LAKE CHARLES, La.– June 10, 2024 – Williams (WMB) continued its wetland conservation partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU) by committing $200,000 to support wetland restoration and habitat management at Cameron Prairie and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) in southwest Louisiana. DU is working with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to enhance wetlands for waterfowl and other wildlife while improving visitor experiences.

As one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in the United States with operations in 25 states, Willams understands how important it is to invest in local communities where employees live and work. A DU partner since 2015, Williams has supported on-the-ground conservation efforts with more than $430,000. This support has impacted wetland enhancement projects in Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana.

“Williams’ long-standing partnership with Ducks Unlimited underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting wildlife habitats,” said Laura Creekmur, president of the Williams Foundation. “These critical conservation projects at two refuges will not only benefit the state’s biodiversity but serve as a treasure for the citizens of Louisiana and visitors for generations to come.”

Cameron Prairie NWR consists of approximately 24,548 acres of wetlands actively managed by the USFWS. About 1,230 acres of this is managed moist soil habitat for waterfowl and waterbirds. However, these units lack the appropriate infrastructure needed to provide ideal habitat conditions for wildlife. Unit 6 (Pintail Loop) and moist soil fields near the visitor center have insufficient management infrastructure and limited capacity to manage these units properly. Similar issues at Lacassine NWR will be addressed on the 835-acre Unit B. Unit B is used as a walk-in waterfowl hunt area for youth and seniors. Unit B also has a bird observation deck easily accessible by a paved road, one of the few areas of the refuge accessible by vehicle.

“This multi-year, multi-phase effort to enhance wetlands and management infrastructure on two important southwest Louisiana refuges will enhance habitat, improve public recreation opportunities, and boost community resilience while bolstering the area’s economy,” said DU Director of Conservation Programs Cassidy Lejeune. “These refuges get 85,000 visitors annually, which drives a lot of spending in the Parish.”

The effort will repair, replace, and build infrastructure features such as levees, electric pumps, water control structures, and leveling of fields to enable better water and salinity control within the units, which is how managers improve habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. Additionally, habitat enhancement projects like this help coastal communities by providing ecosystem benefits such as water quality improvement and floodwater storage during storm events.

These public land projects provide opportunities for fishing, crabbing, and crawfishing year-round, with hunting opportunities permitted seasonally. Other recreational activities available to the public include kayaking and canoeing, wildlife viewing, and walking trails. These project features will enhance habitats that are directly visible to the public from the Cameron Prairie NWR visitor center and vehicles on Pintail Loop Road, as well as Unit B, just a couple of miles from the Lacassine NWR headquarters.

In addition to Williams, this work is supported by Phillips 66, Chevron, Shell, Sempra Infrastructure, Cameron LNG, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, DOW, and DU Gulf Coast Initiative sponsors.

For more information, visit www.ducks.org.

About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.

 

Media Contact:

Emily Austin

601-206-5438

eaustin@ducks.org