Ducks Unlimited received a $970,000 grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council to help fund the acquisition of perpetual grassland and wetland easements on Prairie Pothole habitat in South Dakota. This grant specifically identified Hyde and Hand Counties as focus areas because of its importance for northern pintail production. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDDGFP) provided significant match funding and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service holds the easements. To date, DU has secured 5,136 acres of native prairie and 762 acres of wetlands habitat. The NAWCA Council approved Phase II of the project in 2005, providing one million dollars in funding to continue this important work.

Phase I

This project was completed early in 2006. The objective of this project was the perpetual protection of grassland and wetland habitats vital for waterfowl production in the James River Lowlands and Missouri Coteau landscape regions of central South Dakota. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDDGF&P) provided much of the match through their purchase of the 2,116-acre Chip Allen Wildlife Management Area in the James River Lowlands counties of Miner and Sanborn. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) supplied one million dollars to purchase perpetual Grassland and Wetland Easements on existing Prairie Pothole habitat on the Missouri Coteau in South Dakota. In addition to the 2,116 acres protected by the SDDGF&P, this project protected 5,561.29 acres of grassland and 773 acres of prairie pothole wetlands through purchase of perpetual easements in Hand and Hyde counties. Grassland and Wetland Easements were acquired from 13 separate landowners and are held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Phase II

A second grant proposal was submitted by DU to NAWCA in July 2005 to again help fund the acquisition of perpetual grassland and wetland easements on valuable waterfowl production habitat on the Missouri Coteau in central South Dakota. The project proposal requested one million dollars to perpetually protect approximately 6,000 acres of important grassland and wetlands habitat. The proposal received a high score and was approved. Work has been progressing in 2006 to expend these funds and protect duck production habitat in central South Dakota.

Phase III

In July 2006 a third phase of this project was submitted by DU to NAWCA. The objective remains the same; the protection of grassland and wetland habitats on the Missouri Coteau in South Dakota that are vital for waterfowl, and in particular pintail, production. The proposal scored well and was recently approved by the NAWCA Council. It will be submitted to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission in Congress in early 2007. If approved, DU and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue efforts to protect duck production habitat in South Dakota.