Waterfowl Production Areas celebrate 50 years

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), which are specifically purchased for waterfowl nesting and breeding using funds from the sale of the Federal Duck Stamps that waterfowl hunters and enthusiasts purchase every year. Consisting of more than 36,000 areas ranging from .01 acres to more than 7,400 acres, WPAs are responsible for conserving more than 2.5 million acres of waterfowl habitat.

Often called the "Prairie Jewels" of the National Wildlife Refuge System, WPAs account for almost 25 percent of the ducks produced in the Prairie Pothole Region. They are also critical in the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska, where more than 10 million ducks and geese stop during fall migration.

The Duck Stamp Act, originally passed in 1934, was amended in 1958 to authorize the acquisition of wetlands and surrounding uplands on which waterfowl nest. WPAs are open to hunting and fishing, and more than 800,000 people visit WPAs every year.