Ducks Unlimited and the Green Bay Packers gathered today at the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Brown County to dedicate a wetland restoration project.
The project, which was announced in January, will restore and enhance degraded wetlands and waterways on the western shore of Green Bay to provide improved habitat for spawning northern pike and other wetland-dependent wildlife. The restoration was made possible through a $75,000 donation from the Green Bay Packers, as well as efforts from Brown County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Coastal Program and Ducks Unlimited.
"The Green Bay area is important to the Packers, and Barkhausen is a beautiful spot that we can all enjoy," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "Our area's natural heritage is just one more thing that makes Green Bay great."
The preserve was created by Louis Henry Barkhausen, DU's third president, and is an important place for fish and wildlife. DU, Brown County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restored and enhanced degraded wetlands and waterways on the western shore of Green Bay at the popular recreation area.
"It is truly a great day when we can celebrate collaborative achievements like these," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "Too often we focus on getting the work done and don't take time to thank everyone involved and recognize the accomplishment. This part of the country is so important to waterfowl, fisheries and the wetlands they depend on, and it takes partnerships like the one among DU, Brown County, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Green Bay Packers to make the most of opportunities for restoration and enhancement."
Wetlands in the Great Lakes region serve many important functions. In addition to flood and erosion control, marshes provide clean water for drinking and recreation. The sport-fishing industry depends on wetlands for spawning habitat, and that business contributes more than $1 billion to the Great Lakes economy every year.
About Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.
