Grants for wetland conservation efforts announced by Interior Department

Over $111 million dollars for funding Wetland Conservation Project and National Wildlife Refuges has been announced by the Interior Department.  

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission announced $34 million in grants were followed up with $74 million in partner funds. These funds are being used to restore and conserve 177,000 acres of wetlands and waterfowl/shorebird habitats, according to National Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Another $3.1 million is being used for land conservation efforts in four national wildlife refuges.

Missouri’s Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Illinois’ Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge and  New York’s Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge are the four wildlife refuges that received funding from extra conservation efforts. 

Over 60 birds of concern of 2021 will benefit from wetland and wildlife refuge conservation efforts according to National Fish and Wildlife Service.

There are 28 projects, 11 coastal and 17 inland, that are being funded by these grants. These projects are in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Texas.

The South Dakota is on the Eastern South Dakota Wetlands, which drops down into Nebraska. 

These wetlands are known as prairie potholes which are depressed wetlands. The upper Midwest holds most of the prairie potholes which support 50% of North American migratory waterfowl and shore birds. These areas provide birds with breeding and feeding grounds according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).