Ducks Unlimited receives Klamath River watershed grant

Habitat restoration will benefit mallards, pintails and canvasbacks

Ducks Unlimited 8/21/07

VANCOUVER, Wash., August 21, 2007 – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $789,563 Targeted Watersheds grant to Ducks Unlimited. Through the grant, Ducks Unlimited will restore part of the Upper Klamath River Basin in southern Oregon.

“This grant recognizes DU’s commitment to improve the Upper Klamath watershed,” said Tom Dwyer, DU’s director of conservation programs based in Vancouver, Washington. “The Klamath River watershed is a critical area for migrating mallards, pintails and canvasbacks. We plan on continuing our work to improve the area for the benefit of waterfowl and people.”

The project will restore habitat for more that two million waterfowl and waterbirds.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awards Targeted Watersheds grants to groups for creative solutions to watershed problems. DU’s grant partners include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy and several Klamath area non-profit groups. The grant has nine conservation projects, including streamside habitat and wetland restoration.

“EPA's seed money will help grow grass-roots partnerships that support and sustain clean water and healthy ecosystems,” EPA Assistant Administrator Ben Grumbles said.

The Targeted Watersheds Grants Program began in 2002. It encourages protection and restoration of the nation's watersheds. Since 2003, more than $40 million has gone into Targeted Watersheds grants.

Contact: Neil Shader
202.347.1530 nshader@ducks.org

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.