Ducks Unlimited (DU) has received a $1.95 million grant from the James M. Cox Foundation to support the permanent protection of high-priority conservation properties in Ohio's Western Lake Erie Basin. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises and parent company of Cox Automotive who endorsed the grant. The investment broadens the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to conservation. It also builds on the philanthropic legacy of Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation, whose support and leadership have helped advance Ducks Unlimited's mission across North America for more than 50 years.
The funding will support the acquisition and permanent conservation of nearly 175 acres within the Clear Creek–East Branch Saint Joseph River and Maumee River watersheds. Through permanent protection and subsequent restoration, conserving these lands will help improve watershed health, enhance wildlife habitat connectivity, support natural water storage, and provide lasting benefits for wildlife and people.
The support provided by the James M. Cox Foundation for the protection of these lands will also be a catalyst for additional conservation investments, serving as a required private match to unlock more than $3.2 million in public restoration funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' H2Ohio program. This public funding has already been earmarked for the restoration of the grant-funded acquisitions, significantly amplifying the impact of the Foundation's investment.
"This investment demonstrates the power of public-private conservation partnerships," said Jamie Rader, DU Senior Director of Operations for the Great Lakes/Atlantic Region. "Thanks to the generosity of the James M. Cox Foundation and the passion of Jim Kennedy, these important properties will be protected before conservation opportunities are lost, ultimately enabling wetland restoration and reforestation, allowing our partners to deliver the clean water and wildlife benefits that Ohioans value through H2Ohio."
Launched in 2019, H2Ohio is a science-based initiative designed to improve water quality across the state through wetland restoration, habitat conservation, agricultural best practices, and water infrastructure improvements. Through June 2025, the program had advanced approximately 500 wetland conservation projects and helped create, restore, or enhance more than 20,000 acres of wetlands and associated habitat. Ducks Unlimited has utilized more than $15 million in H2Ohio funding to conserve nearly 3,000 acres across Ohio.
Significant progress has already been made advancing the land protection objectives of the grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. One of the priority tracts, known as the Snyder River Bend project, will be acquired before the end of the calendar year. This effort will permanently protect 55 acres along the Maumee State Scenic River, including nearly 3,750 feet of river frontage. The site will be removed from agricultural production and will be restored to improve nutrient retention, reduce sedimentation, strengthen water quality, and provide critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
“At Cox, we believe in strengthening the communities where we live and work, and the James M. Cox Foundation is a big part of how we do that,” said Ken Kraft, EVP, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer for Cox Automotive. “It is deeply personal to help protect the wetlands, wildlife, and water quality in the state where it all started for Cox. Ohio shaped our company, and I’m proud of what we’re accomplishing with our partners to make a lasting difference for future generations.”
Cox Enterprises has deep roots in Ohio. Founder and three-term Ohio Gov. James M. Cox was born in Jacksonburg in 1870 and later purchased the Dayton Daily News, launching the company in 1898. His daughters, Barbara Cox and Anne Cox Chambers, were also born in Ohio. Today, Cox maintains a presence in the state through the Dayton Daily News and other local newspapers, as well as Manheim’s auto auction operation in Grove City.
The project also represents a strategic conservation investment for the broader Great Lakes region. The Western Lake Erie Basin contains some of Ohio's most important remaining wetland habitats and plays a significant role in supporting migratory birds, improving water quality, reducing flooding, and sustaining outdoor recreation opportunities.
Project partners include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, ACRES Land Trust, Black Swamp Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited. Together, the organizations will work to complete the acquisitions and implement future restoration activities.
Once restored, the identified properties are expected to support more than 86,000 annual duck-use days and provide habitat for numerous breeding waterfowl, while delivering water quality and flood resilience benefits to approximately 1.2 million people throughout Ohio’s Western Lake Erie Basin.
About the James M. Cox Foundation
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States. The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas, including biodiversity, conservation and environment; early childhood education; health; and empowering families and individuals for success.
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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
