ANN ARBOR, Mich. — More than $6.7 million will support wetland and associated upland conservation across 22 Michigan counties through the latest phase of an initiative that spans the Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie Coastal Habitat.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved $2.2 million in funding through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) for Phase VI of the initiative. Ducks Unlimited and conservation partners will provide more than $4.5 million in matching contributions, bringing the total investment to approximately $6.7 million. The project will conserve 3,121 acres of habitat.
Grant-funded work is expected to begin in mid- to late 2027, with projects taking place across the Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie corridor.
The initiative focuses on an important Great Lakes habitat corridor extending from the Saginaw Bay area south through Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River to the western Lake Erie watershed. More than 3 million waterfowl annually migrate or breed in the Great Lakes region, with the project area providing important breeding and migration habitat for at least 20 waterfowl species and more than 100 songbird species.
“This investment is a great example of what NAWCA makes possible by bringing together federal funding and strong local and state partnerships,” Matthew Conrad, DU Biologist said. “By working together, we can make a significant impact on Michigan’s wetlands and associated habitat that benefit waterfowl, wildlife, and communities throughout the Great Lakes.”
Phase VI includes the acquisition of approximately 370 acres, protection of more than 930 acres through conservation easements, restoration of 233 acres, and enhancement of nearly 1,600 acres. Projects will occur on both public and private lands.
The work will benefit high-priority waterfowl including mallards, American black ducks, lesser scaup, northern pintails, and trumpeter swans, while also providing habitat for numerous wetland- and grassland-dependent species. The initiative also addresses inland nesting and brood-rearing habitat for mallards, whose Great Lakes breeding population has declined significantly since 2000.
The benefits extend beyond wildlife. More than 72% of the acreage included in the proposal will be open to the public. Wetland and upland conservation within the project area will also support water quality, help attenuate floodwaters, protect drinking water supplies, and provide additional hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
Partners providing matching contributions include Ducks Unlimited, Bay Creek Farms Inc., the City of Ann Arbor, Legacy Land Conservancy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Six Rivers Land Conservancy, Superior Charter Township, and Thumb Land Conservancy.
The Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie Coastal Habitat Initiative builds on nearly two decades of collaborative conservation in the region. The first three NAWCA initiatives conserved 10,009 acres, while Phases I-V of the Saginaw Bay to Lake Erie project conserved another 16,048 acres. Phase VI will continue that work through habitat restoration and enhancement, strategic land protection, and projects designed to connect important habitat areas.
About NAWCA
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is a federal conservation program that provides matching grants to partnerships working to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands and associated upland habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife.
Media Contact
Jay Hathaway
Communications Coordinator, Great Lakes Atlantic Region
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.
