In late 2008, the budget crisis hit

C a l i f o rnia hard, causing state agencies

to suspend funding for thousands of

contracts and grants, including Ducks

Unlimited habitat restoration pro j e c t s

a l ready under way. Without pro m i s e d

state funding, it appeared Ducks

Unlimited would have to suspend its

c o n s e rvation work as well. Enter philan-

t h ropist Bill Johnson Jr., owner of

Johnson Machinery, a Caterpillar dealer

in Riverside, California, who made an

investment of $50,000 to fund Ducks

U n l i m i t e d ’s work in the state. This invest-

ment was then matched dollar for dollar

by the Caterpillar Foundation as part of a

$250,000 CAT dealer challenge to raise

funds for DU’s work through the

Wetlands for To m o rrow campaign.

The investments from Johnson and

the Caterpillar Foundation could not have

come at a better time. They filled the void

left by the loss of state funds and allowed

DU to complete project designs and

s u rveys in the spring. When state funding

re t u rned, DU was able to begin constru c-

tion immediately. Without these invest-

ments, crucial projects in California could

have been delayed by at least a year.

Once state funding re t u rned at pro m i s e d

levels, DU was able to reinvest the

Johnson and Caterpillar Foundation funds

in other wetland restoration projects.

“Ducks Unlimited does a great job at

habitat conservation and has a gre a t

re c o rd over the decades of putting the

numbers on the board. Just look at the

t rend in rising duck populations,” said Bill

Johnson Jr. “I’m glad I could help.”

Ducks Unlimited’s partnership with

Caterpillar is not new. Thousands of tons

of soil are moved by Caterpillar equip-

ment on hundreds of Ducks Unlimited

p rojects throughout North America each

y e a r. The Caterpillar Foundation has been

s u p p o rtive of DU, and now CAT dealers

a re stepping up with re s o u rces to furt h e r

c o n s e rvation projects in their terr i t o r i e s

and beyond.

“ I t ’s always a pleasure working with

accomplished Caterpillar dealers like Bill

Johnson Jr. who have a deep personal

conviction about conserving critical acre s

of habitat. When we are able to double an

investment through the foundation’s

backing, it’s just incre d i b l e , ” said Philip

M i l b u rn, DU’s director of marketing and

corporate relations.

The Caterpillar Foundation and the U.S.

network of CAT dealers share DU’s values

of protecting our natural re s o u rces for

ducks, wildlife, and people. They re c o g n i z e

that it re q u i res partnerships to get the

job done.

D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N

J a n u a ry / F e b ru a ry 2010 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D 25

D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N Wetlands for To m o r row

Investments from William R. Johnson Jr.

and Caterpillar Foundation Help Finish

P rojects on Schedule

Edited by Leia Syvertson Berry

Caterpillar construction equipment has

been used to re s t o re thousands of acres of

w a t e rfowl habitat across North America.

The world’s greatest achievements are powered by a combi-

nation of people, re s o u rces, and passion. Nowhere is this

m o re evident than in the continental accomplishments made

possible through the commitment and investment of DU

s u p p o rters. Ducks Unlimited is proud to recognize and part n e r

with individuals, foundations, and corporations across Nort h

America. Our history is rooted in linking re s o u rces and passion

to create workable science-based solutions to conserve water-

fowl habitat—from the vast boreal forest and Prairie Pothole

Region across the contiguous United States to the wintering

g rounds of Mexico.

In 1937, DU’s founders recognized the importance of conserv-

ing habitat in Canada to sustain waterfowling traditions in the

United States. The following donors are just a few of those

who continue to follow in the footsteps of these conserv a t i o n

visionaries by making a diff e rence in Canada.

26 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D J a n u a ry / F e b ru a ry 2010

D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O NWetlands for To m o r row

DU Supporters Across the Continent Make a Difference in Canada

DU Supporters Across the Continent Make a Difference in Canada

Ducks Unlimited is pleased to announce a recent pledge of $200,000 from the Seymour H. Knox

Foundation of Buffalo, New York. This commitment will help protect the Prairie Pothole Region of

Canada and the United States—an area of waterfowl breeding habitat that is better known as “the

Duck Factory” to longtime DU supporters.

