By Peter Ziegler, WWA Project Director
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2022 eNewsletter.
In the conservation world, partnerships get projects accomplished. I could list over one hundred organizations WWA has partnered with in its history to put habitat on the ground. One key partner WWA has worked with for a decade is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. We have leveraged dollars off of, and for, each other for decades; we have utilized their partnership for agreements protecting the investments we have both made on landowner’s property. We share expertise, projects and experiences to better all of our habitat work. Over the last five years, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program have collaborated to restore wetlands and associated upland habitats for Wisconsin’s waterfowl and wildlife resources. This partnership has leveraged $1,396,852 dollars over the last five years, turning out over 1,300 acres of wetlands and associated uplands on private lands.
| Year | Upland Acres | Wetland Acres | Private Landowner Match | **WWA Match | USFWS Funding |
| 2017 | 196 | 122.2 | $98,504 | $18,000 | $72,000 |
| 2018 | 370.1 | 201.5 | $155,514 | $22,500 | $150,000 |
| 2019 | 72.3 | 88.07 | $120,746 | $12,525 | $83,500 |
| 2020 | 164.6 | 57 | $234,789 | $27,900 | $186,000 |
| 2021 | 73 | 18 | $4,800 | $19,100 | $191,000 |
| Total | 876 | 486.77 | $614,352 | $100,025 | $682,500 |
Though the numbers help explain the success, I can’t say enough about how beneficial it is for WWA (myself in particular) to be able to lean on their biologists that are spread regionally across the state to help WWA efficiently carry forward our program. One example: I may not be able to drive four hours to take a look at a project in a timely manner but I have trust that when a USFWS biologist is able to get a look at it because they are closer that the project can be taken to the next step.
Kurt Waterstradt, USFWS Coordinator for the Wisconsin Private Lands Program has been instrumental in securing the funding. He recently told me, “It is humbling to work in lock-step with such a steadfast conservation organization like Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. Their continued partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demonstrates the power of leveraging funding to deliver conservation where it matters, on the ground.” With diminishing budget allocations over the last few years it has been expressed to me that this partnership and these funds have been key for the USFWS in fulfilling interest in their program.