O N ’ S L A R G E S T E S T U A R Y and drains 64,000 square miles. It is known for

its historic abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, shellfish, and fish, and its network of fresh, brackish, and

saltwater marshes that support these populations. An average of 57% of the historic wetland base and 47% of the riparian areas

that buffer streams have been lost. These losses have led to steep declines in water quality and a 90% loss of bay grasses (submerged

aquatic vegetation, or SAV), with 70-80% declines in waterfowl populations (especially canvasbacks, redheads, and American

black ducks). The Bay once housed over three million wintering waterfowl, but now only sees one third of that historic number.

The two most important contributing factors to the decline in waterfowl populations are 1) widespread loss of SAV and 2)

deterioration of shallow water wetland habitat within the watershed. The Bay’s wetlands represent some of the most important

wintering grounds for waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. More than one million waterfowl winter on the Bay, which represents

35% of the waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway. This wintering population represents several species of special concern, including

canvasbacks, American black ducks, scaup (lesser & greater), and Atlantic Population (AP) Canada geese.

The Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Initiative places equal importance on

breeding, migrating, and wintering goals for waterfowl. This region is one of

the most significant migration and wintering habitat for American black ducks,

mallards, canvasbacks, tundra swans, and Canada Geese (NAP, AP) in the

Atlantic Flyway. Significant nesting waterfowl include mallards, wood ducks,

American black ducks, and Canada geese. Habitat conservation for the direct

benefit of waterfowl is the focus. However, it is recognized that one way to

improve habitat conditions for waterfowl, especially wintering and staging

populations, and the other 2,600 wildlife species that live in the watershed, is

to improve water quality by restoring wetlands, upland, and riparian buffers

throughout the entire watershed.

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C H E S A P E A K E B A YC H E S A P E A K E B A YEEccoossyysstteemm

VisionL A N D S C A P E V I S I O N

A landscape comprised of diverse and functional wetland complexes; continu-ous forested and native grass riparian buffers; a balance of early successionalmoist soil habitat and bottomland hardwoods with floodplains; and an ecosys-tem in which agriculture and forestry practices coexist with planned urbangrowth to meet the habitat needs of breeding, migrating, and wintering water-fowl and other wildlife native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Upper Chesapeake Bay

Lower Chesapeake Bay

Potomac

Lower Susquehanna

F O C U S A R E A S

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The Upper Chesapeake Bay watershedspans both the western shore of theUpper Chesapeake Bay and the easternshore of Maryland and Delaware. Ninety-five percent of this area is rural in eitheragriculture or forested lands. The agricul-tural lands are under intense productionpressure to support the highest density ofpoultry operations anywhere in the U.S.The coastal salt marsh areas contain someof the largest remaining SAV beds in Chesapeake Bay. One of the mostpronounced and reversible causes of saltmarsh habitat loss and degradation was the draining of wetlands throughparallel grid-ditching systems. Between1930 and 1940, 90% of the coastalmarshes from Maine to Virginia wereditched or drained for mosquito control.The lack of stable water levels decimated

tracts of submerged aquatic vegetation,altered the aquatic invertebrate commu-nities, lowered groundwater tables, andultimately destroyed marsh habitat essen-tial to various wetland-dependent birds.To restore grid-ditched high marshhabitat, ditches are filled to restore thenatural tidal influence and hence the highmarsh is inundated during spring andstorm tides. This encourages re-establish-ment of endemic plant communities andshallow salt marsh pools and pannes.

This area is the primary winteringground for AP Canada geese and a majorarea for American black ducks, mallards,northern pintails, American wigeon,gadwalls, green-winged teal, snow geese,and Atlantic brant. The DelmarvaPeninsula supports the last remainingpopulation of wintering redheads on the

Bay. In addition to providing importantwintering habitat, the area also supportsbreeding populations of mallards, woodducks, American black ducks, gadwall,and blue-winged teal.

The western shore is under extremedevelopment pressure, but despite thosechallenges still supports significantnumbers of breeding waterfowl, as well as wintering and staging waterfowl.Protection of key tracts of land benefitswildlife habitat and water qualitythroughout the watershed. Conservationefforts in the Upper Chesapeake Bayfocus primarily on wintering and springmigration habitat, and secondarily onbreeding habitat needs.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE

BAY

This aarea iis tthe pprimary wwinteringground ffor AAP CCanada ggeese.