To populations of migratory waterfowl, the Prairie Pothole Region is a land without borders, a single

ecosystem that rivals the Amazon in its biodiversity. A variety of species use this region as a migration

c o rr i d o r, including numerous species of waterfowl and other birds.

For former DU president and Pre s i d e n t ’s Council charter member Hazard Campbell, his role as

c h a i rman of the Knox Foundation provides a venue to support the mission of Ducks Unlimited, a

mission he personally has supported with his time, tre a s u re, and talent since 1956.

C rossing the Border: Knox Foundation S u p p o rt s

C o n s e rv a t i o n a c ross the Continent

Campion Foundation of Seattle,

Washington, has part n e red with Ducks

Unlimited to put conservation first in the

rural communities of British Columbia, a

move that will benefit indigenous peoples

and breeding waterfowl alike. The part n e r-

ship—sealed with two grants totaling

$600,000 to Ducks Unlimited—focuses on

p rotecting vital habitat in the boreal fore s t

by providing the people of British Columbia

with the tools they need to be informed on

p roposed mineral development in their

communities and to participate in the

legislative processes that give people a

voice. This partnership supports incre a s e d

community involvement and advocacy for

new policies and provisions for land use

that will protect the integrity of the bore a l

f o rest and its associated ecological and cul-

tural values. The boreal forest of Canada

and Alaska contains a quarter of the

w o r l d ’s remaining intact forests and 35

p e rcent of the world’s wetlands.

For Ducks Unlimited, protecting this gre a t

w a t e rfowl breeding and migration area fro m

fragmentation and destruction is one of our

highest priorities. By opening dialogue

between extraction industries and the peo-

ple who have lived and worked in this re g i o n

for generations, we can ensure that the fine

balance between pro g ress and heritage is

maintained. We can also ensure that Nort h

A m e r i c a ’s “other duck factory” continues to

p rovide a home and haven for waterf o w l .

Campion Foundation: Putting Conserv a t i o n

First in Communities

H a z a rd Campbell will

be honored for his many

years of service to Ducks

Unlimited this coming

spring. If you would like

to attend or support

this celebration, please

contact Matt Fenoff by

phone at 845-242-9407

or by e-mail at

m f e n o ff @ d u c k s . o rg

or Rich Smith at

631-734-5487 or

r b s m i t h @ d u c k s . o rg .

Ducks Unlimited was proud to honor and

thank Dr. L.J. Mayeux Jr. for his many

years of service and continuous support of

D U ’s conservation mission by dedicating DU

C a n a d a ’s Myren Uplands Project in his honor.

Widely known as “Dr. Duck,” Mayeux per-

sonifies the passion and commitment of DU’s

volunteers. He has held virtually every volun-

teer position in DU, starting as a Marksville,

Louisiana, committee member in 1980 and

later serving as DU president in 2000.

The Myren Uplands Project, located in the

h e a rt of Saskatchewan’s duck-breeding country,

was a perfect site to honor Dr. Mayeux: it’s a

beautiful place where waterfowl flourish on

175 acres of wetlands and 110 acres of native prairie. In addition, the pro p e rty contains

a p p roximately 510 acres of formerly cultivated uplands, which DU Canada re s t o red to native

p e rennial c o v e r. The re s t o red area now supports waterfowl breeding densities in excess of

60 pairs per square mile. The acreage is surrounded by abundant wetlands and is near several

other DU projects, compounding its waterfowl habitat value. The Myren Uplands Pro j e c t

would not have been possible without the generous support of donors from both Canada

and the United States, including 50 Major Sponsors from Louisiana.

