Conservation in Colorado

Colorado is part of the Central and Pacific Flyways and provides important nesting and migration habitat for waterfowl that are produced there and in the Prairie Pothole Region.

The eastern plains of Colorado, particularly the South Platte River corridor, are a prime example of the state's top-quality migration habitat. Platte River Initiative Ducks Unlimited’s efforts in this region focus on restoring and protecting shallow wetland habitats along river corridors. These key stop-over sites provide much needed foraging and loafing areas for migrating birds, as well as wintering habitat for such important species as mallard and Canada geese.

Ducks Unlimited is also focusing its restoration and protection work on key areas across the Rocky Mountain range that contain the highest quality wetland habitats and concentrations of waterfowl. High Country Wetlands

Wetlands in the San Luis Valley and North Park provide critical migration and wintering stopover points for Central and Pacific flyway ducks, sandhill cranes, water birds and shorebirds. The area is also among the most productive breeding habitats in North America for numerous duck and colonial wading bird species.

Your support of DU will help us work in Colorado. Colorado land conservation strategies

Colorado Habitat Projects

High Country Wetlands Initiative  Higel Ranch  Meadow Ranch  McNeil Ranch  Escalante SWA   Rio Grande  Silver Spur Ranch  Getz Ranch  Hebron Slough  Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area Water Control III  Mt. Ouray SWA (CWI4)  Medano Zapata Ranch Stream Restoration  Blanca Wells IV  Higel State Wildlife Area Water Control II  Monte Vista Parma Tract  Monte Vista Unit 6  Horsethief Canyon SWA II Survey & Design  Rio Grande SWA (CWI4)

Platte River Initiative Vissering Tract  DT Ranch  Banner Lakes  Centennial Valley Ranch - Pritchard  Hamlin Tract  TH Ranch Wetland Restoration  Friends, family gather to honor DU volunteer, Bob Ward. Over 50 friends and family of the late Ducks Unlimited (DU) committee chair, Bob Ward, gathered to honor him recently on the banks of the South Platte River, one of DU’s highest priority areas. The Bob Ward Memorial project was dedicated on April 29 at the project site nine miles east of Greeley, Colorado. Bob Ward, described as a “legend” and “everybody’s little buddy,” was a pharmaceutical representative who died in 2004. Ward’s friends from Greeley decided to raise some funds in his memory. “Helping to fund a DU wetland restoration was a much more fitting memorial than planting trees in a park,” said Ward’s friend, Loren Johnson. Donors raised $50,000 for the project with son, Seth Ward, donating t $36,000 to have a DU project named after Bob. The project is located on the 1200-acre Centennial Valley State Wildlife Area (SWA) where DU constructed six small plug dykes in old meander scars in order to flood the 200-acre project with irrigation water. The wetlands will be managed to provide migration habitat for waterfowl in both spring and fall.