Ridgeland, MS, November 8, 2004 - Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), Vicksburg District, are pleased to announce the completion of a wetlands enhancement project at Askew Wildlife Management Area in Tunica County, Mississippi.
The project, which will positively impact over 400 acres, required the installation of a well and electric pump, and the construction of more than one mile of overhead three-phase power line. DU, through its MARSH program, provided funding to offset costs associated with the well and pump, while the USACOE covered expenses related to the power line and for repairs to levees and water control structures.
"Area staff now have the equipment to more efficiently manage moist-soil impoundments at Askew WMA," commented Chris Cole, Director of Conservation Programs for DU in Mississippi. "Completion of this project helps ensure the availability of this highly desired habitat to ducks and other wetland dependent wildlife for years to come."
This project will provide valuable foraging habitat to migrating waterfowl near the Coldwater River, a major wintering area in the Mississippi Delta. Mallards, gadwall, green-winged teal, wood ducks, and American wigeon will be the primary waterfowl species that benefit from this habitat project. The USACOE will manage the area to maintain high quality moist-soil wetlands for waterfowl, while providing additional duck hunting opportunities for local waterfowlers.
DU and the USACOE have partnered on numerous wetland development projects in Mississippi. The two organizations have combined resources on more than 15 projects resulting in the enhancement of almost 11,000 acres of wetland habitat.
Contact: Chad Manlove, Manager of Conservation Planning, cmanlove@ducks.org
With more than a million a supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest wetland and waterfowl conservation group. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystems - and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year.