Project
completed on Lake Woodruff NWR
DELAND, Fla., April 9, 2007 - A new wetland conservation
project on Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is finished. Project
partners, Ducks Unlimited (DU), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and
Progress Energy celebrated the milestone at a dedication held on the refuge
near Deland, Florida.
“The project improves the ability
to manipulate water depths on 450 acres on Lake Woodruff National Wildlife
Refuge,” said Craig LeSchack, DU director of conservation programs in Florida. “These partnerships make projects like this one a success.” 
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Progress Energy North Central Region Vice President Dave Maxon (left) and DU South Atlantic
Senior Vice President John Pope John Pope (right) celebrate
completion of Lake Woodruff Restoration.
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The refuge holds large concentrations of ducks, wading
birds, raptors and deer. It is home to endangered and threatened species
including the manatee, snail kite, wood stork, bald eagle and American
alligator.
At the dedication, DU Senior
Flyway Vice President John Pope presented Dave Maxon, vice president for the
north central region of Progress Energy, with the Diamond Sponsor Award. The
award recognizes the energy company’s contributions to conservation projects in
Florida and North Carolina.
"Progress Energy is honored
to have been a part of the wetland conservation project on Lake Woodruff,"
said Maxon. “We are very excited about the work that Ducks Unlimited is doing
to protect watersheds and land in Florida
while enhancing the quality of public recreational opportunities."
Three water control structures and
a pump were installed. The new improvements will allow USFWS managers to
control flooding and water depth independently in three wetland areas.
This will improve diversity of
aquatic plants and natural foods that benefit a variety of wildlife. It
will also improve water quality,
control unwanted plants and reduce sedimentation.
DU Florida Chairman Elect Ralph
Putnam and refuge manager Howard Morrow also attended the dedication.
With more than a million
supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland
and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved.
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.
Contact: Jennifer Kross
601.206.5449
jkross@ducks.org
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