Ducks Unlimited Conservation

08/24/2026

Habitat Highlight: Verona Tract, Trautman Restoration Project

Ducks Unlimited is restoring 160 acres at the Verona Tract in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin, a critical migration stopover that supports more than 8 million birds each year. The project is part of a larger conservation effort that has protected more than 1,300 acres of wetlands and uplands adjacent to the Verona Waterfowl Production Area.

Restoration efforts include removing excess sediment, filling drainage pits, and reestablishing native prairie to restore natural wetland functions. These improvements are bringing back valuable ephemeral wetlands that provide food, water, and resting habitat for migrating birds while strengthening the overall health of the Rainwater Basin ecosystem.

08/17/2026

More than 219,000 people responded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's request for input on setback requirements for drain tile around wetland easements, sending a clear message that protecting wetlands matters.

This is what happens when hunters, conservationists, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, and dedicated partners come together with one voice: a win for wetlands, waterfowl, and the future of conservation.

Thank you to everyone who took action and made their voice heard!

Your voices, our industry partners and the grassroots action have made this success possible. -Adam Putnam, Ducks Unlimited CEO

07/02/2026

DU was proud to join agriculture, conservation, business, and government partners at the Great Outdoors Foundation conference to discuss innovative approaches to watershed health, water quality, and resilient working lands.

DU's senior director of agriculture and strategic partnerships, Billy Gascoigne, joined a panel to share insights on the evolving landscape of conservation funding and what it means for producers and market-based solutions.

By sharing our expertise and learning alongside other conservation and industry leaders, we're working together to help advance strategies that create healthier watersheds for generations to come.

06/29/2026

Ducks Unlimited was proud to participate in "The Ogallala Tour: As Goes Kansas, So Goes the World" in western Kansas earlier this month, where producers, researchers, conservation organizations, businesses, and community leaders came together to discuss the future of agriculture and water in the Ogallala region.

DU biologist, Abe Lollar, highlighted our work on playa restoration. Playas are one of the primary sources of groundwater recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer. Alongside forage management, water recycling, and irrigation efficiency, grassland and playa conservation can support both productive farms and healthy water resources across this working landscape.

The Ogallala is often discussed in terms of decline and depletion, but this tour was a reminder that it represents opportunity. The day reinforced an important takeaway: the future of the Ogallala Aquifer depends on collaboration. By working together, we can help sustain agriculture, wildlife habitat, and rural communities for generations to come. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped move the conservation conversation forward.

06/16/2026

ICYMI: Ducks Unlimited Park at Big River Crossing was featured on FOX13 Memphis this May in celebration of American Wetlands Month! If you’re exploring downtown Memphis, don’t miss the chance to stop by and check it out just across the river in West Memphis!

06/15/2026

Habitat Highlight: DU's Flyway Forests

Forests and wetlands work hand in hand, and when we restore trees to the landscape, we’re improving habitat and protecting water quality, all while supporting the future of waterfowl.

Through programs like Flyway Forests, we’re working with landowners across the Lower Mississippi River Valley to restore bottomland hardwood forests and reviving landscapes that store carbon, reduce flooding, and provide critical habitat for wildlife. These hardwood forests are nature’s multitaskers, offering food and shelter for countless species while strengthening the health of nearby wetlands and waterways.

Reforestation isn’t just about planting trees; it’s about restoring balance to the land and creating places where waterfowl and other wildlife can thrive.

06/01/2026

Habitat Highlight: The ACE Basin

The ACE Basin is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast, spanning over a million acres of rivers, marshes, wetlands, and working lands. It is a globally significant landscape, providing critical habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, fish, and countless other species, while also protecting water quality and buffering coastal communities from flooding.

Across the South Atlantic, Ducks Unlimited holds 226 conservation easements, with 46 right here in the ACE Basin. These voluntary agreements keep land in private ownership, allowing farming, forestry, and recreation to continue while permanently protecting the habitat.

Together, these easements safeguard nearly 189,000 acres, conserving the rice fields, forests, and tidal marshes that define the Lowcountry and support its wildlife and culture.

By partnering with landowners, DU is helping ensure the ACE Basin remains wild, resilient, and thriving, for waterfowl and other wildlife, for communities, and for generations to come.

05/27/2026

Recently, in the Klamath Basin, Ducks Unlimited was proud to bring together an incredible group of partners—donors, volunteers, staff, UC Davis researchers, local farmers, and the Klamath Tribes—to collaborate around a shared vision: restoring and reconnecting this cornerstone of the Pacific Flyway.

A powerful example of that collaboration is happening at Lakeside Farms, where landowner Karl Wenner is hosting important research. At the heart of his property, a permanent wetland and pond are home to a new DU and UC Davis study on endangered shortnose and Lost River sucker fish. By examining how these fish grow and survive in wetland habitats, among native wetland vegetation, researchers and partners are uncovering the conditions needed to support meaningful recovery while improving wetlands that support waterfowl and the broader ecosystem.

This is exactly what partnership looks like: working lands, science, and conservation coming together to benefit fish, waterfowl, and people.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their time, knowledge, and passion. This is just the beginning of something bigger, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Photos: Janice Tsao, Brian Novick, and Aubrey Hancock

05/18/2026

Habitat Highlight: Revere Wildlife Area Enhancement Project

Ducks Unlimited, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a private landowner partnered to restore more than 67 acres of wetlands and uplands in Whitman County, Washington. By reshaping wetlands to create a variety of water depths, the team improved habitat quality, water access, and plant diversity.

Today, the project supports a wide range of wildlife, including waterfowl, deer, amphibians, and pollinators. Restoration efforts also enhanced native uplands and expanded public access for recreation and hunting.

This work was made possible through strong partnerships and strategic funding. Ducks Unlimited secured support through the USFWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Program, while WDFW contributed funding through the Migratory Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation (Duck Stamp) Program.

05/18/2026

House of Representatives passes Farm Bill for the first time since 2018. The Farm Bill’s voluntary and incentive-based conservation programs are the largest single federal source of funding for private land conservation and are essential to DU’s mission. Read more: https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/house-of-representatives-passes-bipartisan-farm-bill-1