Redhead

GOALto restore & protect:

11,700 acres

7C O N S E R V A T I O N in Focus

Great Lakes

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The Potomac River watershed includesWashington, D.C. and counties inPennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, andWest Virginia. It drains over 15,000square miles, contributes 20% of thefreshwater to the Chesapeake Bay, and isthe second largest contributor of nutrientsfrom agricultural runoff. The upper reach-es are characterized by an agriculture-based landscape with gradient issues thatlend themselves to private land programs,which focus on classic riparian work andwetland restoration where possible. In thispart of the watershed, habitat workindirectly affects waterfowl via waterquality in the Bay, improving SAV fordiving ducks. In the lower reaches, conser-vation activities directly affect habitat for

staging and wintering waterfowl. Severalapproaches are possible: target restorationon small freshwater wetlands on bothpublic and private lands and developmanagement regimes on old impound-ments designed for fall migrants to meetthe needs of spring migrants. Protectionof key tracts of land benefits waterfowlhabitat and water quality throughout thewatershed. The majority of efforts focuson the lower reaches.

The restoration of this watershedincreases wetland function in the lowerportion of the watershed and maintainscurrent efforts on riparian restoration inthe upper reaches. Restoration of palus-trine emergent and forested wetlands alsobenefits water quality. Restoration in the

lower reaches benefits breeding water-fowl, primarily mallards, and enhanceswintering and migratory habitat formallards, American black ducks, canvas-backs, scaup, and other diving ducks.Improvements to water quality enhancewintering habitat in the lower reaches ofthe Potomac, where waterfowl such ascanvasbacks, scaup (lesser and greater),and other divers depend on SAV andclams. In the upper reaches, Americanblack ducks and mallards benefit from the increase in palustrine emergent andforested wetlands. Breeding and migrat-ing populations of wood ducks alsoutilize restored wetlands and riparianareas.

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The Lower Chesapeake Bay focus areaencompasses the eastern and westernshores of Virginia. The James River isVirginia’s largest river and drains approxi-mately 25% of Virginia’s land base. It isthe third largest tributary to the Bay andcontributes more non-point source pollu-tion to the Bay than any other tidewaterriver. Due to the high levels of nutrientsSAV production in its tidal waters hasdecreased significantly. The watershed isalso important to Atlantic Flyway water-fowl. Its brackish and freshwater marshesprovide important wintering habitat forAP Canada geese, mallards, and Americanblack ducks. Its tidal waters provideimportant wintering habitat for canvas-backs, buffleheads, and sea ducks (mainly

surf scoters).The York River has been one of the

fastest growing tributary basins in termsof population, but drains only 6% of theland use. Despite that growth, the landuse is predominantly rural, with 70% ofthe watershed in forest, 20% in agricul-ture, and only 10% in urban use.

The Rappahannock River watersheddrains approximately 6% of the land baseand predominantly consists of forest orforested wetlands (60%) and agriculture(28%), with little urban development.However, human population growthestimates are as high as 16% for the next10 years. The lower Rappahannock Riverand its tributaries provide importantmigrating and wintering habitat for sever-

al priority waterfowl species, includingAmerican black ducks, mallards, andwood ducks. The watershed also containsa high percentage of the state’s tidal fresh-water and brackish marshes, providingwintering habitat for AP Canada geese,canvasbacks, buffleheads, and sea ducks.

All three tidewater rivers contributenon-point source pollution to the Bay.Conservation efforts focus on reducingagricultural nutrient and sediment runoffby restoring freshwater and tidal wet-lands, riparian buffers, and warm seasongrasses, which provide breeding, winter-ing, and spring staging habitat for water-fowl.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE

BAY

POTOMAC

GOALto restore & protect:

4,300 acres

GOALto restore & protect:

1,100 acres

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American BBlack DDucks

Canvasback

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9C O N S E R V A T I O N in Focus

Great Lakes

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The Susquehanna River is the largesttributary of the Chesapeake Bay, thesource of the most freshwater, and thelargest single source of nutrients to theBay. This area accounts for only 25% ofPennsylvania lands, but 46% of all farms,65% of the agricultural industry, and55% of all highly erodible cropland in the state. This area is also extremelyimportant to migratory waterfowl, andincreasingly more important to waterfowl

production in the Atlantic Flyway. Thearea is an important wintering and migration area for greater snow geese, AP Canada geese, tundra swans, andAmerican black ducks, and also supportssignificant numbers of breeding water-fowl, primarily mallards and wood ducks.Wintering birds are found predominant-ly in the river mouth, whereas springstaging birds are distributed across thelandscape.

The focus of restoration activities inthis watershed is on agricultural lands,with the primary focus on restoringmarginally wet pastures for breeding andspring staging and secondarily promotingrestoration of riparian buffers.

Restoration of larger tracts of publicland complements work on private landsto provide a mosaic of critical migratingand wintering habitat.

LOWER SUSQUEHANNA

Snow GGoose

The SSusquehanna RRiver iis tthe ssource oof tthe most ffreshwater iin tthe CChesapeake BBay.

GOALto restore & protect:

2,800 acres

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T H E U P P E R M I S S I S S I P P I R I V E R E C O S Y S T E M I N I T I A T I V E addresses the large land area that eventually drains

into the Mississippi River. Land use in the Upper Mississippi River Ecosystem is dominated by agricultural activities.

