SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 20, 2006 – Senators Larry Craig (ID) and Dick Durbin (IL) recently joined forces to help generate support for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). In a bipartisan effort, the senators issued a letter to the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Bennett (UT), Ranking Member Herb Kohl (WI), and all committee members urging full funding of WRP, which is the nation’s leading voluntary wetland conservation program. Landowners interested in protecting and restoring wetlands obtain long-term agreements and easements and are provided technical and financial assistance for restoration.
Dr. Rudy Rosen, director of operations for Ducks Unlimited’s Western Regional Office, praised Senators Craig and Durbin for their efforts, citing the importance of WRP in reaching our country’s lost wetlands.
“Wetlands are critical to sustaining waterfowl and other wetland wildlife, and for providing key benefits to local communities,” said Rosen. “This action by Senators Craig and Durbin is vital to restore funding for the WRP. Their leadership in this effort is much appreciated by conservationists, sportsmen and women, and anyone who enjoys the health and recreational benefits of clean water.”
Senator Craig highlighted the demand for WRP to the nation’s farmers and landowners.
“Last year, the government turned away applicants seeking assistance to convert more than 450,000 acres of marginal and highly erodible land into wetlands. Over the two year stretch of FY04 and FY05, the Natural Resources Conservation Service rejected nearly one million acres of wetland restoration projects due to funding shortfalls.”
Senator Durbin added that, “Saving and restoring wetlands that clean our water, protect our watersheds, and provide wildlife habitat at modest costs under the WRP is a tremendous value. There are few programs that give taxpayers this kind of documented return for their money.”
Ducks Unlimited urges all who are concerned about wetlands to contact their senators regarding support for WRP, and encourage them to support full funding for the program.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.
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