Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Region

10/07/2026

Late last month, conservation professionals from across the country gathered in Minnesota for the 2026 Private Lands Partners Day, hosted by Partnerscapes.
Day 2 took us into the heart of Minnesota’s Prairie Pothole Region, visiting working farms and ranches where landowners are partnering with Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other conservation organizations to restore wetlands and grasslands while keeping their agricultural operations productive.
From cattle pastures and restored prairie to the birthplace of one of the nation’s earliest private lands wetland restoration efforts and a working bison ranch, each stop offered a different look at what voluntary conservation can accomplish on private land.
Here are a few scenes from a day spent with the farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners putting habitat on the ground across western Minnesota.

10/06/2026

More than $6.7 million is headed toward wetland conservation in Michigan.
A newly approved North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant, combined with partner contributions, will support the conservation of more than 3,100 acres across the Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie corridor.
From protecting and restoring wetlands to enhancing habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, this investment continues years of collaborative conservation across the region.
Learn more:

NAWCA funding and partner contributions will conserve more than 3,100 acres from Saginaw Bay to western Lake Erie

10/04/2026

Timely waterfowl updates from DU experts.

09/29/2026

What does it take to restore a coastal marsh?
At Connecticut’s Hammock River Estuary, Ducks Unlimited and our partners are working to restore 185 acres of salt marsh by addressing decades of restricted tidal flow.
The project will improve habitat for species including American black ducks, saltmarsh sparrows, and clapper rails while also helping reduce flooding impacts for the surrounding community.
Our new StoryMap takes you inside the project, from the challenges facing the marsh to the engineering and partnerships helping restore it.
Explore the Hammock River Estuary project:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a4f0780e4907417faaad80f7f576b7ce

09/28/2026

A major wetland restoration project in Missouri is ready to welcome the public back.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced that Schell-Osage Conservation Area will reopen Oct. 3 following completion of a large-scale renovation in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.
The project upgraded aging infrastructure, improved water-management capabilities, and enhanced wetland and aquatic habitat. Its completion also marks the final project in MDC’s 20-year Golden Anniversary Wetland Initiative, which has helped modernize some of Missouri’s oldest wetland conservation areas.
We’re proud to partner with MDC on conservation work that will benefit waterfowl, wildlife, and people for years to come.
Read more about the project and reopening:

Public invited to re-opening on Oct. 3 and dedication on Oct. 14.

09/28/2026

A rainy morning couldn’t dampen the celebration at Gleam Wildlife Management Area near Truman, Minnesota.
On Sept. 19, Ducks Unlimited supporters, conservation partners, and community members gathered to celebrate the transformation of a once-small, landlocked WMA into nearly 300 acres of permanently protected wetland and prairie habitat.
The $2.2 million conservation effort restored more than 51 acres of wetlands, established native prairie habitat, improved public access, and created a place already being used by ducks, swans, cranes, prairie birds, and even river otters.
It’s a great example of what can happen when local conservation groups, DU supporters, state agencies, and other partners work together to put habitat on the ground.
Read the full story and see more from the dedication:
https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/ducks-unlimited-partners-celebrate-transformation-of-gleam-wildlife-management-area

09/26/2026

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, won the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his stunning acrylic painting of a pair of long-tailed ducks. This marks Hautman’s fourth Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest victory.

Chosen from 331 entries, the winning artwork was selected during the two-day competition hosted by Ducks Unlimited at its National Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee.

The winning artwork will appear on the 2027-2028 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Federal Duck Stamp.

Learn more: https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/2026-federal-duck-stamp-winner-announced-during-annual-national-contest-at-ducks-unlimited-headquarters

Photo: The winner of the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, with an acrylic painting of a long-tailed duck pair. © Robert Hautman, used with permission.

09/26/2026

Mississippi Flyway Migration Alert: Fall is settling into the Great Lakes Region, and ducks are starting to show up across the area. With habitat conditions varying from state to state, all eyes are on the weather and what the next push could bring. Head to the link below to read the latest migration alert!

https://www.ducks.org/hunting/migration-alerts/migration-alert-upper-great-lakes-hunters-prepare-to-kick-off-duck-season

Brought to you by: Kent Cartridge

📷: Phil Kahnke

09/19/2026

A little rain isn’t going to stop us!

We’re getting ready for this morning’s dedication of Gleam Wildlife Management Area near Truman, Minnesota, celebrating a great example of conservation through partnership.

Working together, Ducks Unlimited, the Fox Lake Conservation League, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, The Conservation Fund, major donors, and other partners helped expand Gleam WMA to 293 acres, restore more than 51 acres of wetlands, and secure these lands for permanent protection, wildlife habitat, and public access.

The chairs are set, the flags are flying, and we’re about to get started. Stay tuned for more from Gleam WMA!

09/14/2026

A new approach to wetland conservation is taking shape in New York.

Ducks Unlimited is helping renewable energy developers meet wetland mitigation requirements while restoring and protecting important habitat. Through DU’s New York In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program, development and conservation can move forward together—with lasting benefits for wetlands, wildlife, and communities.

Learn more about the program and what it means for conservation in New York:

https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/ducks-unlimited-offers-wetland-mitigation-solution-for-new-york-renewable-energy-projects