Did you know that the Gulf Coast's wetlands are among the most important winter and migration habitats for waterfowl in North America? Stretching from the Mississippi-Louisiana state line to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, the marshes and bays of Texas and other areas of the Gulf of Mexico serve as critical wintering habitat for millions of waterfowl and also support world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. While this region was once among the most productive wetland systems in North America, the Gulf Coast's coastal marshes and hunting legacy are now under siege. Today, the region's ability to support waterfowl is severely compromised by the dramatic loss of wetlands and coastal marshes. Every hour, an area of wetlands the size of a football field is lost in Louisiana alone.

In order to raise awareness about this critical region, Ducks Unlimited has launched a new Gulf Coast Public Policy section on its website. For decades, Ducks Unlimited has been working with federal and state governments to stop the long term wetlands loss that is affecting the region. If actions are not taken now to conserve and restore these vital marshes and wetlands, the continent's most critical wintering habitat for waterfowl will be lost forever.

"This region is a top conservation priority for Ducks Unlimited; millions of waterfowl winter along the Gulf Coast each year," said DU Director of Public Policy Barton James. "However, to restore wetlands and other coastal marshes in this region, sportsmen must get involved and reach out to their elected officials. This new section of the DU website will be a valuable tool to help sportsmen highlight the Gulf Coast's importance to their members of Congress."