Ducks Unlimited and the Platte River Basin Environments Inc. (PRBE) received approval last September from the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission on a $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to restore and protect important wetland along the North Platte River.

The grant will fund several key conservation easements to be held by DU. These easements will protect more than 1,000 acres of habitat used by ducks, geese, and other migratory birds and wildlife. The grant also includes funding for two habitat acquisitions, including the purchase of the Tottenhoff property, which will be a welcome addition to the Spotted Tail Wetlands Complex owned by PRBE.

"The Tottenhoff property offers another outstanding opportunity to restore needed wetlands along the North Platte River," said Andrew Rieschick, DU's engineer for the project. "I'm excited to work on this project and restore additional wetlands on the Spotted Tail Complex." Rieschick conducted a preliminary engineering analysis on the site and was instrumental in completing an earlier phase of the project.

Ducks Unlimited and PRBE have a long and successful history of cooperative wetland conservation work along the North Platte River in western Nebraska. To date, more than 1,000 acres of vitally important waterfowl habitat has been acquired and restored on the Spotted Tail Complex. This area is open to the public for a variety of recreational activities, including hunting.