Ducks Unlimited and partners putting millions into the Grand River watershed

In September 2005, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) approved a $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to Ducks Unlimited for habitat conservation throughout the Grand River watershed in Northeast Ohio. Since the grant was received, several projects have been completed or are pending. The Grand River Partners, Inc. and Ashtabula Soil and Water Conservation District have completed two conservation easements, protecting close to 300 acres of wetland and associated habitats. A large land acquisition of almost 400 acres is also in

the works. The Division of Wildlife and Pheasants Forever have restored 50 acres of grasslands at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area and are looking for wetland restoration opportunities at the Wildlife Area.

The habitats protected and restored through this grant provide breeding, migration, and wintering habitat for a number of species of waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, land birds, and a variety of threatened and endangered species.

Ducks Unlimited is partnering with several state, local, and private organizations on this grant, including Geauga Park District, Grand River Partners, Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife, Ashtabula Soil and Water Conservation District, and Pheasants Forever. DU and its partners will use this grant and $2,005,064 in matching funds to protect and restore more than 1,700 acres of critical wetlands and associated habitats in northeastern Ohio.