Delta Waterfowl’s ‘Restoring Our Refuges’ Bolstered by Secretarial Order

Announcement incorporates key initiatives to improve National Wildlife Refuge System’s value for ducks and duck hunters

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik today announced a plan to strengthen America’s national wildlife refuges, a goal that would improve the function and value of these important public lands for ducks and duck hunters.

During a press conference at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in Coleharbor, North Dakota, Burgum signed Secretarial Order “Making America’s National Wildlife Refuges Great Again.”

The order states: “The purpose of this order is to restore the National Wildlife Refuge System to its foundational and statutory mission by ensuring that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages national wildlife refuges first and foremost for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; fulfills the specific purposes for which the individual refuges were established; strengthens active, field-based management, expands compatible access to wildlife-dependent recreation and opportunities for Americans to learn about wildlife, conservation and our Nation’s outdoor heritage; and directs personnel and resources toward on-the-ground stewardship.”

Recognizing the maintenance needs of our public waterfowl refuges were falling behind, Delta Waterfowl launched the Restoring Our Refuges initiative in fall 2025 to work on securing resources and attention to revitalize these critical public lands.

“We’re grateful for Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik’s leadership in addressing the crisis within the National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Jason Tharpe, Delta Waterfowl’s chief executive officer. “Ensuring the Refuge System is focused on quality habitat, improved access and addressing maintenance backlogs is a major win for ducks and duck hunters, and it is exactly what we envisioned with the Restoring Our Refuges initiative.”

America’s national wildlife refuges have faced a growing backlog of deferred maintenance. In 2020, Delta Waterfowl identified an estimated $250 million on priority refuges alone, which means broken levees, pumps, water-control structures. In addition, performing routine annual maintenance such as clearing brush, moving water, and keeping access open has been a challenge.
 
“The challenges on the Refuge System are well known, and we’re excited to see Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik address these issues,” said John Devney, Delta’s chief policy officer. “Years of deferred maintenance and staffing challenges have been detrimental to hunter access and quality waterfowl habitat. In a time when public land access continues to grow, this is a welcomed announcement for ducks and duck hunters.”

The order directs the USFWS to prioritize improvement to the NWR System.

“These commonsense recommendations provide a practical path to healthier wildlife habitats, stronger partnerships and more opportunities for Americans to hunt, fish and enjoy the public lands that belong to them,” Burgum said.

Earlier this year, Nesvik conducted a comprehensive review of the NWR System to help shape the Secretary’s order.  

“Refuge employees know what the land needs and what it takes to get the work done,” Nesvik said. “Their experience shaped this review, and their input will help us put its recommendations into action. We are focused on giving them practical tools and clear guidance to manage habitat, protect wildlife and provide Americans with quality hunting, fishing and other outdoor opportunities.” 

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group founded in 1911 that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.

For more information, contact John Devney at jdevney@deltawaterfowl.org.