D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N Wetlands for To m o r row

In 2005, DU volunteer leaders in Mississippi set out to raise aware-

ness about the connection between waterfowl wintering areas in

the South and key nort h e rn breeding areas, and the Mississippi

Connection Project was born. Understanding the interd e p e n d e n c e

of these landscapes on waterfowl populations in Mississippi, these

p h i l a n t h ropists split their gifts between the Mississippi Alluvial

Valley and Canada’s breeding grounds.

T h rough the Mississippi Connection Project, DU has impro v e d

habitat conditions in a key area of the Missouri Coteau located in

south-central Saskatchewan. The Mississippi Connection Project has

four individual project segments totaling nearly 700 acres, including

60 acres of re s t o red wetlands and 300 acres of annually cro p p e d

uplands that have been converted to dense nesting cover. Additional

native prairie previously used for annual pasture is now managed for

w a t e rfowl production. Research has shown that this project area can

s u p p o rt more than 60 pairs of ducks per square mile, many of which

later migrate to wintering areas in the Mississippi Alluvial Va l l e y.

The following sponsors generously provided funding for the

Mississippi Connection Project: Marc and Lainie Anthony, Neal and

Sarah Ballard, Pam and Larry Edwards, Rodney and San Garr i s o n ,

D r. Marshall and Te resa Hollis, Curtis and Sharon Hopkins, Bru c e

and Karen Lewis, Jack Moss, Joe and Janet Moss, Ronal and Patti

Roberson, Larry and Sheila Roberts, and Rea Ta y l o r.

Forbes Project Touts the

“Mississippi Connection”

M y ren Uplands Project Honors L.J. Mayeux

The Pulkinen Uplands Project in

Saskatchewan was dedicated this fall

to honor the international conserv a t i o n

and volunteer work of Paul Ralstin. The

second of two dedication sites honoring

R a l s t i n ’s legacy, the Pulkinen Uplands

P roject is located in the heart of the

Missouri Coteau. It’s an awe-inspiring

landscape where waterfowl thrive on 58

a c res of wetlands and 121 acres of native

prairie. In addition, the pro p e rty contains

a p p roximately 141 acres of formerly culti-

vated uplands, which DU Canada re s t o re d

to native nesting cover. The project are a

now supports breeding waterfowl densi-

ties in excess of 60 pairs per square mile.

The Ralstin Tribute raised more than

$300,000. The first site, Roswell Marsh in

Idaho, was dedicated this past August.

Pulkinen Uplands

Showcase Paul

R a l s t i n ’s Impact

Jack Moss, a DU Diamond Sponsor in

Perpetuity and at-large board member,

at the Mississippi Connection Pro j e c t

dedication this past fall.

D r. L.J. Mayeux Jr. stands next to the

c a i rn at the Myren Uplands Pro j e c t .

J a n u a ry / F e b ru a ry 2010 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D 27

Sometimes you know a partnership is

destined for success. When Ducks

Unlimited and The McKnight Foundation of

Minnesota joined forces in 2007 to pro t e c t

the Mississippi River and its watershed, the

m a rriage was a good one. Both org a n i z a-

tions realize the value of the river, a natural

re s o u rce that provides drinking water for 50

cities and 18 million people. Both org a n i z a-

tions also understand the challenges facing

the Mississippi and know how to use their

combined re s o u rces to make an impact.

A second grant from The McKnight

Foundation of $560,000 will allow DU to

continue conservation eff o rts in key port i o n s

of the river’s 10-state corr i d o r. Specifically,

the grant will help DU and part n e r s c o n-

s e rve and re s t o re shallow lakes and shore-

lines in Minnesota and Iowa—two states

whose residents strongly support conser-

vation as reflected by recently adopted

and pending legislation that will pro v i d e

m o re state funding for protecting wildlife

re s o u rces. DU will also continue conserv a-

tion eff o rts in Illinois under its state wildlife

action plans and step up eff o rts to secure

state and federal legislation and corre-

sponding funding to protect and re b u i l d

L o u i s i a n a ’s coastal marshes.

