PRESERVING THE PRAIRIES

By saving the prairies we rescue the most fruitful water fowl breeding environment in the duck factory.

Among America's most significant water fowl breeding sectors is a slender expanse of glacier shaped hills know as Missouri Coteau that runs like a bending spine through the Dakotas, Northern Montana and Southern Saskatchewan. For years the craggy territory and light rocky earth of the coteau have discouraged land owners from tilling uplands and draining wetlands in the territory. The result leaves big regions of prairie and surrounding mosaics of wetlands. In late years financial strain compelled many landowners to pursue alternative uses for their land threatening wildlife environment in the area.

Given the vast importance of coteau countryside to breeding waterfowl and other wildlife Ducks Unlimited initiated an enterprising new program that once and for all will safeguard two million acres of wetland and upland environment over the next twenty years in coteau zones of the Great Plains states. Ducks Unlimited will accomplish this by purchasing land and obtaining conservation easements from individual landowners.

Using geographic information systems that detect the distribution of wetland, breeding ducks and grasslands Ducks Unlimited targets for guardianship, wetland rich landscapes that aid eighty or more breeding pairs of ducks per square mile. These fertile grassland ecosystems also serve as important surroundings for a wide variety of other prairie life, including various fading grassland birds like the Sprague's pipits, Baird's sparrow, short eared owls and piping plovers.

Ducks Unlimited's initiative to protect highly fruitful coteau habitat is already off to a effective start with the help of a large grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and matching funds from the North American Conservation Act. These grants along with funds contributed by other partners will enable Ducks Unlimited and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to safeguard more than 70,000 acres of territory over the next three years

Private landowners have been highly favorable of Ducks Unlimited's attempts to preserve the most prolific waterfowl surroundings in the coteau country. One private person recently contributed a conservation easement that will permanately protect wildlife habitat on their large ranch in North Dakota. Located in the heart of the Missouri Coteau the ranch has 65 wetland basins encompassing nearly 1,500 acres of wetland habitat. These wetlands support large numbers of breeding and migrating waterfowl including concentrations of canvasbacks and redheads during the fall. In addition numerous species of wading birds, shorebirds, song birds, prairie grouse and mammals frequently visit the property.

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