STORM LAKE, Iowa - April 22, 2015 - Ducks Unlimited major sponsors from across the state of Iowa gathered recently to dedicate Little Storm Lake to DU volunteers Jon and Colleen Kruse. A dedication is one of the most prestigious recognitions Ducks Unlimited bestows on volunteers.

The Kruses volunteer for various outdoor organizations, but have been especially involved with Ducks Unlimited, where Jon joined the local committee in 1981 and has served DU as state Chairman and regional vice president. He received the Jay Neubauer Distinguished Service Award in 2008. Colleen received the same Neubauer award in 2011. She has served on the local DU committee, various state committees and as a Ducks Unlimited state trustee and national delegate. Jon has served as the mayor of Storm Lake the past 16 years, where he has worked with others to improve the quality of life for its citizens. A fine example was Jon asking Ducks Unlimited to help with Little Storm Lake.

Little Storm Lake is a unique project in that it involved the City of Storm Lake, the Storm Lake Preservation Association, the Iowa DNR, and Ducks Unlimited working together to improve water quality in Storm Lake. The little lake encompasses 190 acres. Approximately 70 percent of the watershed flows through Little Storm Lake and into Storm Lake. The project includes a water control structure between Little Storm Lake and Storm Lake and the construction of a pumping station and associated equipment. A serpentine inlet was also created to slow water entering Little Storm Lake.

Management involves periodic lowering of Little Storm Lake to consolidate bottom sediments, improve aquatic vegetation growth, and eliminate undesirable fish species ultimately improving water quality for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.

To celebrate the couple's accomplishments, community and conservation friends raised $257,000 in Ducks Unlimited major gifts designated for Ducks Unlimited's Living Lakes Initiative. These private funds are matched with other private monies, state grants, and federal grants to multiply the conservation delivery impact in Iowa.

DU's Living Lakes Initiative establishes perpetually protected and managed shallow lakes and large marshes from north-central Iowa through northern Minnesota, providing wetland food and habitat for migrating and breeding waterfowl. The Initiative also helps preserve this region's rich waterfowling heritage.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 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. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.

Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
(901) 758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org