Planning efforts for an another Ducks Unlimited project at the Imperial Wildlife Area began in 2005 . Ducks Unlimited conservation staff performed a detailed topographic survey of several management units that will help in the development of a habitat improvement plan for those areas. The Imperial Wildlife Area needs extensive management for its habitat units. The new plan will work to reduce the number of management units, while increasing overall wetland acreage and reducing management intensive levees and water control structures.

This project begins another chapter of improving seasonal wetlands on this Wildlife Area. In 2004, with the help of the State Duck Stamp program, administered through the Department of Fish and Game, Ducks Unlimited purchased over 100 improved concrete water control structures and funded critical water conveyance system (delivery) improvements by removing deposited sediment and invasive weeds such as salt cedar and giant reed. The new larger concrete replacement water control structures will facilitate better management of seasonal wetlands at the Wister Unit. The old structures were failing and the new ones bring added capacity to flood management units faster. The future looks bright with grant proposal being submitted to fund additional work at the Wildlife Area, as well as improve other public and private waterfowl habitats in the southern California, lower Colorado River, and Sonoran Desert area.

Ducks Unlimited has worked on 11 projects at Imperial Wildlife Area over the last 10 years. Combined, these largely water management improvement projects have affected over 6,000 acres.