Historic wetland loss is the highest of all ecosystem initiatives in the Great Lakes/Atlantic Region. The effect of agricultural

practices on water quality of the Upper Mississippi River watershed is significant. Nutrient and sediment loads from the water-

shed, especially from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, contribute to the hypoxia problem in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the original

freshwater wetlands, riparian zones, and adjacent streams and tributaries along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers have been

disconnected from the rivers by levees and other engineering modifications. This has reduced the biological productivity of the

entire basin. Habitat restoration and protection programs in the upper reaches of the watershed significantly impact waterfowl

habitat, as well as improve water quality in the Mississippi River, and address the hypoxia problem in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Mississippi River and its tributaries provide a major migratory corridor for the Mississippi Flyway, which funnels more

waterfowl to the wintering grounds than all other flyways. This area also supports breeding populations of mallards, wood ducks,

and blue-winged teal. The primary focus is on migratory and wintering habitat with a secondary focus on breeding habitat.

U P P E R M I S S I S S I P P IR I V E R

U P P E R M I S S I S S I P P IR I V E R EEccoossyysstteemm

Vision

Illinois River

Northwest Wisconsin

Rock River

Ohio/Mississippi Confluence

Ohio Rivers

F O C U S A R E A S

L A N D S C A P E V I S I O N

The landscape vision for the Upper Mississippi River Ecosystem Initiative is to create a diverse and sustainable landscapewhich includes clean water and healthy watersheds; interconnected natural habitats and complexes of wetland types; hydrol-ogy restored to the extent possible; managed habitat where necessary to restore natural processes; and habitat of sufficientquality and quantity so to not be limiting to wintering, migrating, and breeding waterfowl populations.

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The Illinois River valley is a criticalmigratory corridor that is also used bybreeding waterfowl. The basin drains28,500 square miles and is home to over11 million people. The headwaters werehistorically dominated by tallgrass prairieinterspersed with numerous shallow,temporary wetlands. Less than 1% of theprairie remains. Human alterations of thislandscape have made the Illinois River themost degraded and threatened segment ofthe Upper Mississippi River system: lessthan 50% of the original flood plainhabitat remains and nearly all of the500,000 acre Grand Kankakee Marsh hasdisappeared. The number of mallardsmigrating through the valley hasdecreased by 65% and the number of

divers, especially lesser scaup, hasdecreased by more than 90%. Despitethese declines, 25% of all ducks in theMississippi Flyway still use the IllinoisRiver as a migratory corridor. The upperportion of the watershed has the greatestpopulation density and urban develop-ment, however the vast majority of thebasin is characterized as prime farmland.

The Illinois River focus area meetsseveral life cycle needs of waterfowl:predominantly breeding in the upperwatershed around Lake Michigan andwintering and migration habitat in themiddle and lower watershed. The produc-tion area spans Wisconsin, Illinois, andIndiana. The focus in the remainder ofthe watershed is on migration and winter-

ing habitat. Most waterfowl habitatoccurs in the middle and lower reaches ofthe Illinois River, hence conservationactivities are concentrated in these areas.DU’s approach in the middle reaches hasbeen to “fill in the corridor” by attempt-ing to provide habitat along the expanseof the river for dabbling and divingducks. These activities consist of acquisi-tion followed by restoration designed forfall migration dabbling ducks. There is agreat need to do habitat work for divingducks in both spring and fall. Restoringecological integrity to the system is theoverall focus of restoration and protectionwork in this area for both breeding andwintering/staging waterfowl.

ILLINOISRIVER

The IIllinois RRiver vvalley is aa ccritical mmigratory ccorridor that iis aalso uused bby bbreeding wwaterfowl.

Lesser SScaup

GOALto restore & protect:

96,800 acres

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The Northwest Wisconsin focus areawas historically dominated by pothole-type wetlands. However, agriculture andurban development have resulted insubstantial wetland loss, fragmentedgrasslands, and increased sediment andnutrient loading to streams and rivers. Atpresent, human population growth posesthe greatest threat to existing habitatbecause this is the fastest growing area ofthe state. This area of Wisconsin supportsrelatively high densities of breedingwaterfowl, particularly mallards, woodducks, and blue-winged teal. It alsoprovides important staging areas for 22

species of ducks, including canvasbacks,lesser and greater scaup, blue-winged teal, and American wigeon. Protected and restored wetlands and surroundingupland not only provide waterfowlnesting habitat, but also habitat forthreatened and endangered species,improve water quality, control flooding,and provide public recreational benefits.The conservation focus in NorthwestWisconsin is on protecting and restoringsmall seasonal wetlands, re-establishingnative prairie adjacent to wetlands forproduction habitat, and expanding exist-ing state and federal wildlife areas.

