Ducks Unlimited Conservation

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

04/30/2026

Real progress. Real impact. Ducks Unlimited is achieving unprecedented conservation results, powered by a landmark donation from Cox Enterprises.

With this support, DU has conserved more than 80,000 acres of high-quality waterfowl habitat in just two years in the Prairie Pothole Region—one of the most important ecosystems for waterfowl, wildlife, and people.

In 2024, Cox Enterprises announced a $100M commitment to DU’s Wetlands America Trust, in honor of DU’s most generous individual donor and longtime volunteer, Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. This transformational philanthropic investment was designed to be rapidly deployed to conserve prairie wetlands and grasslands for future generations.

Often called North America’s “Duck Factory”, the Prairie Pothole Region spans nearly 500,00 square miles across the U.S. and Canada, supporting more than half of the continent’s breeding waterfowl each year. Millions of shallow wetlands scattered across these grasslands provide the food, water, and cover ducks need to nest and raise broods—while also improving water quality and storing floodwaters—making this landscape essential to both waterfowl populations and communities.

We are full speed ahead, aiming to push beyond the ambitious conservation goal set with this bold contribution, delivering results that will stand the test of time. Every acre conserved brings us closer to ensuring the prairies remain productive, vibrant, and accessible, today and forever.

We’re not across the finish line yet, but the impact is already being felt on the ground.

04/29/2026

Our CEO, Adam Putnam, took the stage at U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef's General Assembly last week to deliver a keynote on the intersection of policy and sustainability in this industry. As the future of beef production evolves, collaboration between cattle producers and conservationists has never been more important.

04/02/2026

DU welcomed Syngenta US team members to California's San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive and water-challenged agricultural regions in the country, as part of their employee engagement program. The goal: see on-the-ground how agriculture and habitat can thrive together.

From restored wetlands on Joseph Gallo Farms that help growers navigate SGMA water requirements while providing seasonal wetland habitats for waterbirds; to Billy Grissom's cattle ranch that incorporates managed grazing and small berms that recharge groundwater and capture runoff that attract migratory birds; to DU's water efficiency projects at Merced National Wildlife Refuge — every stop showed the same truth: smart conservation delivers for wildlife, for farmers, and for water.

We're proud to have partners like Syngenta who get it. Here's to more boots on the ground and water on the landscape!

02/19/2026

02/19/2026

DU’s work will restore and enhance 805 acres of vital wetland and upland habitat in New York’s Montezuma Wetland Complex and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area near the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.

To read more, click the link below:

https://www.ducks.org/newsroom/ducks-unlimited-awarded-12-million-water-quality-improvement-project-grant-for-wetland-restoration-in-new-york--

10/22/2025

Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam recently joined the Cox Conserves Conservation Panel to discuss the impact of the Cox Enterprises $100M investment in the prairies. This isn't just about dollars. It's about transforming critical prairie habitat that serves as a lush and productive ecosystem of wetlands and grasslands, and a critical breeding ground for millions of ducks and geese. When conservation meets this level of commitment, real change happens, and we are thankful to our partnership with CEI and the James M. Cox Foundation.

08/20/2025

The Port Fourchon Terrace and Living Shoreline Project exemplifies how innovative restoration techniques can address multiple challenges simultaneously. By combining traditional earthen terrace construction with living shoreline technology, the project provides marsh stability, ensures healthy wetland presence on the landscape, and offers a replicable model for coastal resilience.

The Port Fourchon Terrace and Living Shoreline Project exemplifies how innovative restoration techniques can address multiple challenges simultaneously. By combining traditional earthen terrace construction with living shoreline technology, the project provides marsh stability, ensures healthy wetla...