MEMPHIS, Tenn. - August 26, 2021 - This week Ducks Unlimited Television (DU TV) returns to northwestern Ohio and The Great Black Swamp, part of the Lake Erie watershed system near Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

In this episode, co-host Fred Zink hunts with Ducks Unlimited (DU) regional biologist Russ Terry and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 3 Biologist Jeff Finn.

The sun was shining in the wake of a major front and thousands of mallards and black ducks were in the area. The Great Black Swamp once held 310,000 acres of prime wetland habitat but much of the area was drained and utilized for agricultural purposes.

DU and partners like the USFWS work hard to conserve and restore the swamp back to its natural state wherever possible. A huge benefit of wetlands restoration around Lake Erie is improved water quality.

"Today roughly 70% of the former coastal wetlands landscape is in agriculture production,&dquo; Terry said. "This has been a factor in significant water quality issues in Lake Erie and a contributor to toxic algal blooms. These blooms are wreaking havoc on the lake and the local community drinking water supplies. It&squo;s a DU focus to address water quality issues through our wetlands habitat conservation.&dquo;

Water quality is not only a DU priority, it is important to state and federal partners as well.

"Water quality is becoming more and more important,&dquo; Finn said. "Especially in this area with the problems facing western Lake Erie with algal blooms. Restoring wetlands is becoming more of a water quality priority as they are the kidneys of a landscape.&dquo;

Also included on this episode of DU TV, Zink gives tips for late season duck calling on "Duck Talk&dquo; and DU CEO Adam Putnam discusses the challenges of conserving American black duck populations on "Insights.&dquo;

DU TV airs Tuesdays at 1 a.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m., Fridays at noon, Saturdays at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Mondays at 3 a.m. (all times Eastern) on the Sportsman Channel. The Saturday 2 p.m. slot anchors "The Landing Zone presented by Ducks Unlimited&dquo; waterfowl and upland hunting lineup. Bonus content and classic episodes can also be found at www.ducks.org/dutv.

Follow DU&squo;s news Twitter feed-@DUNews1937-to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

John Gordon

901-758-3753

jgordon@ducks.org