The Rock River watershed originatesin Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, and joinsthe Mississippi at Rock Island. Land usein the majority of the watershed is eitherlivestock operations or crop production,both of which negatively affect the waterquality of rivers, streams, and lakes in thewatershed. Approximately 90% of thewetlands in the Illinois portion of thiswatershed have been ditched, drained, or altered.

The opportunities for conservationwork and partnerships within this focusarea need to be explored. Along theMississippi River, restoration and protec-tion opportunities likely exist for migra-tion habitat, mostly inside protectivelevees. In the upper reaches of the water-shed in Boone, DeKalb, and McHenryCounties, opportunities for restoration ofbreeding habitat are possible, but not yetdeveloped.

Blue-wwinged TTeal

Gadwall

ROCK RIVER

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN

GOALto restore & protect:

4,600 acres

GOALto restore & protect:

14,300 acres

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This focus area encompasses parts of the lower Ohio, Wabash, andKaskaskia-Meramec River watersheds,and the Mississippi River. Nearly onethird of the nation’s waters drain past the confluence of the Ohio andMississippi Rivers. This area is dominat-ed by floodplain and bottomlandhardwood forest habitat associated withlarge river systems. Wetland loss in thisarea has been extreme; approximately90% have been altered by human activi-ties. Flooding and associated sedimenta-tion have caused extensive damage to thebackwater areas, replacing mast-produc-ing trees with willow and cottonwood,and destroying managed moist soil areas.The remaining floodplains of these river

systems provide a diversity of wetlandhabitat, including temporarily andseasonally flooded bottomland hard-woods that serve as traditional migrationand wintering habitat for a wide varietyof waterfowl, including blue-winged teal,green-winged teal, northern pintail,American wigeon, canvasback, scaup,Canada geese, and snow geese. Woodducks are common breeders, but mallardbreeding is limited. The focus of therestoration program revolves aroundmigration and wintering waterfowlhabitat, including seasonal wetlands andreforestation/protection of bottomlandhardwood forest habitat.

This focus area encompasses thewatersheds of the Great Miami, Scioto,and Muskingum Rivers in central andsouthern Ohio. Very little of the SciotoRiver, which flows through Columbus,remains unaltered. Channelization andthe practice of removing trees and stream-side vegetation, in addition to agricultur-al and urbanization impacts, haveresulted in water quality issues through-out the drainage. The Greater Miamiwatershed, in which Dayton is the largestcity, is dominated by agricultural landuse, hence the greatest impairment isnon-point source pollution (25% of thestreams do not meet aquatic lifestandards). The Muskingum River,

containing the only remaining system ofhand operated river locks, was originallydominated by forest, but is now heavilyagricultural based. In these watersheds,agricultural practices and urbanizationcontinue to impact the river systems.

This area supports breeding woodducks and mallards, but is primarilyimportant for wintering/staging water-fowl, such as mallards, American blackducks, and scaup. The potential forrestoration work and collaborative effortsneed to be explored, however the focus ofthe restoration program would likely beon spring staging and wintering water-fowl.

Green-wwinged TTeal

Ruddy DDuck

OHIO/MISSISSIPPI

CONFLUENCE

OHIO RIVERS

GOALto restore & protect:

14,300 acres

GOALto restore & protect:

2,500 acres

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TH E AT L A N T I C C O A S T E C O S Y S T E M stretches from the southern shores of the Delaware Bay through Maine, and

includes watersheds that drain directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Coastal and inland wetlands along the Atlantic Coast have

been recognized as an important ecological resource. Remaining tidal marsh is fairly well protected, but is severely degraded due to

past human activities such as grid-ditching and tidal restrictions due to development. These practices have resulted in altered

hydrological patterns, lowered water tables, and invasion of exotic species such as common reed (Phragmites spp.) and purple loose-

strife. Although coastal wetlands are under protection, the protection of inland wetlands is not as effective. Pressure on inland

wetlands and adjacent uplands continues to grow due to increases in human population desiring proximity to coastal areas.

The Atlantic Coast is the most populated and heavily industrialized coastal area in the world. This development trend continues

today with grave consequences for coastal habitats and the wildlife that depend upon those systems. The Atlantic Coast Ecosystem

Initiative focuses equally on migratory and wintering waterfowl needs, as well as breed-

ing objectives for mallards and American black ducks. Atlantic estuaries are a major

link in the migratory chain that stretches from South America to Canada. The major-

ity of Atlantic Flyway populations of brant, greater scaup, American black ducks, and

buffleheads winter in southern New England and the New York Bight. About one

third of the entire Atlantic Flyway population of wintering American black ducks can

be found in the New York Bight. Further, 80% of the wintering population of Atlantic

brant are found in New Jersey and Long Island, while 80% of the flyway’s snow geese

are found in Delaware Bay. The Delaware Bay is the largest spring staging area for

shorebirds on the East Coast. The most common nesting waterfowl species in this

initiative are mallards, American black ducks, and Canada geese.

