When DU heard that seven tracts of land along the Platte River were going to be sold at auction, including two tracts that were adjacent to the Bassway Strip Wildlife Management Area, DU Manager of Conservation Programs Steve Donovan knew he had to act fast. “We had the funds available to attempt to purchase one or two of these tracts”, according to Donovan, “but we didn’t have the time to meet certain requirements. Consequently, we knew we needed a partner to stop forward on our behalf, and we needed one fast”.

Donovan called Norris Marshall, Director and founder of the Platte River Habitat Foundation and asked for his assistance. With little more than a handshake agreement, Mr. Marshall attended the auction on behalf of the Platte River Habitat Foundation and was the successful bidder on one tract of land along the north channel of the Platte River. The tract will provide a 55-acre expansion to the Bassway Strip WMA. DU provided the funds to complete the purchase with funds from a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant. The Platte River Habitat Foundation completed the acquisition of the property in May 2008. The Foundation transferred the property to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in September 2008 as an addition to the Bassway Strip WMA.

"We could not have accomplished this project without the participation of Mr. Marshall and the Platte River Habitat Foundation”, according to Donovan. “Mr. Marshall bent over backwards to help acquire this property for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission”.