Delta Waterfowl works with landowners to conserve breeding duck habitat.

Considering that 90 percent of duck production occurs on private land, working with landowners is the key to addressing habitat challenges on the breeding grounds.

Delta Waterfowl promotes a voluntary, incentive-based approach to conserve small wetlands and upland nesting cover that are critical to breeding ducks. Delta Waterfowl has researched, pioneered and implemented innovative programs to protect and enhance breeding duck habitat.

In 2015, Delta launched Working Wetlands, an innovative habitat initiative that focuses on protecting the best duck-producing wetlands.

Initiated as a five-year pilot project in North Dakota, Working Wetlands is protecting 4,815 acres of small wetlands imbedded in cropland from being drained by providing incentive payments to farmers who own and work the land.

Delta is working to expand the impact of Working Wetlands on the duck breeding grounds.

• Protects seasonal and temporary wetlands that drive duck production.
• Targeted to conserve high-risk, easy-to-drain wetlands.
• Landowner enrollment is strong, with more acres offered than funds available.
• Pilot project could serve as a blueprint for a much larger waterfowl habitat conservation program.