Delaware Bay

New York Bight

New England

F O C U S A R E A S

AT L A N T I C C O A S TAT L A N T I C C O A S TEEccoossyysstteemm

VisionL A N D S C A P E V I S I O N

A landscape comprised of an intact, functioning coastal wetland system, includ-ing intertidal bays with SAV, mud flats, low and high marsh habitat, and uplandbuffers; watersheds that are adequately buffered to provide clean water; acontiguous ‘working’ forest, especially around riverine systems; a sustainablesystem including an agricultural and pastoral base; and a public that is knowl-edgeable of the connections between people and the environment.

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In the Delaware Bay watershed, landuse conversion and land managementpractices have resulted in widespread loss, fragmentation, and degradation ofwildlife habitat, and deterioration of the quality of water entering the bay.Coastal and riverine marshes within thisfocus area have been extensively ditchedfor mosquito control and degraded byroadways and railway lines. The DelawareBay is one of the most important winter-ing areas in North America and is a majorlink in the migratory chain which stretch-es from South America to Canada alongthe Atlantic Flyway. Management ofrestored emergent wetlands within thiswatershed will benefit migrating andwintering green-winged teal, Americanblack ducks, mallards, and northern

pintails. The amount of breeding andnesting habitat for American black ducks,mallards, and wood ducks will increase aswetlands and grassed and forested wetlandbuffers are restored. Further, the DelawareBay watershed is an important winteringarea for Atlantic population Canada geese.Canada geese, snow geese, and tundraswans will use the protected fields andrestored wetlands as wintering habitat.

Water quality in the bay is improvedby restoring wetlands and uplands across the watershed. These conservationpractices are contributing to the restora-tion of SAV beds throughout the bay. Some of the species of waterfowlbenefiting from these practices includecanvasbacks, redheads, Atlantic blackbrant, American black ducks, gadwalls,

American wigeon, and green-winged teal.In addition, down-stream changes inwater quality are improving foraginghabitat for scaup, scoters, and long-tailedducks.

The conservation focus is on habitatrestoration and improvements in thelower watershed and coastal marshes andkey sub-watersheds that influence water quality in the bay. Conservation effortsconcentrate on restoring wetland hydrol-ogy to sites by plugging drainage ditches, recreating open water habitat,constructing low-level berms, creatingshallow excavated areas, and installingwater control structures. Riparian uplandbuffers are restored to native grasses, trees,shrubs, and other habitat components.

DELAWARE BAY

The DDelaware BBay iis oone oof tthe mmostimportant wwintering aareas iin North AAmerica.

American WWigeon

GOALto restore & protect:

11,900 acres

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The Bight extends from Cape May,New Jersey, to Montauk Point, LongIsland. This focus area encompasses thelower Hudson River watershed, coastalNew Jersey, and Long Island. Long Islandand the bay shores of NJ have been exten-sively ditched for mosquito control andare heavily urbanized and industrialized.The Hudson River-NY Bight area is alsoheavily industrialized and subject toextreme social and economic pressure.

Long Island is traditionally known forits extensive network of coastal saltmarshes that provided important nesting,staging, and wintering grounds for a largenumber of migratory water birds. Most ofthe tidal wetlands were grid-ditched inthe 1930s and ’40s in an attempt tocontrol mosquito populations. Today,

despite considerable loss and degradation,Long Island marshes represent some ofthe most important wintering groundsfor waterfowl in the Atlantic Flyway.Priority species using this area includenorthern pintail, American black duck,mallard, and lesser and greater scaup.Remaining wetlands are critical to protectand restore not only because many speciesdepend on these existing habitats, butalso because conservation opportunitieswill decrease over time as population and development continue to increasethroughout Long Island.

New Jersey’s Atlantic Coastal Plaincovers 60% of southern New Jersey. Inthe east, the landscape consists of pineforests and salt marshes. New Jersey’scoast is a vital stop in the annual migra-

tion of many birds. While significantlyaltered by human land-use activities,many of these habitats are still largelyintact functioning natural communities.

Along the Atlantic Flyway, the Bightis an important pathway for migratorybirds, providing coastal and north-southcorridors that channel birds through the region. At least 75% of the historicwetlands in the area have disappeared dueto filling, alteration of shorelines, dredg-ing, and coastal development. Within theBight, areas such as Jamaica Bay WildlifeRefuge in New York and the Meadow-lands complex in New Jersey are support-ing the return of native wildlife andproviding important wetlands habitat inheavily impacted and populated areas.

NEW YORKBIGHT

Northern PPintails

Long IIsland mmarshesrepresent ssome oof tthe

most iimportant wintering ggrounds ffor

waterfowl iin tthe Atlantic FFlyway.

