MDWFP Receives Silver State Grant Award from DU

[Chad Manlove]

Ducks Unlimited Honors the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Mississippi’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks received a Silver State Grant Award from Ducks Unlimited at their July Commission meeting.

Ducks Unlimited presents State Grant Awards to state fish and wildlife agencies that have reached significant milestones in their contributions to conserve waterfowl breeding habitat in priority areas of Canada. The Commission received the award in recognition of the Department’s contributions of more than $500,000 to Ducks Unlimited since 1977 in support of habitat conservation activities on the Canadian breeding grounds.

Eddie Rogers, State Chairman for Ducks Unlimited in Mississippi and Jack Moss, at-large member of DU’s Board of Directors, presented the award. “The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has made a significant, positive difference in conserving North America’s waterfowl habitats,” said Rogers. “It is both a privilege and a pleasure to recognize such outstanding partners in conservation.”

Noble Lee, newly elected Chairman of MDWFP Commission and Dr. Sam Polles, Executive Director of MDWFP, accepted the award on behalf of the Department. “Since 1977, the Ducks Unlimited partnership with our state agency has conserved hundreds of thousands of acres of wetlands and other vital waterfowl habitat in the primary waterfowl nesting areas of Saskatchewan, Canada,” Lee said. “We are proud to accept this award from an organization that achieves, real on-the-ground conservation. The net result is better hunting, better birding, and healthier prairie ecosystems.”

At the same meeting, the Commission voted unanimously to increase the Department’s funding in support of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Eastern Saskatchewan Parklands Program to $75,000 annually. This is a 25% increase from last year and a 250% increase since 2001. The Commission’s action is significant and solidifies their longtime support of Ducks Unlimited’s waterfowl and wetland conservation activities in Prairie Canada.

Ducks Unlimited matches the Department’s contribution dollar-for-dollar, and uses the combined amount to leverage an equivalent U.S. federal grant under the provisions of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, resulting in a minimum four-fold match on the Department’s contribution by the time those funds hit the ground in Saskatchewan.

This past year, the Commission’s $60,000 contribution translated into more than $240,000 of habitat conservation activities in Saskatchewan’s Eastern Parklands, enabling Ducks Unlimited and their partners to conserve over 37,000 acres of waterfowl nesting habitat in prairie Canada.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation group. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands – nature’s most productive ecosystems – and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year.

[dukbum]

did you notice that wut nuten said about doing anything for MS? all up north i know thats where we need to start..... but wut about good ole MS? just my 2cents.....

[Chad Manlove]

did you notice that wut nuten said about doing anything for MS? all up north i know thats where we need to start..... but wut about good ole MS? just my 2cents.....

Plenty of good work.....Here's what DU completed in good ole Mississippi last year.....

Mississippi Conservation Report 2004

The following is a summary of fiscal year 2004 (July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004) conservation activities in Mississippi. Ducks Unlimited conserved over 13,000 acres of waterfowl habitat through a variety of conservation practices including donated conservation easements, private lands enhancement, and public lands restoration projects.

Conservation Easements: Ducks Unlimited secured 6 perpetual conservation easements in Mississippi last year, totaling 6,107 acres. Through June 30, 2004, DU has protected 49,318 acres of forested wetlands via donated conservation easements in Mississippi. Conservation easements can meet the needs of interested owners of working farms, ranches, timberlands, sporting properties, and recreational lands, who wish to protect valuable natural resources while retaining ownership of the property. A perpetual conservation easement allows a landowner to protect key natural habitats of a property while continuing to use the area for economic gain or recreation.

Mississippi Private Lands Projects: DU biologists responsible for the Mississippi Partners Project and 319 private lands program have placed 4,028 acres of agricultural land under management agreement. The objective of the Mississippi Partners Project is to return waterfowl to the breeding grounds physically conditioned for maximum reproductive success. Managing off-season agricultural fields as waterfowl habitat offers good food resources for migrating and wintering birds with direct benefits to landowners. Technical assistance and financial incentives are available to landowners interested in improving the status of waterfowl and the quality of wetlands on their property. Project sponsors include: Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Dept. Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Delta Wildlife, Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Private Landowners.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): Since 1997, Ducks Unlimited has assisted the USDA-NRCS with reforestation and hydrology restoration activities in Mississippi. Our engineering staff worked diligently throughout the year to complete topographic surveys and wetland designs on numerous private landowners enrolled in WRP. Hydrology restoration measures were completed on approximately 1,799 acres, thus providing valuable moist-soil habitats for wintering waterfowl. The Wetlands Reserve Program in Mississippi emphasizes the restoration and protection of bottomland hardwood forest ecosystems, thus providing critical habitat for many wildlife species including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and waterfowl.

O’Keefe WMA: Ducks Unlimited was awarded more than $650,000 in North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant funds to restore and enhance 1,535 acres of critical habitat on O’Keefe WMA. DU and MDWFP will lead restoration efforts to improve foraging habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wildlife at O’Keefe WMA. This project was designed and engineered by DU last year. Phase I of this project was completed last summer (1,116 acres). Inspections of enhanced sites during and after water-level management revealed that all design components performed as expected. The second (and final) phase of development is under construction, and will focus on agricultural field enhancements. Once finished (summer 2004), the capacity of this wetland complex to attract and hold waterfowl during winter will be greatly improved—providing the potential for additional public hunting opportunities.

