FAIRMONT, Minn. - Aug. 25, 2022 - Creating new wetland habitats across Minnesota for people and wildlife requires teamwork, expertise and a significant financial investment.

In Martin County, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has relied on support from the Fox Lake Conservation League to restore, enhance or protect more than 1,600 acres of shallow lakes and grasslands. Fox Lake has contributed $300,000 to Ducks Unlimited since 1994, and DU in June awarded the organization with its Partners in Conservation Award for Minnesota.

"Filling wetlands can be as difficult and expensive as moving mountains, and Ducks Unlimited couldn't do big things on the ground without the help of Fox Lake Conservation League," said Jon Schneider, DU's manager of conservation programs for Minnesota. "Fox Lake members realize the importance of leaving a healthier landscape for future generations, and we are proud to call them partners."

Ducks Unlimited has conserved nearly 240,000 acres across the state with the help of numerous organizations and individuals. Fox Lake's support has directly influenced several Martin County public land projects, including:

Four Corners Wildlife Management Area

Recently, Fox Lake helped DU purchase a 314-acre tract which was added to Four Corners WMA near Sherburn. Restoration of eight wetlands totaling 45 acres was completed in late 2021 and restoration of the prairie uplands was completed by DNR in early 2022.

Caron Wildlife Management Area

In 2021, DU began installing new water-control infrastructure at Caron WMA. Four large wetlands, totaling160 acres, are now actively managed to support vegetation growth. Construction was completed in early June. Construction will begin on two other tracts this fall, both of which were purchased by Fox Lake.

Rooney Run and Seymour Wildlife Management Areas

Over the last several years, DU purchased a 280-acre tract as an addition to Rooney Run WMA and a 147-acre tract as an addition to Seymour Lake WMA, both near Sherburn. Over 30 wetlands were restored on the properties. Grassland habitats were restored on Seymour WMA in spring 2021.

"Ducks Unlimited are the experts at wetland restoration and make the highest quality WMA habitat when finished," said Tim Eisenmenger, Fox Lake president. "Our organization wants to leave behind a better landscape for future generations and we are proud of our accomplishments with DU."

DU will use Fox Lake's support to actively develop land acquisition, wetland restoration and shallow lake enhancement projects in partnership with state, federal and local partners across Martin County.

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:
Chris Sebastian
(734) 649-4680
csebastian@ducks.org