Waterfowl loafing in wetlands. Photo by Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson

America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act, which passed both houses of Congress last year, provides funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and other programs that are vital to DU’s mission.

In December, the Senate unanimously passed America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, which authorizes several important conservation programs. The legislation was signed into law in January 2025, having previously been passed by the House of Representatives.

The package includes reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, among other provisions.

“America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act impacts many of North America’s foundational conservation programs,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “From national initiatives like NAWCA to regional partnerships like the Chesapeake Bay Program, this bill will strengthen our ability to conserve wetlands and other waterfowl habitats in all 50 states. Its passage was a strong finish for the 118th Congress, and we thank Reps. Wittman and Thompson and Sens. Carper and Capito for their leadership. We look forward to maintaining this bipartisan momentum for conservation in Congress.”

NAWCA is a voluntary matching grant program that leverages non-federal and federal funds for wetlands restoration. Since its enactment in 1989, NAWCA has conserved almost 32 million acres and created an average of 7,500 new jobs annually. Every dollar the federal government spends, on average, receives a three-dollar match from program partners like Ducks Unlimited. NAWCA grants totaling more than $2.1 billion have leveraged over $4.3 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. The ACE Act reauthorizes NAWCA at $60 million a year through 2030.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and, historically, one of the most productive fisheries in the world. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership managed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is to reverse the bay’s degradation and restore its watershed and wildlife. The ACE Act reauthorizes appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million through 2030. 

The Chesapeake WILD Act is a grant program within the US Fish and Wildlife Service that supports habitat restoration in the Chesapeake Bay region. The legislation also calls on the Secretary of the Interior to work with federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration activities within the watershed.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has also been reauthorized under the ACE Act. NFWF leverages public funds to raise private dollars that help sustain and restore important wildlife habitats across the nation, including more than 22,100 projects since the foundation’s creation in 1984.