GOALto restore & protect:

18,100 acres

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The New England focus area encompasses parts of Rhode Island,Connecticut, Massachusetts, NewHampshire, and southern Maine, and ischaracterized by an extensive chain ofestuarine bays.

Coastal New England has undergoneremarkable human population growthand massive urban coastline developmentwhich has resulted in dramatic declines inliving resources and the large-scale lossand degradation of marine, estuarine, andfreshwater habitats. In the NorthAtlantic, only half the original marshes

remain, but many of the remainingmarshes have great potential to berestored to more productive systems. Therecreation of salt marsh and open waterhabitat, such as deeper pools and shallowpannes, will provide protective andproductive foraging areas for waterfowl,game fish, baitfish, and migrating shore-birds and wading birds. The Americanblack duck in particular depends heavilyupon salt marshes and tidal flats forfeeding and resting during migration andwintering. During migration, greaterscaup, Atlantic brant, Canada geese, and

bufflehead occur in high numbers in saltmarsh habitat.

The current habitat program focuseson enhancement of existing wetlands byrestoring hydrology that had been signifi-cantly altered through extensive ditchingfor mosquito control. Additionally, resto-ration focuses on re-establishing tidalhydrology to wetlands that have beenaltered by roadways and railway lines.Efforts to restore wetlands and associatedhabitats will be focused in the coastalareas.

NEW ENGLAND

Common EEider

In tthe NNorth AAtlantic, only hhalf tthe ooriginal mmarshes

remain.

GOALto restore & protect:

19,000 acres

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HABITAT IN FOCUSENGINEERING EXPERTISE

Survey and design (from concept to construction)

Construction management and permit assistance

Total project implementation

GIS(G E O G R A P H I C

I N F O R M AT I O N

S Y S T E M S)

Full mapping capacity

Spatial modeling

Data warehousing

BIOLOGICAL EXPERTISE& PROJECT ACCOUNTABILITY

Incorporating wetland andwildlife ecology into habitat-based project design

Habitat management services

Fiscal tracking

Project reporting

Expertise in contract compliance

Federally approved audits

Technical assistance for private landowners

FUNDRAISING

Major-donor relationships

Grant writing and administration

DU banquets

COMMUNICATIONS& OUTREACH

Internal and ExternalCommunications

Media Relations

Graphic Design

PUBLIC POLICY

Wetland & Conservation Policy

Education of Legislators

Action Alerts

Conservation Action

PLANNING &RESEARCH

Design and implementresearch

Monitoring and evaluation

Identify, develop, and apply data

DU has diverse expertise and a suite of professional servicesavailable to get the job done!

DU expertise covers a wide variety of fields required forefficient and effective wetland and upland habitat restorationand protection. Expertise and services include biological expert-ise, project accountability, research, GIS, engineering, publicpolicy, communications, outreach, and fundraising.

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BIOLOGICAL EXPERTISE & PROJECTACCOUNTABILITY

DU biologists are skilled practitioners of applied scienceand experienced in providing workable solutions for almostevery situation, resulting in successful habitat restoration,enhancement, and protection which will benefit wildlifeand people well into the future. The diverse but comple-mentary skills found among the biological staff are wellknown and reflect the intricacy of the ecosystems in whichDU works: from inland and fresh water coastal wetlands,to native grass and riparian areas, to coastal salt marsh andbrackish wetland habitat.

It is the task of the biological staff to identify projectopportunities, secure adequate funding, and develop andmaintain the partnerships needed to complete thoseprojects. To ensure the success of DU programs, biologistsare backed by science-based applied research and planning,to focus DU’s efforts where they will do the most good forwaterfowl conservation. They are further supported byengineering design and construction management to makesure projects are built appropriately. Administrative supportis provided to ensure that accounting, contracting, report-ing, communications, and coordination are top notch.

DU biologists are knowledgeable about wetland andwaterfowl ecology, with an understanding of the habitatvalues provided by different types of wetlands and howthose wetlands can meet the varying life cycle needs of

waterfowl. Biologists meet with landowners and managersto evaluate wetland restoration or enhancement opportuni-ties and provide technical assistance recommendations onwetland management and conservation. These recommen-dations can address restoration or enhancement of degrad-ed wetlands and associated upland habitat, managementactivities to increase the value of wetland and associatedupland habitat, control of invasive plant species, andoptions for long term protection of sites.

DU biologists also play a key role in developing signifi-cant funding sources through grants from public sourcesand are a part of the team supporting major donor and foundation fundraising efforts. Public funding sources are effectively leveraged with other sources of DUfunds to expand habitat programs. Preparing proposals and administering grants, especially those from the NorthAmerican Wetlands Conservation Act, is a significantservice that DU provides to its partners.