Mahannah WMA: Ducks Unlimited engineers were contracted to survey and design 7 wetland impoundments on Mahannah WMA. Development of these units was completed last fall (prior to the waterfowl season), which resulted in restoration of 772 acres of waterfowl habitat. Levees and water control structures were inspected throughout the winter and were performing as designed. This project was a collaborative effort between the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Ducks Unlimited. Habitat restoration efforts will provide valuable foraging habitat for wintering waterfowl, while also providing additional hunting opportunities.

For more information related to conservation programs in Mississippi, please contact Chris Cole, Director of Conservation Programs, 601.206.5446 (ccole@ducks.org)

[Dutch Dog]

Question. The 2 public lands listed...were these things done to areas that are deemed "rest" areas? In my opinion there are ENOUGH rest areas. If these things were done to provide habitat as well as hunting opportunities then good job...if not then you aren't doing yourself any favors in the minds eye of "hunters". Providing nesting habitat is what we as hunters don't mind, but when rest areas are provided from Canada to Mexico that tease hunters with literally thousands upon thousands of ducks swimming around close enough to the road to hit with a rock in a safe-haven after having a piss-poor hunt is like a slap in the face. With all the negativity that has come to light in the past years towards DU, things such as this are what adds fuel to the fire so to speak.

[Dutch Dog]

Another thing I should have added to the previous post. Why would I, as a hunter, want to donate my money to an organization that splits its monies between nesting areas and "safe havens" up and down the flyway. It seems as if I would be helping to pay a place for the ducks to go so that I CAN'T shoot them (rest areas, refuges, safe havens etc). It is completely contradictory (sp??) to my agenda which is being able to shoot a few ducks when I go hunting. HMMMMM a double edged sword if you will.

[Double R 2]

Why would I, as a hunter, want to donate my money to an organization that splits its monies between nesting areas and "safe havens" up and down the flyway?

Great question. I got a couple of more. Dissenting opinions are the spice of life. Not arguing, just offering a different opinion.

Did you know that wet ducks die? Wet ducks die! Feathers are not impervious to water. They are maintained on a regular basis by oil. Waterfowl climb out of the water, onto a bank or log, and preen themselves - straighten feathers ad reapply oil. If they don't, the feathers will get wet, the birds will get wet and die of exposure. Reckon the opportunity birds get to do this while flying over my pit? Or yours?

Properly "serviced" down is great insulation. Feet and bills are not. Birds climb out of the water and tuck their bills under feathers and sit on their feet for this reason. Energy conservation.

Reckon why waterfowl are so beautiful this far south? Nuptial plumage. Gota look good for the opposite sex. Natural selection and what not. Gotta have a littel time unfettered with the distractions of being a duck during season, too, to form pair bonds.

Pair bonds, feather maintenance, energy conservation and eating (again, few ducks feed within site of my pit when I'm there) - life requirements necessary for perpetuation of a species - are just a few reasons I can think of that safehavens are beneficial for waterfowl.

[Denduke]

Hear! Hear! for the work done off of Floweree Rd....

[Wildfowler]

Double R, I couldn't agree with you more.

Thanks for reminding us of the importance of waterfowl habitat that extends beyond our 40 yard shooting zone.

[Insider]

Chad,

Thanks for the “heads up”. Otherwise this may have slipped under the radar screen. It sounds like DU is able to leverage the money that the MDWFP gives to make it multiply. Nothing wrong with more habitat, no matter which side of the fence it is on.

Out of curiosity, what was the amount of the monetary donations given by DU to the NRCS’s Wetland Reserve Program, the Mahannah WMA project and the six conservation easements?

[Chad Manlove]

Question. The 2 public lands listed...were these things done to areas that are deemed "rest" areas? In my opinion there are ENOUGH rest areas. If these things were done to provide habitat as well as hunting opportunities then good job...if not then you aren't doing yourself any favors in the minds eye of "hunters". Providing nesting habitat is what we as hunters don't mind, but when rest areas are provided from Canada to Mexico that tease hunters with literally thousands upon thousands of ducks swimming around close enough to the road to hit with a rock in a safe-haven after having a piss-poor hunt is like a slap in the face. With all the negativity that has come to light in the past years towards DU, things such as this are what adds fuel to the fire so to speak.

Habitat work that was completed on O'Keefe and Mahannah occurred in areas that will provide additional opportunities for hunting. The GTR at O'Keefe was bisected with a levee to provide better water management. This area will be open to hunting. Moist-soil fields and ag lands on O'Keefe were enhanced with levees and water control structures. To the best of my knowledge, all these areas will be open to hunting as well.

On Mahannah WMA in the south Delta, two large impoundments were established south of the main road. These are open to hunting. An internal levee was constructed on the moist-soil unit (400 acres on west-side of Mahannah) to provide better water management options. This area is open to hunting. The "sanctuary" area on Mahannah was enhanced with two levees and 3 water control structures. This area has always been a sanctuary / refuge area for ducks. Nothing new was added.