In addition to this funding part n e r s h i p ,

David Brakhage, DU manager of conserv a-

tion programs, recently met with The

McKnight Foundation’s board of directors to

talk about DU’s work and the need for a

c o m p rehensive approach to river conserv a-

tion. To g e t h e r, DU and The McKnight

Foundation are making a diff e rence on one

of our nation’s greatest natural assets.

The David Beals III Charitable Trust in

Kansas City, Missouri, recently made a

gift of $135,000 to Ducks Unlimited for the

f u t u re of wetlands conservation in Missouri

t h rough the Golden Anniversary We t l a n d s

Initiative—an eff o rt to enhance five state

c o n s e rvation areas established 50 years ago.

These conservation areas, managed by the

Missouri Department of Conservation, were

among the state’s earliest waterf o w l

s t rongholds. But engineering, design, and

c o n s t ruction capabilities have vastly impro v e d

since these areas were first developed.

T h rough this initiative, DU and partners will

use 21st century wetland science to develop

and implement plans that will help ensure

these important habitats will be around for at

least another 50 years.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like

the David Beals III Charitable Trust, Ducks

Unlimited will continue to work hard to

re s t o re Missouri’s wetlands so everyone in

the Show-Me State can enjoy them for gen-

erations to come.

28 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D J a n u a ry / F e b ru a ry 2010

Wetlands for

To m o rrow Contacts

in Your State

D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O NWetlands for To m o r row

For more information on becoming a Major

Sponsor and supporting DU’s We t l a n d s

for To m o rrow campaign, please contact the

d i rector of development for your state:

SOUTHERN REGION

FL, GA, NC, SC

B rett Baker • (843) 377-0667

b b a k e r @ d u c k s . o rg

KS, MO, OK

Johnny Belz • (601) 206-5432

j b e l z @ d u c k s . o rg

AL, KY, TN

Chris Cole • (601) 206-5446

c c o l e @ d u c k s . o rg

AR, LA, MS

Chad Manlove • (601) 206-5442

c m a n l o v e @ d u c k s . o rg

T X

Sean Stone • (832) 465-7836

s s t o n e @ d u c k s . o rg

G R E AT LAKES/ATLANTIC REGION

IL, IN, MI, OH, WI

Todd Bishop • (734) 623-2000

t b i s h o p @ d u c k s . o rg

C T, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT

Matt Fenoff • (518) 872-2002

m f e n o ff @ d u c k s . o rg

DC, W. MD, VA, WV

Chip Heaps • (410) 399-4093

c h e a p s @ d u c k s . o rg

DE, E. MD, NJ, PA

Phil Poux • (410) 224-6620

p p o u x @ d u c k s . o rg

G R E AT PLAINS REGION

M T, ND, SD, WY

Dave Afton • (701) 355-3525

d a f t o n @ d u c k s . o rg

CO, NM

Kirk Davidson • (303) 927-1949

k d a v i d s o n @ d u c k s . o rg

IA, MN, NE

Adam DeHaan • (763) 688-0519

a d e h a a n @ d u c k s . o rg

IA, MN, NE

Ron Stromstad • (952) 236-0638

r s t ro m s t a d @ d u c k s . o rg

WESTERN REGION

AZ, CA, NV, UT

Rebecca O’Connor • (916) 852-2000

ro c o n n o r @ d u c k s . o rg

AK, HI, ID, OR, WA

Steve Schmitt • (360) 885-2011

s s c h m i t t @ d u c k s . o rg

Ron Kroese (standing), environment

p rogram officer at The McKnight

Foundation, visited Mud Lake near

Hughes, Arkansas, with Nick Smith,

DU regional biologist, and Jerry Holden,

DU director of conservation pro g r a m s .

Mud Lake is owned by DU Legacy

Sponsor Phil McNeill, who hosted the

tour on his 1,984-acre pro p e rt y.

The McKnight Foundation Supports

Mississippi River Conservation

The McKnight Foundation Supports

Mississippi River Conservation

Gift from Trust Supports Wetland

Restoration in Missouri