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BIOLOGICAL EXPERTISE:Ducks Unlimited biologists combine administrative and biological expertise inthe planning and delivery of on-the-ground habitat restoration projects.Incorporating wildlife ecology into habitat-based project design and providingwetland restoration management services are just some of the skills and servicesoffered by DU biologists.

PROJECT ACCOUNTABILITY:Ducks Unlimited has a team of professional employees dedicated to making surethat fiscal tracking, project reporting, contract compliance, and approved auditsare accomplished. Ducks Unlimited utilizes a tool called CONSERV for trackingproject progress and accounting practices ensuring maximum quality control.

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Ducks Unlimited’s public policyefforts are directed towards the conserva-tion of wetland and waterfowl habitat.The approach is science-based, and focus-es on long term needs of waterfowl andthe habitats they require. DU’s preferenceis to promote voluntary, incentive-basedsolutions that reward citizens andlandowners for taking the correct actionto conserve habitat. Occasionally DUembarks on regulatory solutions whenvoluntary incentives may not bring about

the desired wetland protections. DU’slong history, membership in excess of600,000, presence in every state, andscience-based, balanced approach hasmade Ducks Unlimited a respectedpresence in Washington, D.C. and instate capitols across the country. Publicpolicy efforts by Ducks Unlimited havecontributed greatly to DU’s conservationaccomplishments in North America. Theconservation provisions of the Farm Bill and North American Wetlands

Conservation Act are two of the primeexamples of public policy efforts that have impacted waterfowl habitat through-out the continent. Specific policy issueswithin the region include Great Lakesrestoration, Solid Waste Agency ofNorthern Cook County (SWANCC),wetland protection and permitting issues,state wildlife and wetland issues, statelicense plates, and duck stamps.

ENGINEERING

PUBLIC POLICY

PUBLIC POLICY:GLARO’s habitat conservation efforts are also advanced through the Public Policyarena. In the GLARO, Ducks Unlimited has a Director of Public Policy who workswith DU’s Washington Office, members of Congress and their staff to advance wetlandsand waterfowl conservation. Ducks Unlimited’s public policy efforts also occur on statelevel.

GLARO engineering is sought afterfor its expertise, innovation, ability, andefficiency when delivering all formallycontracted restoration projects. A uniqueworking relationship between DU biolo-gists and DU engineers focus on programbuilding and diversity in design anddelivery.

GLARO engineering has lent itsexpertise to a variety of partners, includ-ing federal agencies (USFWS, USDA,ACOE, NOAA, NFWF, EPA, USPS,USFS), state agencies (DNR, DOT,counties, towns), non-profit organiza-tions (TNC, TCF, PF), and privateconsultants. The diversity of GLARO’s

engineering skills are reflected in thevariety of projects completed: from thetraditional wetland restoration/enhance-ment, to constructed wetlands for waste-water treatment, public access includingroads, handicap fishing pier, bridges, boatramps, and mitigation restorations.

ENGINEERING:Ducks Unlimited engineers provide innovative and state-of-the-art engineering servicesto assist with habitat-based project designs. The restoration projects designed by DU’sengineers enhance and refine the function and maintenance of wetlands and theirassociated habitat. Working together, DU’s team of engineers, surveyors, and construc-tion managers offers survey and design services from concept to construction, permitassistance, construction management, and implementation.

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SCIENCE-BASED APPLIED RESEARCH

GIS: GE O G R A P H I C A L IN F O R M AT I O N SY S T E M S

GLARO GIS supports, facilitates, and enables science-based conservationplanning and delivery through datadevelopment and warehousing, spatialanalysis, and customized tools andmodels. DU staff is knowledgeable inmany aspects of GIS including: remotesensing techniques, geodatabase designand development, programming, spatial

modeling, and cartographic design.Mapping and display capabilities helpDU biologists and their partners planrestoration activities and communicateeffectively with landowners. GLAROGIS is involved in a variety of projects,including: assessment of biological dataand priority modeling to develop focusareas, modeling of spatial distribution of

specified bird groups, all-bird planning,unique data development and revisions,new remote sensing technologies forbiological purposes, and internet basedtool development for decision makingprocesses.

Science-based applied research is anintegral part of conservation planning,but more importantly functions toidentify information gaps and uncertain-ties in program delivery. Subsequently,research is responsible for designingstudies to acquire the necessary data tomake informed decisions and enable the design of appropriate conservationprograms to meet the needs of waterfowlspecies throughout the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and North Atlantic states.

The overriding and long-term objec-tive for DU’s regional research is toobtain the information necessary todevelop habitat goals that are linked tothe population goals of the NorthAmerican Waterfowl Management Plan.GLARO research is uniquely poised to design, implement, and analyzelandscape level projects by formingpartnership networks to deliver theprograms. Partnerships with universityprofessionals, Joint Ventures, federal

agencies, state agencies, and other non-profits are essential to the success of suchlarge scale projects. Landscape levelresearch initiatives designed to improvehabitat delivery target all phases of theannual cycle (breeding, spring staging,and wintering), focus on a variety ofwaterfowl species, and often include anall-bird component.

