Hoyt Lakes, Minn. – July 20, 2015 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) announces a partnership with PolyMet Mining that will support DU's Living Lakes Initiative, a program that restores the health and functionality of Minnesota's degraded shallow lakes and wetlands. An integral part of the initiative is management and protection of the state's wild rice resources.
Under a three-year initial agreement, with a view to a long-term relationship, PolyMet will provide DU funding for the initiative, which will help DU enhance wild rice in more than 100 shallow lakes and wetlands in northern Minnesota each year.
"Ducks Unlimited and PolyMet share a commitment to wild rice protection and conservation," said Brian Ross, DU Minnesota state chair. "PolyMet joins other like-minded companies who have partnered with DU on the Living Lakes Initiative, which does so much to preserve precious habitat for waterfowl and wildlife as well as Minnesota's rich cultural heritage of hunting and other outdoor activities."
Through the Living Lakes Initiative, Ducks Unlimited manages 100 wild rice lakes annually affecting more than 27,000 acres in Minnesota. The initiative is designed to enhance, restore, and protect "stepping stones" of managed shallow lakes and wetlands from central Iowa through northern Minnesota, providing high quality aquatic food and habitat resources for migrating and breeding waterfowl.
"PolyMet is proud to be associated with Ducks Unlimited, with its outstanding track record of conservation leadership, habitat restoration and protection, and industry, government and public collaboration," said Jon Cherry, PolyMet president and CEO.
The primary goal of the Living Lakes Initiative in Minnesota is to restore the health and functionality of degraded shallow lakes and wetlands from northern forest to southern prairie. While DU's focus is on waterfowl, these enhanced landscapes do more than provide habitat. Enhanced shallow lakes serve as flood storage and large water filtration systems. Water leaving these prairie wetland systems is of a much higher quality due to a reduction in suspended phosphorus.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.
About PolyMet Mining
PolyMet Mining Corp. is a publicly-traded mine development company focused on permitting, building and operating the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals project through its wholly owned subsidiary, PolyMet Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation. PolyMet Mining, Inc. plans include the use of modern mining and processing techniques to minimize environmental impacts. The project is currently in the advanced stages of a comprehensive environmental review and permitting process.
Media contact:
Chris Sebastian
(734) 623-2017
csebastian@ducks.org