Key conservation entities, representing a formidable alliance of waterfowl groups, have issued a direct and urgent appeal to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and five Republican lawmakers. As reported by www.outdoorlife.com, this consortium, including the CEOs of Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, California Waterfowl, and the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, alongside Delta Waterfowl director John Childs, is pressing the Department of the Interior (DOI) to rigorously uphold existing conservation easements within the vital Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). Their letter, a unified front, stresses the critical importance of these protections for waterfowl habitat.
This significant pushback stems from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Request for Information (RFI) concerning wetland easements in the PPR of the Northern Great Plains, specifically addressing drainage locations adjacent to these wetlands and the USFWS’s 2024 drain tile setback rule. The conservation groups assert that their members—predominantly hunters and anglers—have invested "hundreds of millions of dollars" into these easements. This substantial capital, accrued through private philanthropy and crucial Duck Stamp purchases over decades, directly underwrites the conservation of prairie wetlands. Any policy shift that facilitates wetland drainage, they argue, would not only invalidate these immense investments but lead directly to fewer wetlands, a diminished duck population, and a tangible erosion of America’s hunting heritage.
Delta Waterfowl’s chief policy officer, John Devney, explained to Outdoor Life that while "drain tile setbacks" may seem like a minor policy detail, their implications are profound. He indicated that certain agricultural approaches to these setbacks possess the "potential to starve wetlands—especially small shallow wetlands that are most important for breeding ducks." This mechanism, Devney clarified, results in drainage not by excavation, but by depriving wetlands of their essential water supply. The letter explicitly urges the DOI to "maintain the 60 years of precedent" and affirm the USFWS's unwavering commitment to publicly funded, voluntary conservation easements, vital wildlife habitat, and the outdoor traditions fundamental to our community.
The gravity of this situation has resonated throughout the waterfowl community. Parker Williams, Ducks Unlimited communications director, highlighted the unified response, noting the topic was a focal point at DU’s recent annual expo. Williams underscored that the "waterfowl community was sharing one voice," resolute in its support for the current drain tile rule and firmly against any alterations that could undermine the "duck factory" of the Prairie Pothole Region—a cornerstone for future generations of waterfowl hunting. With the public comment period concluding on August 7, the signatories are actively encouraging hunters and conservationists alike to engage, submitting comments directly to the USFWS or signing DU’s petition. This collective action is paramount to safeguarding these invaluable natural resources.