SCIENCE-BASED, APPLIED RESEARCH:Several studies are currently underway to determine if current landscapes are providingenough food resources for wintering and spring migrating waterfowl: Long Island, NY,Meadowlands, NJ, Chesapeake Bay, and the Great Lakes states.

GIS:Mallard breeding research in the Great Lakes and the development of an internet-basedDecision Support System (DSS) through GIS technology, called Habitat EvaluationNetwork (HEN) identifies areas for restoration activities that optimize mallard produc-tivity and carrying capacity and enable biologists to custom design restoration plans bylandscape.

http://glaro.ducks.org/glhen.htm

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GLARO’S COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMOFFERS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

Provide recognition and raise community awareness forfinancial gifts from corporations, foundations, privatedonors, and other conservation partners

Write and distribute press releases

Write and distribute media alerts

Pitch story ideas

Media relations with outlets across 18 GreatLakes/Atlantic states

Design and print all GLARO communication tools(brochures, one-sheets/flyers, posters, tabletop displays,quarterly reports, web site updates, etc.)

Coordinate media/PR events/media camps for thepurpose of creating awareness for DU and its partners

Support other conservation/environmental organiza-tions by attending their events and assisting with presscoverage

Access to large, targeted media lists via Vocus PR

Program

Coordinate press interviews with key staff and projectpartners in assisting reporters achieve the maximumstory

Write magazine articles

Work with partnering agencies on the media aspect ofproject/land dedications

COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH

OUTREACH:GLARO has a full-scale communications program designed to create awareness ofconservation activities and issues among key audiences as well as the generalpublic. This host of services is viewed as a valuable asset when partnering withother organizations on media/PR events and issues. The graphic design and in-house printing of communication tools is also appealing to partners when jointlypromoting a program or event.

SOME EXAMPLES OF EVENTS WITH DUPARTICIPATION:

Writers Camps/Project Press Tours

Outdoor Classroom Education Programs

Southeast Michigan Water Week

Marsh Monitor Volunteer Program

Youth Hunts

Coordination of Interpretive Signage

Bass Pro Shop Youth Day

Partnership Project Dedications and Tributes

Partnership Hunts

Research Study Kick off Media Blitzes

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23C O N S E R V A T I O N in Focus

Great Lakes

Chesapeake Bay

Upper M

ississippiAtlantic C

oast

The necessary fuel to drive the DU conservation engineis money. Ducks Unlimited has over 20,000 volunteers,coordinated by a staff of Regional Directors, who help raisemoney for wetland conservation by conducting fund-raising events throughout the country. Most of this fundingis used to support our conservation programs in theCanadian breeding grounds. A small portion of this is usedto fund operations of the GLARO and conservation effortswithin the Great Lakes/Atlantic Region. Funding derivedfrom major donors and private foundations is an especiallycritical ingredient to GLARO conservation efforts. Theseprivate dollars are raised by our major donor fundraisingstaff (Directors of Development) and provide the critical

program funding needed to create, sustain, and ultimatelyexpand conservation programs within key focus areas. Theother major source of funding is the leveraged dollarssecured by conservation staff. Mostly derived from publicgrants and conservation partnerships, these public fundspay for the bulk of our conservation efforts. It is notuncommon for DU funds to be leveraged 4 to 1 or morethrough these sources. The conservation staff of theGLARO play a key role in securing funding and support-ing the efforts of our Regional Directors and Directors ofDevelopment to raise the dollars needed to meet DU’sconservation goals.

FUNDING

FUNDING:The ability of Ducks Unlimited to restore and protect crucial habitat is directlylinked to the financial resources available to complete this work. Philanthropicgifts from private individuals and foundations augmented by grants from publicsources and supporting contributions from conservation partners enables DU topursue its conservation mission.

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CONTACTS

DirectorROBERT HOFFMAN, PHD

Director of Conservation PlanningTINA YERKES, PHD

Director of Public PolicyGILDO TORI

Director of Conservation ServicesDENNIS MCDONOUGH

Director of Conservation Programs, Great LakesDAVID BRAKHAGE

Manager of Conservation Programs, Mid-AtlanticGRACE BOTTITTA

Director of Conservation Programs, North AtlanticRAY WHITTEMORE

CREDITSSeveral photographs in this publication used courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

331 Metty Dr., Suite 4Ann Arbor, MI 48103

734.623.2000www.ducks.org

GREAT LAKES/ATLANTIC REGIONAL OFFICE

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331 Metty Dr., Suite 4Ann Arbor, MI 48103

734.623.2000www.ducks.org

GREAT LAKES/ATLANTIC REGIONAL OFFICE