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Maintaining its commitment to wetland conservation, Phillips 66 recently renewed its collaboration with Ducks Unlimited through a $650,000 grant to support wetland enhancement projects in coastal Texas and Louisiana.

“At Phillips 66, we’re taking a more focused approach to our community investments by helping close funding gaps so projects can move forward,” said Phillips 66 Senior Manager of Social Impact Courtney Meadows. “Our partnership with Ducks Unlimited reflects this strategy, supporting fewer projects with deeper investment to accelerate completion and advance conservation solutions that strengthen communities, protect wildlife habitat and promote long‑term sustainability.”

Since 2013, Phillips 66 has championed the preservation of vital wetlands in communities where it works, investing over $6.4 million with Ducks Unlimited to protect and restore these essential ecosystems.

"Ducks Unlimited is proud to build on our partnership with Phillips 66 and our shared commitment to conservation and sustainability,” said Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Development Matt Bunn. “This grant completes funding for two vital coastal wetland projects that will improve community resilience, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities. Corporate partners like Phillips 66 understand the multiple benefits of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure."

Projects supported by the 2026 grant award include:

  • Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area Enhancements – Working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Ducks Unlimited will enhance 370 acres of wetlands. Powderhorn’s saltwater wetlands offer important, year-round habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl. Additionally, extensive live oak mottes and freshwater wetlands provide critically important “fall-out areas” for migrating songbirds, particularly during spring migration when, exhausted from their flights across or around the Gulf of Mexico, birds use these areas to rest and refuel. Its diverse habitats host a variety of birds year-round, with more than 309 species documented here. The impacted area will be designated as the John L. Nau, III and Randy S. Risher Wetlands Complex, with a project dedication and signage recognizing all supporting partners.
  • South Oak Grove West / Boyd Allen Water-Control Structure – This project replaces a large, failing water-control structure that manages approximately 3,300 acres of intermediate and brackish marshes north of Rutherford Beach, near Oak Grove, Louisiana. Ducks Unlimited will also install an earthen plug in the western bank of the Creole Canal. The structure and plug are needed to facilitate water and salinity management to benefit wetland-dependent wildlife. Public benefits of this project include improvements in water quality, reduced flooding associated with hurricanes, and support and protection for coastal communities and nationally significant oil/gas infrastructure in Louisiana. This project is being delivered in partnership with Cameron Parish and benefits numerous landowners who own wetlands within the managed unit.