LAFAYETTE, La. – March 19, 2012 – As the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, Ducks Unlimited is drawing attention to this month's milestone 9th Annual World Water Day. World Water Day is held annually on March 22 to focus attention on the importance of fresh water and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year's theme is Water and Food Security.

"Water is our greatest natural resource," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "Unfortunately, it is often the one most taken for granted. Recognizing the importance of water to all of us is a critical first step in guaranteeing sufficient water quality and quantity around the world."

A 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report estimates that more than 110 million acres of wetlands have been lost in the lower 48 states, with the greatest losses occurring in the Southeast. Louisiana alone has lost more than one million acres of coastal marsh, and continues to lose approximately 10,000 acres of coastal wetlands each year. 

"In addition to tremendous recreational and wildlife values, wetlands provide crucial ecological functions such as storm surge protection, flood water absorption, groundwater recharge, aquifer replenishment and water filtration," Hall said. "Ducks Unlimited conserves these vital habitats for waterfowl, but the broader benefits of wetlands conservation to society should not be overlooked."

Coastal wetlands act as a storm surge sponge, protecting vital infrastructure and communities. Storm surge reduction provided by coastal wetlands in Louisiana has been valued at more than $1,900 per acre for their storm protection functions alone, and NOAA estimates the total economic value of coastal habitats to be hundreds of billions of dollars.

Flood water absorption provided by wetlands has significant economic benefits. A recent study estimated that 1 acre of wetlands can store more than 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. The bottomland hardwood wetlands along the Mississippi River once stored at least 60 days of floodwater, but now have the capacity for only 12 days because most have been filled or drained. The impact of this storage loss along the Mississippi River is evident as floods like those in 1993 and 2011 caused more than $10 billion in damages, and yearly damages are estimated at $3.5 billion. 

Wetlands can also significantly reduce nutrient runoff, thus reducing hypoxic or "dead" zones like the one in the Gulf of Mexico. Plants and soils in wetlands remove up to 98 percent of nitrogen and 97 percent of phosphorus and remove toxic chemicals in some cases. 

The Gulf of Mexico's hypoxic zone is the largest in the United States and the second largest worldwide, reaching 6,765 square miles in 2011. The Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, first implemented in 2008, calls for wetlands restoration as the most cost-effective means of dealing with the hypoxia issue in the Gulf of Mexico. 

"Ducks Unlimited is committed to conserving wetland habitats for future generations of waterfowl and people," Hall said. "We're celebrating 75 years of conservation accomplishments this year, including more than 350,000 acres of wetland restoration in Louisiana, and we intend to continue delivering our mission of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever."
 
Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

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