Oil Spill Silver Lining: Money for Duck Habitat

by
posted on November 20, 2013
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (43)

The 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill posed two key threats to waterfowl in its immediate aftermath: Direct mortality in the forms of starvation and oiled birds, and the destruction of some of the continent's most important wintering habitat. Fortunately the worst-case scenarios didn't come to fruition, but a variety of major duck habitats were impacted—namely the oil killed a variety of aquatic grasses, exacerbating an already troubling rate of coastal erosion.

The spill was an absolute environmental disaster, but, at least for ducks there is a silver lining: According to Ducks Unlimited, waterfowl are among the first beneficiaries of the criminal settlement being doled out by Deepwater Horizon. DU wrote in a press release:

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently announced five projects to restore and enhance habitats for species impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Disaster, including the Gulf Coast Migratory Waterfowl Enhancement Project. These projects are funded through the NFWF-administered Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.

The $1.25-million grant will be provided to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), which will work with Ducks Unlimited to restore and enhance Texas coastal wetlands.The project intends to improve wetland health and water availability on private lands (95-percent of Texas is privately owned). A second portion of the project will create "seasonal surface water" (i.e. flooded fields) in agricultural areas to provide food for all sorts of migrating fowl.

Latest

Herman Shooting Impulse Mountain Hunter
Herman Shooting Impulse Mountain Hunter

#SundayGunday: Savage Impulse Mountain Hunter

Get a closer look at the Savage Impulse Mountain Hunter, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

Behind the Bullet: 30 Nosler

If you’re a velocity hound, the 30 Nosler is among the fastest .30-caliber cartridges housed in a long-action receiver.

First Look: Davidson's Exclusive Howa Superlite

Davidson’s has introduced its latest Exclusive rifle, produced in conjunction with Legacy Sports International and Howa: a brand-new Superlite.

Recipe: Deep-Fried Game Birds

The most popular bird to eat in America is chicken, and arguably the tastiest way to cook chicken is deep fried. So, why not cook our game birds the same way?

Tag Team: How to Draw a Tag for Western Big-Game Hunting

Drawing the right limited-entry tag paves the way for the hunt of a lifetime, but the application process can be confusing. Using a professional licensing service streamlines the process and increases your odds of success.

QuietKat to Boost Support for Hunter Education

QuietKat Electric Bikes has announced it will be donating products to help raise money for the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA). It joins Federal Ammunition in this support and investment.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.