The Latest Threat to Wetlands and Waterfowl

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, well, you know how it goes. And the same can be said about the seriousness of an issue if the entirety of the duck hunting community is riled up about it all at the same time.

That’s exactly what we have today, with news of a serious threat to North America’s “Duck Factory” lighting up social media feeds all across the nation.

So what exactly is happening?

On July 24th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a public comment period regarding a 2024 rule that regulates the drainage of wetlands protected by voluntary easements throughout the renowned Prairie Pothole Region. According to an August 4th Ducks Unlimited Insider Brief, another document was recently published by the USFWS signaling the agency’s clear intent to repeal the rule altogether.

The specifics of the rule are related to the agricultural practice of “tiling”—but for the sake of simplicity, what this means is that more than 1.5 million acres of protected wetlands across the Northern Great Plains could soon become subject to increased drainage—potentially impacting ducks, duck hunters, and myriad other forms of wildlife.

The news has incited widespread concern from across the waterfowl community. The issue has already collected more than 45,000 public comments—despite a notably expedited comment period of only 14 days. Of further note, the nation’s most prominent waterfowl conservation organizations—including Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and others—have united to send a joint letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Republican lawmakers warning of the risks that any such changes could have. Per that letter:

“Our members — primarily hunters and anglers — have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in these easements through private philanthropy and Duck Stamp purchases to conserve prairie wetlands. Any action that facilitates wetland drainage would disregard those investments, leading to fewer wetlands, fewer ducks, and the erosion of our hunting heritage.

We respectfully urge you to maintain the 60 years of precedent and uphold the USFWS’s commitment to protecting publicly funded, voluntary conservation easements, critical wildlife habitat, and America’s outdoor traditions.”

If you too would like to lend your voice to this important cause, the public comment period is still open but closes soon at 11:59 PM EDT on August 7. Click here to submit your comment and then enjoy the rest of our conservation news round-up below.

- Mark Kenyon

From MeatEater

Now Is the Time to Speak Up for Wetlands
For those who want more insight into the already mentioned threat to the wetlands and waterfowl of the Prairie Pothole Region.

Oregon Proposal to Ban Hunting, Fishing, and More Fails to Make Ballot
Oregon’s IP28, a radical proposal aimed at criminalizing hunting, fishing, livestock farming, and more by removing animal-cruelty exemptions, failed to secure enough valid signatures to reach the November ballot. But organizers openly admit they view this as part of a decades-long strategy to build a foundation for similar initiatives in the future.

Record-Low Water Levels Spur New Colorado River Management Plan
On July 31, the Bureau of Reclamation released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the future management of the Colorado River through Lake Powell and Lake Mead. This 10-year plan will replace the 2007 operating guidelines currently in effect.

From Across The Web

The Public Land Comment Hub
Our friends at onX have compiled a terrific new tool that can help you keep track of proposals and changes that might impact the public landscapes you care most about and then participate in active comment periods. - onX

Fishing Closures Expand As Record Heat Warms Rivers in the US West
Record heat, low winter snowpack, and persistent drought are driving river temperatures across the West past lethal thresholds for trout, resulting in catch-and-release fishing closures at a previously unmatched scale—including a first-ever voluntary fishing closure across major rivers in Wyoming and wide-scale “hoot owl” restrictions in Colorado, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park. - AP NEWS

Montana Cuts Wolf Population Estimates and Harvest Quota
Montana recently released updated wolf population estimates, including data from a new model that drops the state's estimated wolf population significantly and has resulted in a much reduced harvest quota for the upcoming season. In related wolf hunting news, a famed Yellowstone wolf pack has relocated outside of the park, leading to a widely decried $10,000 “bounty” being placed on the identity of anyone who harvests one of those wolves. - Bozeman Daily Chronicle

$200M Fund Launched to Restore Threatened Species
A new fund was announced this week, called the Phoenix Species Project, with plans to invest $200 million into efforts to restore 100 specific threatened animals and plants. The project claims to be the “largest single philanthropic initiative dedicated exclusively to recovering critically endangered species across continents.” - Yahoo