[Chad Manlove]

Another thing I should have added to the previous post. Why would I, as a hunter, want to donate my money to an organization that splits its monies between nesting areas and "safe havens" up and down the flyway. It seems as if I would be helping to pay a place for the ducks to go so that I CAN'T shoot them (rest areas, refuges, safe havens etc). It is completely contradictory (sp??) to my agenda which is being able to shoot a few ducks when I go hunting. HMMMMM a double edged sword if you will.

You've got to have both. Without a doubt, the most important area to waterfowl is the breeding grounds. DU sends roughly $12-15 Million each year to Canada for protection and restoration of grassland and wetland complexes in Canada. In addition, we have a field office in Bismark, North Dakota. Their role is to secure grasslands and wetlands through conservation easements. We do a tremendous amount of work each year on the breeding grounds, it remains one of our highest priorities.

Habitat work on the wintering grounds is also very important. Each state in the southern region has lost a large percentage of its original wetlands. Some states continue to lose wetlands at an alarming rate. Ducks need these areas to sustain annual life cycle needs. Without a few "sanctuary" areas in the Mississippi Delta, every duck would be headed to the gulf coast after the first weekend of our duck season. Ducks cannot take the constant hunting pressure that we apply. They need an area to sit, rest, preen, and feed without being disturbed.

[Chad Manlove]

Why would I, as a hunter, want to donate my money to an organization that splits its monies between nesting areas and "safe havens" up and down the flyway?

Great question. I got a couple of more. Dissenting opinions are the spice of life. Not arguing, just offering a different opinion.

Did you know that wet ducks die? Wet ducks die! Feathers are not impervious to water. They are maintained on a regular basis by oil. Waterfowl climb out of the water, onto a bank or log, and preen themselves - straighten feathers ad reapply oil. If they don't, the feathers will get wet, the birds will get wet and die of exposure. Reckon the opportunity birds get to do this while flying over my pit? Or yours?

Properly "serviced" down is great insulation. Feet and bills are not. Birds climb out of the water and tuck their bills under feathers and sit on their feet for this reason. Energy conservation.

Reckon why waterfowl are so beautiful this far south? Nuptial plumage. Gota look good for the opposite sex. Natural selection and what not. Gotta have a littel time unfettered with the distractions of being a duck during season, too, to form pair bonds.

Pair bonds, feather maintenance, energy conservation and eating (again, few ducks feed within site of my pit when I'm there) - life requirements necessary for perpetuation of a species - are just a few reasons I can think of that safehavens are beneficial for waterfowl.

Great response....glad a few can think outside the box.

[Chad Manlove]

Chad,

Thanks for the “heads up”. Otherwise this may have slipped under the radar screen. It sounds like DU is able to leverage the money that the MDWFP gives to make it multiply. Nothing wrong with more habitat, no matter which side of the fence it is on.

Out of curiosity, what was the amount of the monetary donations given by DU to the NRCS’s Wetland Reserve Program, the Mahannah WMA project and the six conservation easements?

The 6 conservation easements were donated by landowners. The landowner receives tax benefits, no DU expenses (other than some staff time finalizing the easements).

DU engineers were contracted by US Army Corps of Engineers to survey and design wetland units on Mahannah. Ducks Unlimited completed all the engineering work and managed the construction of each unit. Final check-out was completed by DU to make sure construction was to design specs. USACOE foot most of the bill.

DU does not give monetary donations to NRCS WRP. This is a federal program of which DU is a partner in delivering wetland restoration practices. Sometimes we help provide a water control structure if need be. In partnership with the NRCS on many WRP projects, DU designs levees and water control structures to restore hydrology, develops plans for restoring vegetation and other habitat characteristics and oversees the restoration work. DU is fully reimbursed by NRCS for all design and restoration work. DU does not exercise any management control over lands in WRP, including access for hunting or other purposes. DU’s primary interest is to insure that these wetland conservation projects are designed and restored to best provide wetlands functions and values for waterfowl and other wildlife while meeting overall program requirements and landowners’ desires.

[Insider]

Chad,

Thanks for the reply. I believe I'm a little more clear on the subject. Would it be safe to say that DU is operating similar to MS Wildlife and Delta Wildlife regarding WRP development and conservation easements? I know that both Delta Wildlife and MS Wildlife both implement WRP as a contractor for the NRCS for profit rather than making a donation. This profit is mostly used to cover their operating expenses for the year.

Similar is MS Wildlife also offers to hold conservation easements like DU. It is hard to say they do this for a profit, but at a minimum they hope to break even. Is DU similar? The landowner generally pays the nonprofit to hold the easement Vs the nonpropfit donating their assistance.

On the Mahannah project, is safe to say DU acted more like a contractor, since they were hired by the COE to design the project and for their oversight of all the work? DU inturns contract outs a large portion of the work?

Just trying to get a better feel on how conservation organizations term their assistance.

[Don Miller]

Thanks for spreading out the ducks, DU. That's what every hunter in MS had hoped for.