By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February, 2025 Newsletter edition.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) committee released a new and expanded waterfowl management plan for the continent last month.  This plan guides flyway management decision, which then guide state-by-state decisions about preserving habitat and caring for the waterfowl that are so central to our fall lifestyle.

The Plan offers new and old strategies for achieving its three goals:

1. “Abundant and resilient waterfowl populations to support hunting and other uses…
2. Wetlands and related habitats sufficient to sustain waterfowl population at desired levels…”
3. Growing numbers of hunters and other conservationists… who actively support waterfowl and wetlands conservation”.

Could it be better aligned with WW’s missions?!?

This revised plan points to the need to expand partnerships beyond traditional hunting groups to include other people and organizations that share the mission and benefits of healthy wetlands and waterfowl populations.  To that end, WWA has recently explored partnering on habitat restorations with birding groups in order to bridge gaps that may have appeared in our efforts to advance a sandhill crane hunt.  While we will continue to fight for a sustainable and ethical sandhill crane hunt in Wisconsin, I am hopeful our shared interests might overcome this singular difference.

WWA won the USFWS’ Blue Wing Teal Award in 2024

Interestingly, as NAWMP releases this updated plan, it is celebrating four decades of conservation success… just as WWA celebrates its 40th year of waterfowl and wetland conservation.  It seems fitting that the organization responsible for this coordinated and successful international conservation effort took a moment to recognize WWA with it’s Blue-winged Teal Award for sustained waterfowl conservation success.  As WWA members, you can take pride in what your organization has accomplished, even as we look anew to the future guided by this revised conservation plan.

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December, 2024 Newsletter edition.

This was an inflection year for our work to restore wetlands and uplands important to waterfowl

• 

  WWA Ecologist, Mark Pfost, demonstrating what it really means to survey a marsh in summer

  WWA Ecologists completed our first wetland restoration under our partnership with the DNR – it was a small one (only 18 acres) but represents the first olive out of the jar.

• We’ve just put two projects under contract totaling ~150 acres and should be engaging an earthmoving contractor within the next two months for WWA’s largest restoration, maybe ever, with thousands of impacted acres planned under a nearly $1M grant from the USFWS. We’ve got more in the project “queue” too, awaiting final designs, permitting or funding allocations.
• Our private lands program undertook seven projects on more than 80 acres of small wetlands important to nesting waterfowl. We received a $100K North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant for a significant project along the Wisconsin River to help nesting and migration stopover habitat on nearly 110+ acres.  Peter is creating a legacy project together with our friends at Aldo Leopold Foundation.
• 

  The view from Duck Blind #3 on WWA’s Abrams Property

  WWA’s Abrams property project is moving along smartly after we signed a $19K restoration contract with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – managed by volunteer Jess Nichols. The Green Bay chapter has been building a property to be proud of!

• We kicked off our effort to monitor/review previously restored uplands and wetlands under our agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  So far 19 wetlands totaling 1,100 acres have been reviewed, and176 upland restorations at over 5,300 acres. Over the winter, our ecologists will be developing plans intended to continue the wildlife effectiveness of these properties.
• We continued our 10-year partnership with the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) private lands program that has resulted in over $2.4M of restoration work across the state, and 1,900 acres of restoration work important to waterfowl. Our inaugural partner of the year award went to our the USFWS’ Kurt Waterstradt.
• Our volunteer-led wood duck box program remains the largest in the state, with thousands of wood ducks produced annually. By the way, boxes and kits are back in stock and available for your holiday shopping –they are great gifts that keep on giving. Particular thanks to Bart Tegen and our partners at McNaughton Correctional Facility.
• Similarly, our volunteer-based adopt a wildlife program continues to make a difference on local state wildlife areas. Want to get involved or start your own with your buddies?
• 

  WWA Ecologist Pfost harvesting wild rice

  WWA is becoming one the state’s premier NGO’s working to restore wild rice beds. We’ve done it for more than a decade, and we incorporated that expertise into our agreement with the state.  Volunteers collected rice in our second annual rice-a-thon near Minocqua this year, to re-seed in an effort to re-establish historic rice beds.  It was fun, thanks to organizer B.J. Grassmann! Reserve your 2025 spot by reaching out to info@wisducks.org.

These accomplishments are directly related to the passion of our volunteers.  More volunteers = more passion = more impact.  Important roles await your expression of interest–write me at bross@wisducks.org.

By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.

Bruce Ross (left) presents USFWS’ Kurt Waterstradt with inaugural Partner in Conservation Award

Kurt Waterstradt of the US Fish and Wildlife Service was the recipient of WWA’s first ever Partner in Conservation Award. Kurt was responsible for initiating and sustaining WWA’s nearly decade long partnership with USFWS private lands restoration program.  Together, we received nearly $2.5 million dollars towards restoration and have so far completed nearly 1900 acres of restoration in all corners of the state.

WWA’s relationship with the USFWS has grown to include a recent $800,000 grant to conduct 1400+ acres of restoration near Necedah.  That partnership, and WWA’s 40 year impact under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was recognized when WWA was presented with the USFWS Blue-winged Teal award, an internationally prestigious conservation award.

Kurt is retiring after a 30 year career with the USFWS, where his personal impact has been profound,  WWA could not have chosen a better recipient for our first ever Partner in Conservation Award.