Ducks Unlimited Awarded $1.2 Million Water Quality Improvement Project Grant for Wetland Restoration in New York

February 19, 2026
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Ducks Unlimited just scored a massive $1.2 million grant from New York's Water Quality Improvement Project program, earmarking funds to restore 805 acres of prime wetland habitat over the next three years. Teaming up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the initiative targets the Montezuma Wetland Complex and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, right next to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. This isn't just about planting reeds and tweaking water flows—it's a full-scale habitat revival aimed at boosting water quality, curbing erosion, and creating richer ecosystems for migratory birds, fish, and yes, the waterfowl that hunters live for. For the 2A community, this is a win wrapped in camo. Ducks Unlimited isn't some tree-hugger outfit; it's the gold standard in conservation, bankrolled largely by duck hunters' dues and banquets who've poured billions into preserving North America's wetlands since 1937. These restored acres mean more ducks on the wing come fall, sustaining hunting traditions that keep our rights front and center—after all, armed conservationists are the original stewards of these lands. In a state like New York, where anti-gun forces dominate Albany, projects like this quietly counter the narrative by showcasing hunters as habitat heroes, not villains. It's clever realpolitik: every acre reclaimed bolsters duck populations, justifies seasons, and reminds regulators that sustainable use trumps lock-it-up extremism. The ripple effects? Expect healthier flyways drawing hunters from across the Northeast, pumping economic lifeblood into rural communities via licenses, gear, and leases. With waterfowl surveys already showing rebounding populations thanks to similar efforts, this grant cements DU's role as a bulwark against habitat loss from development and pollution. 2A folks, support these orgs—join a banquet, buy a print, hunt ethically. It's not just about the birds; it's about defending the wild places where our Second Amendment heritage thrives, one wetland at a time.

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Ducks Unlimited just scored a massive $1.2 million grant from New York’s Water Quality Improvement Project program, earmarking funds to restore 805 acres of prime wetland habitat over the next three years. Teaming up with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the initiative targets the Montezuma Wetland Complex and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, right next to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. This isn’t just about planting reeds and tweaking water flows—it’s a full-scale habitat revival aimed at boosting water quality, curbing erosion, and creating richer ecosystems for migratory birds, fish, and yes, the waterfowl that hunters live for.

For the 2A community, this is a win wrapped in camo. Ducks Unlimited isn’t some tree-hugger outfit; it’s the gold standard in conservation, bankrolled largely by duck hunters’ dues and banquets who’ve poured billions into preserving North America’s wetlands since 1937. These restored acres mean more ducks on the wing come fall, sustaining hunting traditions that keep our rights front and center—after all, armed conservationists are the original stewards of these lands. In a state like New York, where anti-gun forces dominate Albany, projects like this quietly counter the narrative by showcasing hunters as habitat heroes, not villains. It’s clever realpolitik: every acre reclaimed bolsters duck populations, justifies seasons, and reminds regulators that sustainable use trumps lock-it-up extremism.

The ripple effects? Expect healthier flyways drawing hunters from across the Northeast, pumping economic lifeblood into rural communities via licenses, gear, and leases. With waterfowl surveys already showing rebounding populations thanks to similar efforts, this grant cements DU’s role as a bulwark against habitat loss from development and pollution. 2A folks, support these orgs—join a banquet, buy a print, hunt ethically. It’s not just about the birds; it’s about defending the wild places where our Second Amendment heritage thrives, one wetland at a time.

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